The Optum Golf Channel Games is officially returning in December after a successful inaugural competition last year.
“The maiden voyage of the Optum Golf Channel Games showed that the best players in the world love to compete – period,” Tom Knapp, Golf Channel EVP and GM, said.
The rapid-fire golf event will take place under the lights in primetime on December 16 and will air live on Golf Channel and USA Sports. The head-to-head competition at Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida, will feature two four-man teams led by returning captains Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, and is expected to be as action packed as the first round of Games.
“Adding the stressful element of ‘shot-making’ under the pressure of a running clock produced an amazing amount of energy both on the golf course and within the telecast,” Knapp said. “That’s what we were after. We’re excited to be back in 2026, and we want to thank our friends at Optum for partnering with us once again.”
The full list of team competitors and challenges is set to be released later this year.
Last year’s competition showcased five challenges, and Team Scheffler took home the victory after a sudden-death closest-to-the-pin competition from 47 yards between the two team captains. The fast-paced evening of contests forced players to showcase their power and precision through a variety of skill challenges from driving to putting, as well as the 14-Club Challenge and Team Relay race.