Sanford International 2026: Players, Schedule & Live Info
The Sanford International returns to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from September 7 through 13, 2026. Minnehaha Country Club will once again host the PGA TOUR Champions event.
The week offers more than three rounds of senior professional golf. Major champions, longtime TOUR winners, community events, and a new season-long points storyline all add interest to the tournament.
For golf fans, the biggest questions are fairly simple. Who is playing, when are the rounds, and where can the latest scores and tee times be found?
The answers are below, along with the details that could make this year’s tournament particularly interesting.
Sanford International 2026 at a Glance
The 2026 Sanford International features 78 professionals playing 54 holes without a cut. The tournament carries a $2.2 million purse, with $330,000 going to the champion.
| Detail | 2026 information |
| Tour | PGA TOUR Champions |
| Tournament week | September 7–13, 2026 |
| Competition | September 11–13 |
| Venue | Minnehaha Country Club |
| Location | Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
| Field | 78 professionals |
| Format | 54-hole stroke play |
| Cut | No cut |
| Purse | $2.2 million |
| Winner’s share | $330,000 |
The distinction between tournament week and competition days matters. Several activities take place before the first official round, giving spectators plenty to follow beyond the leaderboard.
The event also opens the new Sprint to St. Louis points competition. That gives the September tournament added importance for players chasing late-season opportunities.
Sanford International 2026 Players to Watch
The Sanford International 2026 field has already attracted several familiar names from professional golf. The lineup combines Hall of Famers, major champions, established Champions Tour winners, and players making their tournament debuts.
Zach Johnson is perhaps the most intriguing addition. The two-time major champion will play the event for the first time after joining PGA TOUR Champions in 2026.
Retief Goosen will have a different task. He returns to Sioux Falls as the defending champion after producing a 13-under 197 in 2025.
Zach Johnson and the Major Championship Connection
Johnson brings a remarkable résumé to Minnehaha Country Club. He won the 2007 Masters and the 2015 Open Championship before later serving as the United States Ryder Cup captain in 2023.
His arrival also comes with impressive early-season form. The tournament announced that Johnson had collected four PGA TOUR Champions victories before committing to the event. He was also second in the Charles Schwab Cup standings at the time of that announcement.
That combination makes his debut worth watching. Johnson will not arrive simply as a famous name. He will enter with recent winning form and a chance to add another title to an already decorated career.
Retief Goosen Returns as Defending Champion
Goosen enters the week carrying the most recent winning form at Minnehaha Country Club.
He captured the 2025 title at 13 under, finishing two shots ahead of Bo Van Pelt. His three-round total of 197 remains one of the notable scores in the tournament’s history.
A successful title defense would give Goosen another significant chapter at the event. It would also make his name even more prominent in a tournament that has produced several repeat champions.
Veteran Stars Add Experience to the Field
The rest of the announced lineup brings plenty of experience. Justin Leonard and Ben Crane are among the newcomers, while Bernhard Langer, Ernie Els, Rocco Mediate, Darren Clarke, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, John Daly, Mike Weir, Ángel Cabrera, David Duval, and Y.E. Yang are also part of the announced group.
Several of those players have already won major championships. Others have won at Minnehaha Country Club, which gives the field an interesting mix of course familiarity and fresh challenges.
The final starting field should still be checked close to the opening round. Commitments can change before competition begins.
Sanford International 2026 Tee Times, Pairings & Live Leaderboard
Sanford International Tee times become one of the most searched pieces of information once tournament play begins. The official tournament website currently indicates that the 2026 pairings will arrive in September.
That timing means early tournament coverage should avoid publishing unconfirmed groups. Once the official pairings appear, they can be added alongside starting times and player names.
The tournament’s official app provides another useful option. It includes a course map, leaderboard, tee times, player portfolios, and the event schedule.
During competition, the leaderboard will tell the clearest story. A player sitting several shots back after Friday can still make a move over the final 36 holes because every competitor plays all three rounds.
That format can create a crowded leaderboard heading into Sunday. One strong final round could change the winner’s name quickly.
Where can I watch the Sanford International tournament on TV?
The published 2026 international PGA TOUR delivery schedule lists live coverage from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The listed times apply to each of the three competition rounds.
Domestic television information can change closer to tournament week. Therefore, the official PGA TOUR tournament page and event channels remain the best sources for the latest broadcast details.
Digital coverage also gives fans another way to keep track of the action. The official event app includes live leaderboard information and tee times, which can be useful for anyone following several groups throughout the day.
For international viewers, the published PGA TOUR schedule provides a useful starting point. Final programming details should still be checked before each round.
Sanford International 2026 Prize Money and Purse
The Sanford International tournament offers $2.2 million in total prize money. The winner receives $330,000, making the event one of the more significant stops on the PGA TOUR Champions schedule.
Money is only part of the story, however. The 2026 tournament also starts the Sprint to St. Louis, adding points-related pressure to the closing stretch of the season.
The Sprint to St. Louis creates another route for players to distinguish themselves late in the year. That means a good week in Sioux Falls can matter beyond the check awarded Sunday afternoon.
The complete 2026 payout table should be added once the official distribution is available. Until then, the confirmed figures are the overall purse and winner’s share.
Minnehaha Country Club Course Guide
Minnehaha Country Club has hosted the event since its beginning. The course measures 6,747 yards and plays to a par of 70 for the tournament.
Those numbers suggest a course where players can attack without relying entirely on length. Approach play and putting can become just as important as driving distance.
History supports that idea. Steve Stricker owns the tournament’s lowest 54-hole score, shooting 194 in 2023. He finished that week at 16 under par.
That record offers a useful benchmark for the 2026 field. The course can produce low scores when players find enough fairways, create birdie chances, and avoid giving shots away.
The setting also gives the tournament a strong local identity. The event’s mission focuses on providing a memorable golf experience while supporting charitable organizations in the community.
That community connection helps explain the broad schedule around the professional competition.
Defending Champion and Sanford International History
The Sanford International tournament has produced several repeat winners since its launch.
Steve Stricker won three of the early editions, while Goosen became the most recent champion in 2025. The historical list also includes Darren Clarke, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, and Rocco Mediate.
| Year | Champion | Score |
| 2025 | Retief Goosen | 197 (-13) |
| 2024 | Steve Stricker | 202 (-8) |
| 2023 | Steve Stricker | 194 (-16) |
| 2022 | Steve Stricker | 196 (-14) |
| 2021 | Darren Clarke | 198 (-12) |
| 2020 | Miguel Ángel Jiménez | 196 (-14) |
| 2019 | Rocco Mediate | 201 (-9) |
| 2018 | Steve Stricker | 197 (-13) |
The results show how well experienced Champions Tour players have handled the venue. Stricker’s 194 remains the standout number, while Goosen’s 2025 victory added another major name to the winners’ list.
That history gives the 2026 field a useful target. Johnson and the other newcomers will have to beat a group of players familiar with the course and the tournament atmosphere.
Can you wear jeans as a golf spectator?
Jeans can be suitable for a spectator, although a neat, comfortable outfit remains the safer choice. The event’s general spectator information does not list a specific ban on jeans.
Comfort matters more than fashion during a full day around the course. Spectators can spend hours walking between holes, standing near greens, and waiting for groups to pass.
Comfortable walking shoes make sense, especially for anyone planning to follow a particular player. Weather-appropriate layers can also prove useful during September in Sioux Falls.
Volunteer clothing guidance should not be confused with spectator rules. The tournament’s volunteer information discusses specific clothing preferences for volunteers, but those requirements do not automatically apply to general spectators.
The simplest approach remains practical golf-event attire. A clean pair of jeans can work, while athletic shoes, polos, lightweight layers, and casual trousers also fit the setting.
Sanford International 2026 Tickets and Fan Experience
The Sanford International event offers several ticket choices for the competition days. Current official options include grounds and food bundles and grounds and merchandise bundles, alongside other ticket packages.
The grounds and food bundle costs $40 and includes admission for one competition day plus a $15 concession voucher. The grounds and merchandise bundle costs $50 and includes admission plus a $25 merchandise voucher.
The spectator experience also extends beyond watching golf. Free parking is available at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, with shuttle buses taking spectators to the main entrance.
Shuttles generally run every 10 to 15 minutes during tournament days. ADA parking and shuttle services are also available.
Special Events Beyond the Golf
The week includes several events aimed at making the tournament more than a traditional golf competition. The schedule includes the Junior Golf Clinic, Women’s Day, Sunrise Yoga, and the EMC Greats of the Game exhibition.
The Greats of the Game event has a particularly unusual lineup in 2026. Andy North, country artist Jordan Davis, former Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, and Pro Football Hall of Famer John Randle are scheduled for a nine-hole exhibition on Saturday.
That exhibition follows the final tournament group and adds another attraction to Saturday’s schedule.
What Spectators Should Know Before Arriving
Planning ahead can make tournament day much easier.
The free parking and shuttle system offers a practical alternative to trying to park directly beside the course. The official event information also lists a dedicated rideshare zone at Upper Sherman Park.
Spectators should check the latest schedule before heading to Minnehaha Country Club. Start times, event details, and player pairings can change as tournament week approaches.
What Makes the 2026 Tournament Worth Watching?
The 2026 edition has several storylines that go beyond the usual defending-champion narrative.
Johnson’s arrival immediately raises the profile of the field. A two-time major champion making his tournament debut is difficult to overlook, particularly after a strong start to his Champions Tour career.
Then there is Goosen. The defending champion knows exactly what it takes to win at Minnehaha, and another victory would put him among the event’s most successful players.
The course itself adds another question. Stricker’s 16-under total from 2023 shows that Minnehaha can reward aggressive scoring, but Goosen’s 13-under winning total last year demonstrates that different paths can lead to victory.
The Sprint to St. Louis adds still more pressure. Players chasing points cannot treat the tournament as an isolated week.
That combination should create an interesting three days. Established champions will try to control the leaderboard, while newcomers will look for a quick introduction to one of the most recognizable stops on the Champions Tour calendar.
Final Thoughts
The Sanford International heads into its 2026 edition with a field that should attract attention well before the opening round. Johnson’s debut gives the tournament a fresh storyline, while Goosen’s title defense connects the current field with last year’s result.
Minnehaha Country Club remains central to the story. Its par-70 layout has produced some very low scores, and the tournament’s short 54-hole format leaves little room for a slow start.
For fans, the important information is already taking shape. The schedule is set, the major player commitments are known, and official digital tools are ready for tee times and leaderboard updates.
The remaining pieces will arrive as tournament week gets closer. Once the groups are announced and the first tee shots are struck, the focus will shift from anticipation to the race for the trophy.
Key Takeaways
- The Sanford International tournament week runs from September 7 through September 13 in Sioux Falls.
- Official competition begins Friday, September 11, and concludes Sunday, September 13.
- Minnehaha Country Club measures 6,747 yards and plays to a par of 70.
- The tournament features 78 professionals competing across three rounds without a cut.
- Zach Johnson will make his tournament debut after joining PGA TOUR Champions.
- Retief Goosen returns after winning the 2025 championship by two strokes.
- The tournament offers a $2.2 million purse and a $330,000 winner’s share.
- Official digital resources will provide tee times, pairings, scores, and leaderboard updates.
- Free spectator parking connects with shuttle transportation throughout tournament competition.
- The event opens the new Sprint to St. Louis points competition.
FAQs
Do pro golfers pay for their hotel rooms?
Yes. Professional golfers generally have tournament travel arrangements that may cover hotels, though exact expenses depend on tour status, sponsorships, and event agreements. PGA TOUR Champions players can have different arrangements from PGA TOUR players. Accommodation costs are part of the broader financial side of professional golf, alongside travel, caddies, and other tournament expenses.
What does 69 mean in golf?
Yes. A score of 69 is one under par on a standard par-70 course. Golfers record the total number of strokes taken during a round, so 69 means 69 strokes were needed to complete 18 holes. On a par-72 course, however, 69 would be three under par, making the course’s par essential to understanding the score.
What not to wear to a golf tournament?
Yes. Golf tournament spectators should generally avoid clothing that is excessively casual, offensive, or unsuitable for long periods outdoors. Beachwear, slippers, torn clothing, and shirts with inappropriate graphics can be poor choices. Smart-casual clothing usually works best, with comfortable trousers or neat shorts, a polo or similar shirt, and weather-appropriate layers. A hat and sunglasses can also help.
What are the best shoes to wear to a golf tournament?
Yes. Comfortable walking shoes are usually the best choice for attending a golf tournament because spectators may cover considerable ground during the day. Golf shoes are generally unnecessary unless the event specifically permits them. Supportive trainers, walking shoes, or other comfortable footwear with good grip can make it easier to move between fairways, greens, and viewing areas.
