A Return to Roots
After an 80-year silence, the PGA Tour finally returns to Asheville, North Carolina, bringing a field of 132 golfers to the Biltmore Championship. For Jacob Bridgeman, this stop on the fall schedule is a homecoming. Raised under an hour from Inman, the local attended Clemson University in the vicinity. Now, as he prepares to compete, the emotional weight of the event matches the technical challenge of the course. While top-tier players like Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm are busy with the BMW PGA Championship in Europe, Bridgeman has chosen to stay stateside. He sees this week as a unique chance to connect with the local fans who have followed his career from its early days.
The Hometown Connection
According to reports, Bridgeman described the feeling of playing so close to his childhood home with clear emotion. “It feels to me sort of like a hometown event, it’s only an hour and 20 minutes from my house and even closer to where I grew up,” Bridgeman said. This proximity matters. The local community has rallied around him, and he feels a duty to perform for them. “I know I have a lot of people coming up to support, and I felt like I owed it to them, the people that were around that wanted to watch me, being so close and I’m also a member of this community, there are like seven courses, so yeah, it felt like a very comfortable one for me, and I was excited to play when I heard about it,” he added. The stakes are high, even if he technically doesn’t need the FedEx Cup Fall to secure his Tour card for next season. His breakout year included a win at the Genesis Invitational and a tied-for-fourth finish at the 2026 Tour Championship.
While Bridgeman focuses on the local crowd, other stories are unfolding in the field. CBS Sports noted that the main event of the FedExCup Fall schedule is the upcoming Presidents Cup at Medina Country Club in Chicago. Seven players in this Asheville field are set to tee it up there, including Bridgeman and Jackson Koivun for the USA team. Matt Severance of CBS Sports reported that tournament winners in the Fall Series receive the same benefits as regular Tour winners, including a two-year exemption and spots in the Players Championship and majors. However, the primary goal for most players here is determining Top 100 eligibility. Securing a Top 100 spot in points grants exempt status for full-field events, a vital metric for long-term career planning.
Beyond the leaderboard, the field features a compelling narrative of resilience. After a January cancer diagnosis, Brendan Valdes returns to the sport. His recovery has been a grueling process involving a collapsed lung and pneumonia. Despite the physical toll, his mindset has shifted toward competition. “Now that I feel like I am back, and I see all the guys out here, I feel like I will be able to go out there and compete,” Valdes said. His presence adds a layer of gravity to the tournament that goes beyond golf scores.
The Biltmore Championship represents more than just a new trophy on the shelf; it signals a resurgence of golf in Asheville. An 80-year hiatus is a long time for any city to wait for a professional event. Bridgeman’s participation anchors the field with a local hero who understands the pressure of performing in front of family and friends. The technical aspect of the game here will be fascinating to watch. Bridgeman is coming off a season where he proved he can beat the best, winning the Genesis Invitational and finishing high at the Tour Championship. His decision to play here, despite having his Tour card secured, shows a respect for the fans and the community. It is a rare moment where a player prioritizes local connection over strategic scheduling.
Furthermore, the inclusion of players like Valdes and the mix of Presidents Cup team members creates a unique dynamic. The Fall Series is often seen as a grind for status, but this week feels different. The presence of assistant coaches like Webb Simpson, Taylor Pendrith, and Camilo Villegas adds depth to the competition. These are players who know what it takes to win at the highest level. For the casual fan, the story of Valdes’s return offers a powerful reminder of the human element in professional sports. For the serious golfer, the battle for Top 100 eligibility provides a high-stakes context to every shot. Bridgeman’s performance will likely be the one to watch, as he balances his role as a hometown favorite with the pressure of a competitive field.
The action is began on Thursday, September 16, 2026. Following this week, the focus shifts immediately to the Presidents Cup next week at Medina Country Club in Chicago. Bridgeman and Koivun will represent the USA team in that major international competition. Fans can check the tee times and streaming schedules provided by Golf.com to catch the early rounds. The return of the tour to Asheville is just the start of a busy fall for American golf.
