With five events remaining in the FedEx Cup fall schedule, the PGA Tour heads to Bermuda for the eighth edition of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Situated on high ground along the western shore of Southampton Parish, Port Royal Golf Course offers sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. The government-owned municipal course was designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1970. It is also considered one of Jack Nicklaus’ favorite courses.
Port Royal is one of the shortest venues on the schedule, and its hilly terrain, demanding par 3s and exposure to unpredictable winds provide a unique challenge. The signature hole is the 16th, a 230-yard par 3 that plays from a clifftop ledge overlooking the ocean.
Though a variety of player profiles can succeed here, past champions such as Camilo Villegas, Seamus Power, Lucas Herbert, Brendon Todd and Brian Gay have demonstrated the value of strong putting and the ability to manage windy conditions. Narrow fairways and plentiful wedge opportunities place an emphasis on approach play, while players must convert their share of short- and mid-range birdie chances to keep pace with the field.
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Scoring can be exceptionally low when conditions cooperate, with winning totals reaching 24-under-par in both 2019, when Brendon Todd prevailed, and 2023, when Camilo Villegas claimed the title. However, Bermuda’s changing weather can create significant week-to-week volatility. Last year’s wind-blown championship was a clear example, as Adam Schenk won at 12-under-par in difficult conditions.
The 2026 Butterfield Bermuda Championship features a 120-player field headlined by Corey Conners, the highest-ranked player in the world rankings at No. 60. Austin Smotherman, fresh off his maiden PGA victory at the Bank of Utah Championship, is also in the field, alongside Eric Cole, Ben James, Andrew Novak, Ben Kohles and Max Greyserman, giving the tournament seven players ranked inside the world’s top 100.
Read The Line’s Keith Stewart and Pat Mayo discuss the keys to handicapping the 2026 Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Watch the full 2026 Butterfield Bermuda Championship show here.
Here are my favorite plays and fades in each price range for DraftKings contests for the 2026 Bermuda Championship. $9,000+ range Play: Ben James, $10,900 
Sean M. Haffey
In a field lacking star power, the young phenom has shown every attribute needed to pick up his first PGA Tour win this week. He has gained 1.51 strokes per round over the past six months, well ahead of the rest of the field, while ranking in the top 15 in all four strokes-gained categories. His accuracy off the tee should also be an asset at Port Royal. With wind often a factor in Bermuda, his average gain of 0.83 strokes per round in moderate to gusty conditions over the past two years is particularly encouraging.
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James finished T-4 at the Corales Puntacana Championship in July, another island course, and has posted a top-five finish in four of his past six starts. He has also shot 68 or lower in 14 of his past 16 rounds. The price is steep, but the depth of options in the $7,000 to $8,000 range makes him a viable player to build around.
Fade: Neal Shipley, $9,000
Shipley is at his best on longer courses where he can lean on his driver, his biggest strength. Port Royal is the shortest course on tour, making distance less of an advantage and placing a greater emphasis on controlling the ball off the tee, particularly when wind forces players to club down. He also has one of the weakest records in windy conditions, losing 0.46 strokes per round over the past two years.
Neil Shipley’s career performance in PGA Tour events on short, less than driver courses.
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$8,000+ range Play: Denny McCarthy, $8,700 
Caleb Bowlin
McCarthy has made 18 of 25 cuts this season with seven top-30 finishes and has a strong track record at Port Royal. He has gained the third-most strokes of any player in the field at the course, averaging 1.99 strokes gained per round across 16 career rounds with three top-15 finishes. His putting ability gives him a path to a high finish even when other areas of his game are inconsistent, and elite putters have found success here before.
McCarthy ranks seventh overall in my Rabbit Hole model and sits inside the top 15 in every key category for this week, including windy conditions, short courses, the Fall Swing and weak fields. That combination of course history, putting upside and strong model results makes him an appealing option.
Fade: David Ford, $8,400
Ford has just one top-15 finish since January and has missed 13 cuts in 24 starts since turning professional in 2025. He missed the cut here last year and ranks 78th in the field, averaging a loss of 0.57 strokes per round over 36 career rounds in moderate-to-windy conditions.
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$7,000+ range Play: John Parry, $7,800 
Eurasia Sport Images
John Parry brings extensive international experience and a proven ability to compete in a wide range of conditions. He has made the cut in 20 of 24 starts this season, recording eight top-25 finishes, including a T-11 at the U.S. Open. A two-time DP World Tour winner, Parry ranks third in this field in windy conditions, gaining an average of 0.70 strokes per round.
Parry won the 2025 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in coastal island conditions similar to this week’s test, and his strong play in the wind has continued throughout his career. His T-8 at the Puerto Rico Open earlier this year further demonstrates his ability to perform on exposed coastal courses. He has also carried that form into the Fall Swing, recording two top-25 finishes in his first three starts.
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$6,000+ range Play: Mark Hubbard, $6,900 
Sean M. Haffey
Hubbard ranked 13th overall in my Rabbit Hole model, with particularly strong marks in windy conditions (seventh), on coastal courses (18th) and during the Fall Swing over the past five years (14th). He has also shown consistent form this season, making eight of his past 12 cuts and recording three top-35 finishes during that stretch, highlighted by a runner-up at the Myrtle Beach Classic in May at another Robert Trent Jones-designed course.
Hubbard’s history at Port Royal adds to his appeal, as he has made four of six cuts here and recorded three top-25 finishes, including a T-3 two years ago.
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Ron Klos (@PGASplits101 on X) is a PGA Tour data analyst for Betsperts Golf.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
