Two consecutive wins, a career turned around, and now the chase for a three-peat – Austin Smotherman has transformed the FedExCup Fall 2026 into his personal playground, shaking up the PGA Tour. After stellar rounds at the Bank of Utah Championship and the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, he's now teeing it up at the Austin Championship, aiming to make history. The last player to achieve this was a certain Dustin Johnson in 2017.
What a transformation! Smotherman was previously playing on the Korn Ferry Tour, where he secured two wins in 2025 to regain his Tour Card. Now, with his two triumphs, he has not only secured PGA Tour status until 2029 but also clinched a spot in the 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. It's truly impressive how the 32-year-old has elevated his game to a new level.
Austin Smotherman is making his first start since earning his first two PGA Tour victories in back-to-back starts (Bank of Utah Championship, Butterfield Bermuda Championship).Looks to become the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2017 to win in three consecutive starts.
The Magic of the Putter
Smotherman was long considered a player whose strengths clearly lay in driving and approach play, while the putter was often the culprit. But in the last three events, including his two wins since the Biltmore Championship Asheville, the tide has turned. He is now gaining strokes on the greens – a game-changer that has fueled his performance.
This explosive combination of reliable drives, precise iron play, and a putter that's suddenly working, makes him a true contender. He's not just on a hot streak; he has fundamentally improved his game. The only question is: will the magic on the greens continue? Historically, that's precisely been his Achilles' heel.
Showdown in Austin
The Austin Championship, from November 12-15 at the Fazio Canyons Course at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, is the penultimate PGA Tour event of 2026 and marks the Tour's return to Austin since the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. The field is stacked, and Smotherman is up against some seriously young talents.
Joining him in his Thursday tee time at 1:13 p.m. ET (7:13 p.m. CET) are former Texas golfer Tommy Morrison and Jackson Koivun, the 3M Open winner and one of the season's most prominent rookies. Also teeing it up is Blades Brown, who became the youngest winner in modern PGA Tour history at the previous event. A third consecutive victory would not only be a career highlight for Smotherman but would solidify this strong autumn as an absolute breakthrough season.
