PGA CHAMPIONSHIP '26: Leading contenders for the Wanamaker Trophy

Matt Fitzpatrick

Age: 31. Country: England. World ranking: 4. Worldwide wins: 14. Majors: U.S. Open (2022) Best PGA Championship finish: Tied for fifth in 2022 at Southern Hills. Backspin: He is one of the hottest players in golf with a runner-up finish at The Players Championship and victories at the Valspar Championship, RBC Heritage and Zurich Classic of New Orleans with brother Alex. The last Englishman to win the PGA was Jim Barnes in 1919.

Xander Schauffele

Age: 32. Country: United States. World ranking: 10. Worldwide wins: 12. Majors: PGA Championship (2024), British Open (2024). Best PGA Championship finish: Won at Valhalla in 2024. Backspin: While he hasn’t won this year, Schauffele has finished in the top 10 in five of his last six starts dating to Riviera. His game has been suited for the majors since his rookie season. He has 18 top 10s in 35 majors.

Tommy Fleetwood

Age: 35. Country: England. World ranking: 7. Worldwide wins: 9. Majors: None. Best PGA Championship finish: Tied for fifth in 2022 at Southern Hills. Backspin: After his best season that included the FedEx Cup title, Fleetwood has started slowly this year with four top 10s but no serious chance at winning. He tied for eighth at Aronimink in the 2018 BMW Championship.

Jon Rahm

Age: 31. Country: Spain. World ranking: 21. Worldwide wins: 24. Majors: Masters (2023), U.S. Open (2021). Best PGA Championship finish: Tied for fourth in 2018 at Bellerive. Backspin: He has won twice on LIV Golf this year but comes to the PGA Championship with something to prove, making him dangerous. Rahm has finished out of the top 30 in his last two majors and is dealing with the distraction of LIV’s future.

Chris Gotterup

Age: 26. Country: United States. World ranking: 11. Worldwide wins: 4. Majors: None. Best PGA Championship finish: Missed the cut in 2024 at Valhalla in his only appearance. Backspin: He won in each of the first two months to build momentum as a rising American star, This is as close as Gotterup gets to a home game having grown up in New Jersey and playing three years at Rutgers.

Bryson DeChambeau

Age: 32. Country: United States World ranking: 29. Worldwide wins: 15. Majors: U.S. Open (2020, 2024). Best PGA Championship finish: Runner-up to Xander Schauffele in 2024 at Valhalla and to Scottie Scheffler in 2025 at Quail Hollow. Backspin: One of the most entertaining figure in golf, DeChambeau figures to be the center of attention with LIV Golf’s future in doubt and two victories this year. He has missed the cut in two of his last three majors. \\\_ AP golf: