2026 SAS Championship at Prestonwood Country Club
The 2026 SAS Championship returns to Prestonwood Country Club in Cary from October 16 through October 18. The three-round PGA TOUR Champions tournament concludes the regular season, bringing accomplished senior professionals and Charles Schwab Cup contenders to North Carolina's Research Triangle before the playoffs begin.
Prestonwood's tournament course is a custom composite made from selected Highlands Course holes on the front nine and Meadows Course holes on the back nine. The par-72 layout is listed at 7,237 yards and rewards positional driving, precise approach play, confident Bermuda-grass putting, water-hazard management, par-5 scoring, and disciplined execution on a demanding collection of par 4s and par 3s.
This page is the main CaddyBytes SAS Championship hub for live scoring, field and storyline updates, Prestonwood course analysis, highlights, Alex Cejka defending-champion coverage, Charles Schwab Cup implications, community events, tournament history, and round-by-round reporting from Cary.
🏌️ Prestonwood Country Club — Cary, North Carolina Par 72 • 7,237 Yards • Highlands-and-Meadows Composite
Prestonwood Country Club has hosted the SAS Championship since the tournament began in 2001. The event uses a custom composite routing built around position off the tee, Bermuda-grass putting, precise iron play, water management, par-5 conversion, demanding par-3 execution, and steady scoring through a challenging closing stretch.
Quick Course Overview
The tournament routing combines selected Highlands Course holes for the opening nine with selected Meadows Course holes for the closing nine. Prestonwood's Highlands side includes the club's signature island-green hole, while the Meadows side supplies a championship back nine and the tournament's finishing sequence. The official PGA TOUR listing is par 72 at 7,237 yards.
Course Type / Conditions
- Traditional North Carolina parkland setting with mature trees, strategic bunkering, ponds, and defined landing areas
- Custom composite made from Prestonwood's Highlands front-nine holes and Meadows back-nine holes
- Bermudagrass fairways, rough, and greens on the tournament course
- Four par 3s, three par 5s, and a demanding collection of medium-to-long par 4s
What Matters Most
- Positional driving to avoid trees, bunkers, water, and difficult approach angles
- Approach precision because many par 4s played over par during the most recent championship
- Par-5 scoring on the seventh, 12th, and especially the reachable 17th
- Par-3 discipline because the long 11th has consistently ranked among the course's hardest holes
Player-Fit Keys
- Accurate drivers who can maintain position on tree-lined holes
- Strong mid-iron and long-iron players capable of handling lengthy approaches
- Confident Bermuda-grass putters who can convert enough chances during scoring stretches
- Experienced course managers who understand when to attack and when to protect par
Winning Formula
- Limit bogeys across the difficult opening par 4s and the demanding 10th and 11th
- Take advantage of the par 5s without forcing recovery shots around water
- Control distance into firm targets and leave manageable uphill putts
- Finish strongly by using the reachable 17th as a birdie opportunity before the final par 4
SAS Championship
2026 SAS Championship
Tournament Details
Date: October 16-18, 2026
Location: Prestonwood Country Club, Cary, North Carolina
Format: 54-hole PGA TOUR Champions stroke play
Purse: $2.1 million
A 78-player regular-season finale on Prestonwood's Highlands-and-Meadows composite course.
Tournament Details Live News Feed Official Tournament PageSAS Championship & Prestonwood Country Club Coverage
2026 SAS Championship
PGA TOUR Champions
Prestonwood Country Club — Cary, North Carolina
$2.1 million purse and a traditional 78-player field
Final event of the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup regular season
CaddyBytes hub for scoring, news, highlights, field, and course coverage
Prestonwood Country Club
Cary Championship Venue
Par 72 • 7,237 Yards
Highlands holes form the tournament's front nine
Meadows holes form the tournament's back nine
Bermudagrass, mature trees, water, bunkers, and defined approach angles shape the test
Defending Champion: Alex Cejka
2025 SAS Champion
Winning Score: 9-Under 207
Shot rounds of 70, 66, and 71 at Prestonwood
Finished three strokes ahead of Ernie Els
Entered the week outside the playoff field and climbed into postseason position with the victory
Prestonwood Course-Fit Keys
Position, Iron Control & Bermuda Putting
Accuracy, Par-5 Scoring and Bogey Avoidance
Find fairways and preserve preferred approach angles
Handle medium-to-long irons into demanding par 4s and par 3s
Convert scoring chances on the three par 5s and avoid mistakes around water
Field & Storyline Watch
Champions Field & Cup Bubble
Defending Champion, Past Winners and Playoff Contenders
Alex Cejka headlines the defending-champion storyline
Past winners and leading Charles Schwab Cup players bring deep Prestonwood experience
Final entries, withdrawals, alternates, featured groups, and playoff-bubble movement will be tracked through the news page
Regular-Season Finale
Last Chance Before the Playoffs
Charles Schwab Cup Positioning
Players make their final push for playoff qualification and improved seeding
The postseason begins the following week at the Stifel Charity Classic
Every place gained or lost at Prestonwood can affect the playoff picture
Triangle Community Impact
Golf, Education & Community Events
YMCA Support and HBCU Invitational
The championship has generated more than $6 million in charitable giving for area youth educational initiatives
The YMCA of the Triangle serves as the tournament's host charitable organization
Tournament week also includes the HBCU Invitational, 5K, Women's Day, pro-ams, and fan activities
Tournament News & Highlights
Round Coverage
News, Video and Leaderboard Movement
Field notes, tee times, Triangle weather, interviews, playoff scenarios, and daily scoring movement
Highlights and video recaps from each competition round
SAS Championship History
Prestonwood Champions Since 2001
A Long-Running Champions Tour Stop
Alex Cejka won in 2025, Jerry Kelly in 2024, and Rod Pampling in 2023
Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer, Kenny Perry, Hale Irwin, and Craig Stadler are among the event's past champions
Bernhard Langer's 22-under 194 in 2018 remains the tournament's 54-hole scoring benchmark
The SAS Championship & Prestonwood Country Club Story
The SAS Championship began in 2001 and has developed into one of PGA TOUR Champions' longest-running annual stops. Prestonwood Country Club has served as the event's home throughout its history, giving players, spectators, volunteers, and sponsors a familiar October gathering place in Cary.
The tournament course is a custom Prestonwood composite made from selected Highlands holes on the front nine and selected Meadows holes on the back nine. The 7,237-yard, par-72 routing features Bermudagrass playing surfaces, tree-lined parkland corridors, water hazards, strategic bunkering, demanding par 4s, and three par 5s that provide important scoring opportunities.
Alex Cejka won the 2025 championship at 9-under 207, finishing three strokes ahead of Ernie Els. The past-champions list also includes Jerry Kelly, Rod Pampling, Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer, Kenny Perry, Hale Irwin, Craig Stadler, and inaugural winner Bruce Lietzke.
Use the hub buttons above to jump directly to live scoring, the SAS Championship news feed, field storylines, highlights, Prestonwood course notes, defending-champion coverage, community-impact stories, Charles Schwab Cup implications, and tournament history.