November 2, 2026
Team Rory Features Major Champion Matt Fitzpatrick, Four-Time PGA Tour Winner Si Woo Kim, and Returning Favorite Haotong Li
Team Scottie – Defending Optum Golf Channel Game Champions – Features Five-Time PGA Tour Winner Chris Gotterup, Two-Time 2026 Tour Winner Michael Brennan, and PGA Tour Rookie Standout Jackson Koivun
Optum Golf Channel Games to be Hosted Under the Lights at Trump National Golf Club Jupiter in Jupiter, Fla., Live in Primetime on Golf Channel and USA Network
STAMFORD, Conn. – October 28, 2026 – PGA Tour superstars Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler headline the team rosters at the highly-anticipated return of the Optum Golf Channel Games, which debuted to critical acclaim in 2025 and will be held once again at Trump National Golf Club Jupiter on Wednesday, December 16, airing live in primetime on Golf Channel and USA Network.
Team Rory will include 2022 U.S. Open Champion Matt Fitzpatrick, four-time PGA Tour winner Si Woo Kim, and four-time DP World Tour winner Haotong Li, who is returning to Team Rory for the 2026 competition.
Team Scottie, which won last year’s inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games, will feature Chris Gotterup, a five-time PGA Tour winner including three wins in 2026, three-time PGA Tour winner Michael Brennan and 2026 PGA Tour rookie standout and Tour winner Jackson Koivun.
“The inaugural Optum Golf Channel Games proved that a unique format showcasing the best players in the world under the pressure of a running clock produces a kind of energy we don't normally see in our sport,” said Tom Knapp, Golf Channel EVP and GM. “That energy translated to the viewers at home and we're excited to build off of last year's momentum with this group of elite golfers, leaning into what worked well last year and implementing some new challenges this year.”
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and No. 2 Rory McIlroy return to lead their teams through the rapid-fire golf competition, which will feature fan-favorite challenges such as the Team Relay and 14-Club Challenge, as well as new challenges for the 2026 competitors.
QUICK FACTS
Team Rory: Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Si Woo Kim, Haotong Li
Team Scottie: Scottie Scheffler, Chris Gotterup, Michael Brennan, Jackson Koivun
The 2026 teams include six of the top 20 players in the Official World Golf Rankings
Scheffler (No. 1), McIlroy (2), Fitzpatrick (3), Gotterup (6), Kim (14) and Brennan (18)
There are three Major Champions competing in 2026 (Scheffler, McIlroy, Fitzpatrick)
The 2026 field has a combined 70 wins on the PGA Tour and a combined 13 Tour wins in 2026
Four players competed in the 2026 Presidents Cup
U.S. Team: Scheffler, Gotterup, Koivun
International Team: Kim
Three players competed in the 2025 Ryder Cup
Team USA: Scheffler
Team Europe: McIlroy, Fitzpatrick
Three players are returning from the 2025 Optum Golf Channel Games (Scheffler, McIlroy, Li)
Producers Mark Loomis and Chris Maguire will lead Golf Channel’s production of the Optum Golf Channel Games, which were launched in association with PGA Tour Studios and created in partnership with EverWonder Studio and producer Bryan Zuriff. More details about the 2026 Optum Golf Channel Games including full broadcast team will be announced in the coming weeks.
