Furyk & Friends Tournament Arrives at Palm Coast's Ocean Course

The Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS tournament is now underway at Hammock Beach Resort and Spa, marking the PGA Tour Champions' first visit to the Jack Nicklaus-designed Ocean Course.

Stewart Cink, leading the Charles Schwab Cup standings, headlines the 78-player field. Zach Johnson and Steven Alker are among those aiming to close the gap as the season nears its conclusion.

This sixth edition of the tournament moved south from Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville. The par-72 Ocean Course, measuring 7,149 yards, presents a new challenge for the competitors. The field includes 16 major winners, 21 senior major champions, and six World Golf Hall of Fame members.

Beyond adapting to a new course, players face significant stakes.

As the 24th of 28 events on the 2026 schedule, the tournament boasts a $2.2 million purse, with the winner receiving $330,000. With only 54 holes to determine the outcome, a slow start could prove costly.

Cink, at 53, leads the Charles Schwab Cup standings with nearly $3.8 million earned and five tournament wins this season. Rookie Zach Johnson has made a notable impact, securing six wins and earning close to $3.3 million, placing him second. Alker is third with $2.2 million and four victories.

These three players have collectively won 15 of the season's first 23 events. Anyone else seeking Furyk's guitar-shaped trophy must contend with their dominant performance.

Defending champion Tommy Gainey knows how to change the narrative. He won last year's event by rallying from four shots behind, finishing 14 under par for a two-shot victory. Now, he faces the challenge of defending his title on a different course.

The field's Hall of Fame members—Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Davis Love III, Colin Montgomerie, Vijay Singh, and Bernhard Langer—offer local fans a chance to watch some of golf's most accomplished figures.

A rookie with a connection to Hammock Beach is also competing.

Ryan Palmer, who turned 50 on September 19th, makes his PGA Tour Champions debut. He previously won one of his four PGA Tour events in 2008 at the resort's Conservatory course, making this week a homecoming of sorts.

"I remember coming down the stretch and playing the last hole to break a tie with seven players. Today, a gentleman reminded me of it, recalling it from back then. Yes, Hammock Beach holds a special place in my heart," Palmer shared.

While FURYK & FRIENDS is new to Palm Coast, the area has hosted the over-50 circuit before. The Ocean Course saw victories by Keith Fergus in 2007 and Langer in 2008.

Langer, a two-time Masters champion now 69, has won 47 PGA Tour Champions events. When asked for advice for Palmer, he spoke with the directness of a seasoned racer.

“You have to go all out from the start. When I first joined this tour, I used a 3-wood off some tees to avoid bunkers, while others were hitting drivers. I wondered why, but that seemed to be the strategy here—they went for everything,” Langer explained. “They know there are only three days, and a big mistake on one day makes recovery difficult. You need three solid scores. There will always be five to ten players with their best game who shoot very low.”

Palmer mentioned that he has been observing the competition more closely as he prepared for his transition to the tour.

“Seeing the scores. Zach is one of my closest friends since 2003, and what he has accomplished has been quite remarkable,” Palmer added. “If you’re not shooting 68 at worst, you won’t keep up. I’ve watched these tournaments for the last six months, and the scores are low. You need to shoot 15 to 20 under par over three days to win out here.”

Golf Channel will broadcast all three rounds. Coverage is scheduled for Friday from 1–3 p.m. ET, and Saturday and Sunday from 4–6 p.m. ET.

The tournament's setting has changed. Now, the question remains whether the leaderboard will reflect a similar shift.

Cink, Johnson, and Alker have led the season's standings. This week, the Ocean Course offers Gainey, Palmer, and the rest of the field a new opportunity to challenge them.