Winner of 2026 National Golf Invitational to Earn PGA Tour Exemption

The National Golf Invitational will return to Ak Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Arizona this May, continuing its role as a postseason championship opportunity for college programs that do not qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

This year, the men’s individual champion will earn an exemption into the PGA Tour’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship, scheduled for October 22 to 25 at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda.

The NGI will once again feature both men’s and women’s championships, with each field capped at 18 teams competing in 54 holes of stroke play. The women’s championship will run May 15 to 17, followed by the men’s championship May 22 to 24.

The NGI continues to expand its presence in the college golf postseason landscape, offering teams outside the NCAA field a chance to compete for a title while also providing individual players a direct pathway into a PGA Tour event. According to Golfweek, the tournament will continue selecting teams based on ranking, while also extending invitations to programs outside the NCAA at large cutoff.

Last year, Ohio State won the men’s team title and Santa Clara captured the women’s championship. Utah State’s Enrique Karg claimed the men’s individual crown, while Eastern Michigan’s Angelica Holman won the women’s individual title.

Source
Golfweek Article