Full Breakdown
Cadillac Championship Returns to Doral’s Blue Monster for 2026 Signature Event
4/28/2026, 7:08:27 AM
Background & Context
Trump National Doral in Miami hosted PGA Tour events from 1962 until 2016, most recently the WGC-Cadillac Championship. The Tour announced that the venue will return for the 2026 Cadillac Championship, a designated Signature Event. The PGA Tour stated, “The PGA Tour is making its return to Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida, for a signature event this week.” The tournament marks the first PGA Tour competition at Doral since 2016.
Field Composition & Notable Additions
The 72-player field includes world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Cameron Young, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Akshay Bhatia and many other top-ranked golfers. New entries are Alex Fitzpatrick (earned a spot by winning the Zurich Classic with brother Matt), Alex Smalley and sponsor-exempt Keith Mitchell, who joins Joel Dahmen, Max Greyserman and Max Homa. Alternates are Michael Thorbjornsen (first), Kristoffer Reitan (second) and Brooks Koepka (third). Notable absentees are Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick and Robert MacIntyre.
Tournament Details, Stakes & Statistics
The event runs Thursday April 30 through Sunday May 3 at the Blue Monster Course (par 72, 7,739 yd). The purse is $20 million; the winner receives $3.6 million and 700 FedEx Cup points. There is no 36-hole cut, so all 72 competitors play four rounds. Betting odds list Scheffler as the favorite at +300 (some sources cite +325), Young at +1,200, Morikawa at +1,800–+2,000, and Gotterup at +2,500. Chris Gotterup ranks No. 6 in driving distance, Patrick Cantlay leads in lag putting, and Si Woo Kim is top-5 in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.
Criticism, Opposition & Conflicting Reports
Several top players have opted out, prompting commentary that “we don’t have five of the world top 20 competing this week, as there’s a bit of load management happening between the Masters and the upcoming PGA Championship.” The absences of McIlroy, Aberg, Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick have been highlighted as weakening the field. Odds for Scheffler and Morikawa differ across sources (+300 vs. +325; +1,800 vs. +2,000), reflecting inconsistent reporting. No official clarification on the exact cut policy beyond “no 36-hole cut” is provided.
Impact & Outlook
The return to Doral restores a historic venue to the PGA Tour schedule and offers a substantial FedEx Cup opportunity ahead of the season’s final stretch. Alex Fitzpatrick’s inclusion grants him entry to all remaining Signature Events, testing his recent exemption. The next weeks feature the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow and the PGA Championship, events for which many of the absent players are preparing. Performances at Doral will likely influence the FedEx Cup race as the Tour moves toward its concluding tournaments.
