Story perspectives

Scheffler Favored as Cadillac Championship Launches $20M Purse

4/30/2026

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Summary

Scheffler Leads Cadillac

The 2026 Cadillac Championship opens Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Trump National Doral in Miami.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler leads the 72-player field as the favorite at +300.
Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick are absent from the roster.
The tournament offers a $20 million purse, a $3.6 million first-place prize and 700 FedExCup points.
The Blue Monster course plays as a par 72, 7,739-yard layout with extensive water hazards and has no 36-hole cut.

Summary

Trump Praises McIlroy

The tournament returns as a signature event after Cadillac ended its 2011-16 partnership and the event moved from Mexico City.
Signature-event TV ratings averaged 3.55 million viewers, a 2 % rise over 2025, with the Arnold Palmer Invitational up 18 %.
A packed three-week stretch forced top players such as Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay to sit out, citing fatigue and upcoming majors.
President Donald Trump interrupted his White House state-dinner speech to commend Rory McIlroy.

History

Historical Context

In 2007 the PGA Tour launched the FedEx Cup playoffs, a $10 million bonus system designed to keep top players competing through a September finale, which Tiger Woods won. The format’s emphasis on big purses and points carries into 2026, when the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral will feature a $20 million purse, $3.6 million winner’s share and 700 FedExCup points.

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Scheffler Leads Cadillac

The 2026 Cadillac Championship opens Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Trump National Doral in Miami.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler leads the 72-player field as the favorite at +300.
Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg and Matt Fitzpatrick are absent from the roster.
The tournament offers a $20 million purse, a $3.6 million first-place prize and 700 FedExCup points.
The Blue Monster course plays as a par 72, 7,739-yard layout with extensive water hazards and has no 36-hole cut.

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