AdventHealth Championship: How to Watch, Sleepers & Major Storylines
Everything You Need to Know About the AdventHealth Championship
Your simple guide to this week’s big Korn Ferry Tour event in Kansas City
What Is This Tournament?
The AdventHealth Championship is the 21st stop on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour schedule (out of 25 total events). Think of the Korn Ferry Tour as the "minor leagues" for professional golf—players compete here to earn their way onto the big-league PGA TOUR.
Key Point: This week is extra special—it’s the regular season finale! The top 156 players after this tournament get into the Korn Ferry Tour Finals (four playoff events where the biggest PGA TOUR cards are won).
Where & When
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Course | Blue Hills Country Club |
| Location | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Layout | Par 72 · 7,383 yards (that’s long!) |
| Dates | This week (Thursday–Sunday) |
| Purse | $1 million total · $180,000 to the winner |
| Field | 156 players (top 156 on the Points List) |
| Defending Champ | S.H. Kim (won last year) |
How to Watch (All Times ET)
| Day | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday & Friday | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | GOLF Channel |
| Saturday | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | GOLF Channel |
| Sunday | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM | GOLF Channel |
First Time Alert! This is the first year the tournament is the season finale AND the first time it’s on Golf Channel. Double milestone!
Big Names to Watch
PGA TOUR Winners (10 players, 16 combined wins)
- Cameron Champ – 3-time PGA TOUR winner
- Chez Reavie – 3-time PGA TOUR winner
Korn Ferry Tour Legends (68 winners, 98 combined wins!)
- Ben Kohles – 5-time KFT winner (most career wins in the field)
- Harry Higgs – Won this tournament in 2024
- Trevor Cone – Won this tournament in 2022
World Ranking Stars (14 players in Top 200)
- Ross Steelman – #85 in the world
- Blades Brown – #102
- Ben Kohles – #108
Players on Fire Right Now
1. Ross Steelman
- Just won LAST WEEK at the Boise Open
- Now #1 on the Points List (overtook Doc Redman)
- Has 2 wins + 5 top-10s this season
- Already locked up his 2027 PGA TOUR card!
2. Hunter Eichhorn
- #7 on Points List (career-high)
- Leads the Tour with 9 top-10 finishes this year
- Lost a playoff to Doc Redman at Knoxville
- Fun fact: Learned golf on a 9-hole course in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with his grandpa
3. Robby Shelton
- #18 on Points List (jumped from #55 in just 2 weeks!)
- Back-to-back top-3 finishes (3rd at Pinnacle Bank, T2 at Boise)
4. Davis Shore
- #15 on Points List
- Career-best T2 at Boise Open
- Shot a bogey-free 8-under 63 in the final round!
5. Jackson Buchanan
- #48 on Points List
- 3 top-10s in his last 6 starts (had only 1 top-25 in first 13 starts)
Tournament History & Cool Facts
Past Champions Who Made It Big
| Year | Winner | PGA TOUR Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Wesley Bryan | 1 |
| 2018 | Sepp Straka | 2+ |
| 2021 | Cameron Young | 2 (including 2025 PLAYERS Championship!) |
| 2023 | Grayson Murray | 2 |
Cameron Young Story: Won the 2021 AdventHealth Championship, then won again the very next week at the Evans Scholars Invitational. Two wins in two weeks! Later won the massive 2025 PLAYERS Championship.
Course Reputation
Blue Hills Country Club is TOUGH. In 6 years hosting:
- 2019: #3 toughest course on Tour
- 2022: #4 toughest
- 2025: #6 toughest
(Measured by scoring average vs. par)
Awards & Legacy
- 2025 Charity of the Year – Raised big money for AdventHealth Kansas City Foundation
- Grayson Murray "Be Kind to One Another" Legacy Award – Started in 2025 to honor the 2023 champ who passed away in May 2024
Quick Reference Card
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Course | Blue Hills CC, Par 72, 7,383 yds |
| Field Size | 156 players |
| Purse | $1M ($180K to winner) |
| Defending Champ | S.H. Kim |
| TV | GOLF Channel (Thu-Sun) |
| Big Storyline | Regular season finale → Finals berths on the line |
| Player to Beat | Ross Steelman (hottest player on Tour) |
Why This Week Matters (ELI5 Version)
Imagine the Korn Ferry Tour is like a video game season. This tournament is the final boss of the regular season.
- Top 156 after this week → Advance to the Playoffs (Finals)
- Finals = 4 tournaments where the biggest prizes are 2027 PGA TOUR cards
- Ross Steelman already won his card by dominating the regular season
- Everyone else is fighting for position, confidence, and a Finals spot
It’s win-or-go-home energy for a lot of these guys!
Summary
- AdventHealth Championship = Korn Ferry Tour regular season finale
- Blue Hills CC in Kansas City = One of the toughest courses on Tour
- $1M purse, 156 players, on Golf Channel for the first time
- Ross Steelman is the man to beat (just won, #1 on Points List, TOUR card secured)
- Hunter Eichhorn, Robby Shelton, Davis Shore, Jackson Buchanan all playing great
- History matters: 4 past champs became PGA TOUR winners (including Cameron Young)
- Charity & Legacy: Award-winning community impact + Grayson Murray kindness award
FAQ
1. What is the Korn Ferry Tour?
Think of it as Triple-A baseball for golf. Players compete here to earn a "promotion" (PGA TOUR card) to the big leagues. The top 30 at season’s end get full PGA TOUR status.
2. Why is this tournament called the "regular season finale"?
The Korn Ferry Tour season has two parts: the regular season (25 events) and the Finals (4 events). This is the last regular event. Your points reset for the Finals, but only the top 156 make it there.
3. How does Ross Steelman already have a 2027 PGA TOUR card?
He’s so far ahead on the Points List (2 wins + 5 top-10s) that mathematically, no one can catch him before the season ends. He’s "clinched" like an NFL team locking up a playoff spot in Week 15.
4. What’s special about Blue Hills Country Club?
It’s consistently ranked as one of the hardest courses on the Korn Ferry Tour. Players score higher here than almost anywhere else. It separates the best ball-strikers from the pack.
5. Who was Grayson Murray and why is there an award named after him?
Grayson Murray won this tournament in 2023, then won on the PGA TOUR. He tragically passed away in May 2024. The "Be Kind to One Another" award honors his memory and encourages kindness in the golf community.
Note: This article was created using PGA TOUR ShotLink data and AWS Gen AI technology. While we aim for accuracy, please check official sources for the latest tee times, pairings, and results.