Week of April 22, 2026 — Golf News Digest
Matt Fitzpatrick ended his title drought with a playoff win over Scottie Scheffler at Harbour Town, Jon Rahm took a commanding LIV Golf Mexico City victory, and the game’s attention is shifting toward Aronimink and the second major of 2026. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy has quietly stepped back from competition for a fortnight after his Masters triumph.
- Fitzpatrick edges Scheffler in Harbour Town playoff Matt Fitzpatrick claimed the biggest win of his 2026 season at the RBC Heritage, draining a 13-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th in sudden death to edge world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at Harbour Town Golf Links. Fitzpatrick fired a closing 1-under 70 to force the playoff, then converted with authority on the first extra hole. The victory earned him $3.6 million from a $20 million purse and reinforces his standing as a live contender at Aronimink next month.
- Rahm runs riot at LIV Golf Mexico City Jon Rahm was emphatically in a different class at Club de Golf Chapultepec, shooting a bogey-free 7-under 64 in the final round to win LIV Golf Mexico City by six strokes from compatriot David Puig. Josele Ballester completed an all-Spanish podium, while Rahm’s Legion XIII swept the team title by nine shots — their third Mexico City crown. The victory is Rahm’s second individual LIV win of 2026 and his 16th overall, making him the series’ all-time winningest player.
- Cink dominates the Senior PGA Championship Stewart Cink made The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida look comfortable, posting 19-under 269 and winning the Senior PGA Championship by six strokes from Ben Crane. The $540,000 winner’s share from a $3 million purse rewards a performance that was never in doubt after the opening two rounds. Cink continues to be among the PGA Tour Champions’ most consistent winners.
- McIlroy takes a break, Race to Dubai standings shift Rory McIlroy was absent from the RBC Heritage field — he has said publicly that Harbour Town does not suit his game — and has confirmed a two-week pause from competition following his second consecutive Masters win. The Augusta result moved him to second in the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World on 1,934.20 points. The Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral (April 30) is his likely next start, with the PGA Championship at Aronimink (May 14–17) the major on the horizon.
- Aronimink countdown: four weeks to the PGA Championship The sport’s focus is settling on Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, which hosts the PGA Championship for the first time since 1962. The par-70, 7,237-yard layout in suburban Philadelphia is expected to draw more than 200,000 spectators across May 14–17. McIlroy arrives chasing a consecutive Masters–PGA double; Scheffler, the world No. 1, arrives desperate to add major silverware to what has otherwise been a dominant 2026 season.
- World rankings — the two-man summit holds The official world golf rankings post-RBC Heritage confirm Scottie Scheffler at No. 1 and Rory McIlroy at No. 2. Scheffler’s playoff defeat to Fitzpatrick narrowed the gap only marginally given the points buffer he carries, but it marks another week in which he has not converted when the final hole mattered most.
- Menante takes maiden Korn Ferry title at Tulum Dylan Menante claimed his first Korn Ferry Tour title at the Tulum Championship in style, winning by six strokes over Blades Brown at PGA Riviera Maya in Mexico with a total of 19-under 269. First wins on the development circuit rarely arrive by such a comfortable margin, and Menante now has a PGA Tour card firmly in his sights as the season builds.