Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS is set for October 9-11, with Tommy Gainey back as the defending champion. The other name drawing plenty of attention is Ryan Palmer, who turned 50 on September 19 and is set to make his PGA TOUR Champions debut. Palmer also has some history at Hammock Beach. He won the 2008 PGA TOUR event at the resort’s Conservatory Course.
Those two storylines alone would give Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS plenty to follow. Add a new golf course, a field featuring several familiar Champions names and the charitable work tied to Jim and Tabitha Furyk’s foundation, and the 2026 event has a fairly full plate before the first tee shot is struck.
How to Watch Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS in 2026
Golf Channel will carry the tournament for viewers watching from home. Friday’s coverage is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. ET, while Saturday and Sunday coverage is set for 4-6 p.m. ET. Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS itself runs from October 9 through October 11 at the Ocean Course. PGA TOUR platforms will also carry live scoring, player information and tournament statistics during the competition. For fans heading to Palm Coast, the official tournament and ticket channels provide the latest information on admission, parking and the spectator experience. Checking those details close to tournament week is sensible because event logistics can change.
A new home changes the story
The most obvious change around Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS this year is the move to the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach. The Jack Nicklaus-designed layout measures 7,149 yards and plays to a par of 72. Paspalum covers the fairways, rough and greens. The course is not completely new territory for senior professional golf. Hammock Beach hosted PGA TOUR Champions events in 2007 and 2008, and Bernhard Langer won the 2008 event. Palmer also has his own connection with the resort after winning the PGA TOUR event on the Conservatory Course that year.
Still, the Ocean Course presents a new question for this tournament. Gainey’s 2025 victory came at Timuquana Country Club, so the defending champion cannot simply rely on memories of last year’s winning setup. Everyone in the field has to figure out the new venue. The scorecard gives players four par 5s: the second at 538 yards, the sixth at 520, the 10th at 523 and the 14th at 545. The three par 3s range from 174 to 223 yards. The 18th stretches 465 yards, which could make the closing holes particularly interesting if the leaderboard stays tight. The course also sits along the Atlantic, adding the kind of setting that can become part of the story during tournament week. More importantly for the players, the layout has enough length to reward solid driving while still offering chances to make up ground on the par 5s.
For the players, the biggest adjustment may come before the first competitive hole is even finished. A new course removes some of the familiar reference points that often help Champions players settle into a tournament. There is no recent course history for this field to lean on at the Ocean Course in this event. That should put a premium on preparation during the practice rounds, especially when players decide how aggressively to attack the par 5s and where to leave the ball on the longer par 3s.
The storylines that matter most
There is no shortage of names to watch when Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS gets underway, but a few storylines stand out before the tournament begins.
Ryan Palmer gets his first Champions start
For Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS, Palmer’s debut is probably the biggest unknown in the field. He turned 50 in September and is moving into a new stage of his professional career after years on the PGA TOUR. The timing is interesting because the debut comes at a resort where Palmer has already won. His 2008 victory came on Hammock Beach’s Conservatory Course, not the Ocean Course, so the previous result should not be treated as a preview of what will happen this week. It does, however, give Palmer a useful connection to the property.
Palmer is a four-time PGA TOUR winner, so there is no shortage of high-level experience behind him. The question is how quickly that experience translates to the Champions circuit. A strong opening round would immediately put his debut near the top of the week’s conversation.
Tommy Gainey has a title to defend
Gainey arrives in Palm Coast with a very different kind of pressure. He won the 2025 tournament for his first PGA TOUR Champions title, and he did it after starting the final round four shots behind the leader. His closing 66 gave him a 14-under total of 202, two shots clear of Cameron Percy. The victory came in Gainey’s fifth Champions start and completed one of the circuit’s biggest final-round comebacks of the 2025 season.
For Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS, now comes the difficult part. The title is his, but the course is not the same. Timuquana Country Club and the Ocean Course require different preparations, so last year’s win will provide confidence without offering much course-specific help. Gainey will be one of the clearest players to watch when the opening round begins. A good start would put the defending champion in position to show that the 2025 victory was the beginning of something rather than a single breakthrough week.
The new course could decide the tournament
The Ocean Course should give the players plenty of chances during Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS to separate themselves. The four par 5s are obvious scoring holes, particularly for players who drive it well and leave themselves manageable approaches. The longer par 3s present a different problem. At 223 yards, the 10th is the longest of the three, while the 16th measures 174 yards. Players who keep the ball in position and control their irons should have an advantage. The final hole is another one to watch. At 465 yards, it is not a simple closing par 4. If the tournament comes down to the final few groups, the 18th could have a say in the result.
A field filled with familiar names
Palmer and Gainey will attract much of the attention, but they are hardly the only players worth watching. The field includes Steven Alker, Stewart Cink, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Bernhard Langer, Davis Love III, Rocco Mediate and Colin Montgomerie. Langer brings the strongest historical connection to the venue after winning at Hammock Beach in 2008. Alker, Cink, Els, Goosen and the other established Champions players bring a level of experience that can quickly change a tournament once the leaderboard starts to take shape.
That mix is part of the appeal. The event has a first-time Champions player, a defending winner and several players who have spent years competing at the highest level. The field also gives the week a useful contrast. Palmer represents the newest arrival to the circuit, while players such as Langer and Cink have spent years building Champions résumés. That difference in experience can become noticeable over three rounds, particularly on a course that is new to the event.
Where is Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS being played?
Yes. Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS is being played at the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Palm Coast, Florida. The course was designed by Jack Nicklaus, opened in 2000 and measures 7,149 yards at par 72. The move brings the tournament to a new Palm Coast setting after the 2025 edition at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville. Hammock Beach also has previous Champions history, with Langer winning there in 2008. For spectators, the resort setting adds a different backdrop to the three-day competition.
Tournament history and what is at stake
The 2026 edition of Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS is the sixth playing of the event. Its recent history includes Gainey’s 2025 breakthrough, while Phil Mickelson still holds the 54-hole scoring record at 201 from 2021. The 18-hole record is 64 and the 36-hole mark is 132. Gainey’s 202 score last year came within one stroke of Mickelson’s 54-hole record. Those numbers offer a useful reference as players approach a new course, although the Ocean Course could produce a very different scoring pattern. The purse is $2.2 million, and the winner’s share is $330,000. The money matters, but so does the position the tournament gives players as the PGA TOUR Champions season continues. A strong week can affect momentum, confidence and the season’s bigger picture.
What fans can expect away from the golf
Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS has always been built around more than the competitive rounds. The official event describes the week as a combination of Champions golf, celebrity friends, music, food and entertainment. The Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation remains central to that identity. The tournament supports Northeast Florida charities, and the official event site highlights the foundation’s work with children, families and community organizations.
The spectator experience at Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS also includes autograph opportunities and other fan activities. The Furyk Foundation Concert featuring Billy Currington is scheduled as part of the event week, giving the tournament a substantial entertainment element away from the course. That balance matters because not every person attending the event will spend every minute following the leaderboard. The golf remains the reason the tournament exists, but the surrounding activities help turn the week into a broader community event.
Tickets, parking and fan information
Tickets for Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS are offered through the official Ticketmaster portal. Options include daily and weekly Grounds Tickets as well as Club 58 presented by Florida Blue. The ticket portal also carries practical information covering security, bags, the autograph zone and other fan policies. Complimentary parking is available for spectators, with event information explaining the arrangements for getting to the tournament. Anyone planning to attend should check the official event information before leaving for Palm Coast. Parking instructions, entry procedures and schedules are the kind of details that can change as the tournament gets closer.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 edition of Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS does not need a manufactured storyline. The tournament already has several genuine ones, and Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS has enough moving parts to keep the preview interesting. Palmer is starting his Champions career. Gainey is trying to follow his breakthrough win with another strong performance. Langer returns to a resort where he has already won. And everyone in the field has to learn a new tournament venue.
Then there is the part that happens away from the scorecard. The Furyk Foundation’s charitable work, the concert and the wider fan experience remain part of the event. For the players at Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS, however, the first question is simple: who can figure out the Ocean Course fastest? That answer will decide who leaves Palm Coast with the 2026 title.
Key Takeaways
1. Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS returns October 9-11, 2026, in Palm Coast, Florida.
2. The Ocean Course at Hammock Beach becomes the tournament’s new home in 2026.
3. The Jack Nicklaus-designed layout measures 7,149 yards and plays to par 72.
4. Tommy Gainey returns after earning his first PGA TOUR Champions victory last year.
5. Ryan Palmer makes his PGA TOUR Champions debut at a familiar Florida resort.
6. Palmer previously won a PGA TOUR event at Hammock Beach’s Conservatory Course.
7. Golf Channel will show the tournament during scheduled Friday, Saturday and Sunday coverage.
8. The 2026 purse is $2.2 million, with $330,000 reserved for the winner.
9. The event combines Champions golf with entertainment and Northeast Florida charitable work.
10. The move to Palm Coast gives this year’s tournament a fresh competitive setting.
FAQ
Does Jim Furyk still play professional golf?
Yes. Jim Furyk remains involved in professional golf, including his connection with PGA TOUR Champions and the tournament that carries his name. His career has moved beyond the regular PGA TOUR schedule, while his tournament and foundation work have become a major part of his professional life.
What does Jim Furyk do now?
Yes. Jim Furyk remains active in golf through tournament involvement, charitable work and selected playing opportunities. He hosts Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS and works with the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation, which supports charitable causes in Northeast Florida. Those responsibilities now sit alongside the playing side of his career.
How old is Tabitha Furyk?
Yes. Tabitha Furyk is the wife of Jim Furyk and a key figure in the family’s charitable work. She co-founded the Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation and remains involved in its efforts across Northeast Florida. Her work has helped make the foundation an important part of the tournament’s identity and community focus.
Is Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS the tournament Tommy Gainey won in 2025?
Yes. It is the same annual PGA TOUR Champions event. Gainey won the 2025 edition at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, while the 2026 tournament moves to the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast. Gainey therefore enters the new edition as the defending champion.
Has Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS been played at Hammock Beach before?
Yes. Hammock Beach has hosted PGA TOUR Champions competition before, including events in 2007 and 2008. Bernhard Langer won the 2008 event. The 2026 tournament itself is moving to the Ocean Course for the first time, so the venue adds a new chapter to the event’s history.