2026 VGA Championship – Pinehurst Crown Cup

Pinehurst Resort

May 14–17

The wait is over.

Round 1 tee times are officially locked in as the VGA Pro Tour returns to one of the most demanding championship tests on the schedule - the Pinehurst Crown Cup.

This week isn’t just about surviving Pinehurst. It’s about positioning yourself in the race for the XPhACTOR Cup, making a push toward the Founder’s Cup teams, and proving you can handle major-level pressure on one of golf’s toughest setups.

ROUND 1 STORYLINES

Bradley Asseter enters as the World No. 1

With 4,346 XCP points, Bradley continues to set the pace for the season. Every event now comes with added pressure — the target is officially on his back. Pinehurst rewards discipline and composure, two things he’s shown consistently all season.

Grant Fraser looking to close the gap

Grant has quietly become one of the Tour’s most dangerous players. Sitting second in the standings, another elite finish could seriously tighten the race at the top heading into the summer stretch.

Kenneth Hall and Michael St. Pierre continue their climb

Both players have built strong momentum over the last several events and now enter a championship-caliber setup where consistency matters more than aggression.

Anthony Ward returns to a pressure environment

Ward continues to hover near the top tier of the standings and enters Pinehurst knowing a signature performance here could completely shift the narrative of his season.

The Cut Line Battle

Pinehurst is notorious for punishing mistakes. With fast greens, difficult recovery shots, and brutal misses around the greens, expect this event to become a mental grind by the weekend.

ROUND 1 TEE TIMES

Thursday Morning Groups

• Charles Blair

• Doug Larimore

• Kenneth Hall

Thursday Midday Groups

• Bradley Asseter

• David Davenport

Thursday Afternoon Pressure Window

• Mike West

• Sean Misener

• Bengt Spangberg

Thursday Evening Featured Groups

• Kenneth Hall

• Sam Spending

• Anthony Ward

FRIDAY FEATURED GROUPS

Cut Line Watch Group

• Albert Blair

• Grant Fraser

• Anthony Tolliver

One of the strongest late groups in the field. Grant Fraser enters with major momentum, while Anthony Tolliver and Albert Blair both have opportunities to make significant jumps in the standings with a strong finish.

WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEK

• Precision iron play will decide this tournament

• Short-game mistakes will multiply quickly

• Putting on fast Pinehurst greens could determine the champion

• Conservative strategy may outperform aggressive play late in rounds

This is the type of event where patience wins championships.

REMINDER:

All posted tee times are in PACIFIC TIME

(ET = +3 Hours | GMT = +8 Hours)

Players are expected to:

Arrive early

Verify room settings before play

Be ready at scheduled tee time

Good luck to the field.

The Crown Cup begins now.

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