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Golfers walk to their next hole on the grounds at the Riyadh Golf Club during the first round of the Golf Saudi Open for the 2024 Asian Tour in Riyadh on April 17.
As the calendar winds down, December remains a surprisingly packed month for golf fans– offering high-stakes tournaments, dramatic finales, and a few curveballs. According to a recently released schedule by Golf Channel, there’s still plenty of live action to catch across multiple tours before the year ends.
From the elite, invitation-only Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas to the pressure-packed qualifying grind of PGA Tour Q‑School, plus creative formats like the Optum Golf Channel Games– December offers a little bit of everything.
“We’re thrilled with our momentum in 2025, as our season-long ratings and event attendance are confirming that our players and their stories are resonating with fans,” PGA Tour CEO, Brian Rolapp, said. “We extend our thanks to the entire membership–including player directors and the Player Advisory Council–as well as our events and partners, who are working alongside fans on a vision for the future of both the PGA TOUR and the game of golf.”
Top Events: What You Shouldn’t MissHero World Challenge
The Hero World Challenge, hosted by Tiger Woods, remains the crown jewel of December golf. The 2025 edition runs December 4-7 at Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas, featuring a small, elite field of 20 of the world’s top players.
Television and streaming coverage is lined up on both NBC and Golf Channel. Opening rounds air Thursday and Friday from 1:30-4:30 p.m. ET, with weekend coverage split between Golf Channel and NBC.
PGA Tour Q-School: Final Stage
For those chasing a tour card, the PGA Tour Q-School final stage will play out Dec. 11-14 at the famous TPC Sawgrass and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
The tension and stakes couldn’t be higher–this is where players earn (or lose) their shot at full PGA Tour status for the upcoming season. TV coverage is slated for Saturday and Sunday, split between the NBC Sports App and Golf Channel.
Other Events to Look Out For
According to Golf Channel, here is the full list of tournaments coming up this month:
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONSLPGADP WORLD TOUR
Crown Australian Open
Dec. 4-7, Royal Melbourne GC, Melbourne, Australia
Nedbank Golf Challenge
Dec. 4-7, Gary Player CC, Sun City, South Africa
Alfred Dunhill Championship
Dec. 11-14, Leopard Creek CC, Malelane, South Africa
Afra-Asia Bank Mauritius Open
Dec. 18-21, Mont Choisy Le Golf, Grand-Baie, Mauritius
ASIAN TOUR
Saudi Open
Dec. 10-13, Riyadh GC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
GOLF CHANNELTGLGRASS LEAGUELooking Ahead to 2026 and the New PGA Tour Schedule
As December closes out the 2025 golf calendar, fans also got a clearer picture of what’s coming next season with the release of the 2026 PGA Tour schedule. The new lineup blends familiar traditions with notable updates, giving the Tour a refreshed but recognizable structure. According to the PGA Tour’s official announcement, the 2026 season maintains all four majors in their traditional windows while continuing the Tour’s commitment to its high-profile Signature Events.
One standout change is the return of Trump National Doral in Miami, which re-enters the schedule as the newly established Miami Championship. It will run April 30-May 3 and becomes one of nine Signature Events for the season–a status that guarantees strong fields, elevated purses, and substantial FedExCup implications. The move brings back a venue that was once a cornerstone of elite professional golf and signals the Tour’s willingness to lean into historic, fan-recognizable sites.
Beyond that marquee addition, the 2026 schedule remains anchored by the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, marking its 20th year as part of the FedExCup era, along with traditional stops like the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial Tournament, and the FedExCup Playoffs. While the structure remains familiar, the Tour’s adjustments emphasize a balance between tradition and evolution.
Additionally, the Tour confirmed a significant change to player status for 2026. According to PGA Tour, only the top 100 players in the FedExCup standings after the 2025 Fall will earn full exempt status (down from 125), with Nos. 101-125 receiving conditional cards–a shift recommended by the Player Advisory Council to ensure that 35 standout competitors from the Korn Ferry Tour, DP World Tour, and PGA Tour Q-School have equitable access and meaningful playing opportunities throughout the season.
Alyssa Polczynski Alyssa Polczynski is a multimedia journalist covering Major League Baseball for Heavy.com. She has experience as an editorial producer for MLB.com and contributed to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). More about Alyssa Polczynski
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