There are five more tournaments left in 2026 on the PGA Tour and the search for FedEx Cup points that could be crucial later in the season continues at the Bermuda Championship this week.
Benjamin James, who has stepped up from the collegiate ranks in impressive fashion in the last few months, is set to go off favourite as he makes his debut at the Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton.
He will have plenty of backers after finishing in the top five in each of his last three tournaments.
Adam Schenk is the defending champion after a one-shot victory last year, but there will be 119 other players with their eyes on making a fast start on Thursday as they chase top prize at a tournament which has been a feature of the PGA Tour since 2019.
Bermuda Championship First-Round Leader Tips Summary
Best bet - Ben Kohles each-way @ 40/1
Alternative bet - Kevin Roy each-way @ 40/1
Alternative bet - Zac Blair each-way @ 45/1
Bermuda Championship First-Round Leader Prediction
Best bet - Ben Kohles each-way @ 40/1
One player who catches the eye in the first-round leader market is Ben Kohles, not least because he leads the PGA Tour stats for Thursday scoring.
He is the only competitor who averages less than 68 for his opening spins this year and some of his strongest performances have come in recent weeks.
Kohles shot a Thursday 66 in August's Wyndham Championship, a 65 at the Biltmore Championship Asheville and a 66 at the Bank of Utah Championship, in tournaments where he recorded finishes of 29-15-13.
Those stats suggest he can be competitive in a field of this week's standard and. while he started with a 71 last time at the Baycurrent Classic, he recovered well with a 62 the following day.
Kohles' game is plainly in a good place and, while he has not made many strides here despite making the cut on each of his three visits, his third at the John Deere Classic and ninth at the 3M Open means he deserves respect.
Alternative bet - Kevin Roy each-way @ 40/1
Kevin Roy has a bit more course form in the book, having finished eighth and seven shots adrift of Camilo Villegas in November 2023, taming Port Royal with an opening 64 on that occasion.
He also heads to the island with some solid numbers, finishing 19th at the Wyndham Championship, 24th at the Biltmore Championship and 13th last time out at the Baycurrent Classic.
Roy, whose best 2026 result was the third he secured at the Myrtle Beach Classic in May, is tied fifth in the first-round scoring stats, averaging 68.70 in his opening efforts.
The only time in the last 12 tournaments he has shot more than 70 was at the US Open, so he is a consistent performer who can make a strong start.
Alternative bet - Zac Blair each-way @ 45/1
Zac Blair could be another to keep an eye on in the opening stages.
He was ninth in this event 12 months ago and has posted top-ten finishes in the Puerto Rico Open, the John Deere Classic and the ISCO Championship in 2026, as well as two top fives on the Korn Ferry Tour.
He averages 68.93 in his opening rounds when he has stepped up to PGA Tour level and none of his 14 first rounds have been more than 71, which include the 66 he hit the last time he was in action at this grade in his home state at the Bank of Utah Championship earlier this month.
Key tournament stats
Canadian Adam Hadwin shot a 65 to be the first-round leader at last year's Bermuda Championship
The best first-round score at the Bermuda Championship was Alex Noren's 61 in 2023, which is also the 18-hole course record
World number 61 Corey Conners is the highest ranked player in this week's field
Brendon Todd, Seamus Power, Camilo Villegas, Rafael Campos and Adam Schenk are the course winners taking part this week
Winds are expected to pick up this week which makes Port Royal a difficult challenge
The course measures 6,828 yards with three par-fives and will play as a par 71 this week
Read more golf betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
