The 2026 Cadillac Championship marks a return to one of professional golf’s most storied venues, as the Blue Monster Course at Trump National Doral in Miami reclaims its place on the PGA Tour schedule as a $20 million Signature Event featuring an elite, limited field of the game’s top players.
First opened in 1962, the Blue Monster built its legacy by hosting the Doral Open and later the World Golf Championships–Cadillac Championship from 2007–2016, becoming synonymous with dramatic finishes and major-caliber leaderboards. More recently, it hosted the final event of the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series in 2022 and a regular season event in each of the subsequent three seasons.
Stretching over 7,700 yards as a par 72 following Gil Hanse’s 2014 renovation, the course remains a demanding test defined by water hazards on numerous holes, thick Bermuda rough, and large, grainy green complexes.
Success at Doral typically hinges on a blend of power and precision—length off the tee to handle its long par-4s, controlled iron play into well-protected greens, and the ability to manage ever-present South Florida winds.
The Field
The Cadillac Championship debuts as a new stop on the PGA Tour, awarding 700 FedEx Cup points to the winner and featuring a $20 million purse in a no cut format. The field is headlined by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, reigning FedEx Cup champion Tommy Fleetwood, Cameron Young, Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa, Russell Henley, and Chris Gotterup.
While the field is strong, there are also several notable absences, led by Masters champion Rory McIlroy, marking the second consecutive Signature Event he has skipped. World No. 3 Matt Fitzpatrick is also out after winning in consecutive weeks. Ludvig Åberg, Robert MacIntyre, and Xander Schauffele have also elected to sit out.
The last time the Tour competed at Doral, Adam Scott captured the 2016 WGC–Cadillac Championship closing with a final-round 69 to finish at 12 under par. The victory marked his second World Golf Championships title and highlighted a dominant ball-striking performance, as he consistently controlled the demanding layout and handled the course’s ever-present water hazards.
Most Important Stats For Success at the Blue Monster
*In order of importance
- SG: APP
- Driving Distance
- Good Drive % (Difficult OTT/APP)
- Proximity 50-100, 200+ yds
- SG: ARG (Bermuda)
- SG: Long/Difficult courses
- DFEF (Difficult OTT)
- Scrambling (Bermuda)
- Bogey Avoidance (Difficult)
- Birdie or Better %
Key Rabbit Hole Filters
- Region: Southeast
- Course Length: Very Long
- Scoring Conditions: Difficult
- Field Strength: Strong
- Event Type: No Cut/Signature
- Field Size: Small Field
- Water Danger: High
- Bunker #: High
- Greens Surface: Bermuda
- Rough Surface: Bermuda
- Gain OTT: Very Difficult
- OTT Club Type: Mixed
- Gain APP: Very Difficult
- Scrambling (Rough): Difficult
Cadillac Championship – Final Model
In each preview article and on Discord, I present my final model, which gives a detailed player ranking of the most important stats and splits for the week. My modeling is based on the PGA’s Strokes Gained data, which is categorized into SG: Off the Tee (OTT), SG: Approach (APP), SG: Around the Green (ARG), and SG: Putting (P). Learn more about Strokes Gained and why it can be so useful in analyzing the past and predicting future performance. Many of these specific metrics and conditions can be found in “The Rabbit Hole“, with my final model exclusively published here and in the Discord for subscribers.
Outright Betting Selections
For the most up-to-date picks, check out my Twitter and subscribe to our Discord at BetspertsGolf.com.
- Fleetwood +2800 (0.84u) – Rivers
- Henley +3000 (0.80u) – 365
- Gotterup +3300 (0.72u) – FD
- Matsuyama +3500 (0.68u) – 365
- Hovland +4000 (0.60u) – 365
- N. Hojgaard +5500 (0.43u) – Fanatics
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Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images