[Written by Kim Swan]
The stage is set for an exciting week of golf at Port Royal Golf Course, Bermuda’s world class public golf facility, playing host to the 8th PGA Tour Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Former Champions In The Field
Players began arriving on the weekend and there are a host of corporate events, private hospitality and formal events focused around this exciting world event taking place on our shores.
The diverse Bermuda communities clearly have their favourites; for example, the large Irish community in Bermuda have already experienced a great champion in Seamus Power [2022] and with his return he has a fan base ready to cheer him on.
2022 Champion Seamus Power with former PGA European Tour player Kim Swan and Darron Swan, Newstead Resort Director of Golf
The Latin American Community not only have multiple champions in Camilo Villegas [2023] and Rafael Campos [2024] but now they are joined by the 2026 Bermuda Open Champion, a dynamic world ranked amateur, 21 year old from Venezuela Virgilio Paz who dismantled Port Royal in September with a final round 63 enroute to winning the 2026 Goslings Bermuda Open and clinching a wild card qualifying spot. His local connection through Alex Capitillo, Director of Operations at St Regis Five Forts Golf Club certainly makes him a player to watch.
All Eyes on Bermuda Duo
Fans are urged to support local golfers Nick Jones and Camiko Smith, who are both former participants and very capable of making an impact this week.
Port Royal Celebrates 56 Years
While the main event is a 72 Hole Golf Championship involving 120 world class professional golfers – the connection this event has with the a diverse group within the Bermuda community cannot be overlooked – especially since Port Royal Golf Course is celebrating its 56th Anniversary on October 26th.
Port Royal Golf Course Trustees and Team must be saluted for providing a world class golf facility that represents the best of Bermuda For the staff its a bitter sweet reminder of former General Manager, the late Greg Maybury, who worked tirelessly in the early stages to help bring this prestigious event to Bermuda.
Steven Lambert Jr, Port Golf Course Golf Professional remembers his mentor the late Greg Maybury Sr. who died in 2021
- Kim Swan, Golf Correspondent for the Bermuda Golf Link Society www.bermudagolflinksociety.com
Quick Facts provided by PGA Media
Tournament Organizer:
Eventive Sports – A Troon Company
Title Sponsors:
Bermuda Tourism Authority
The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited
Location:
Port Royal Golf Course
5 Port Royal Golf Course Road, Southampton SB03 Bermuda
Purse: $6 million [$1,080,000 to winner]
Field: 120 players [cut to low 65 and ties after second round]
Format: 72-hole stroke play [four rounds]
Past Champions:
- 2025 – Adam Schenk
- 2024 – Rafael Campos
- 2023 – Camilo Villegas
- 2022 – Seamus Power
- 2021 – Lucas Herbert
- 2020 – Brian Gay
- 2019 – Brendan Todd
Par & Yardage: Port Royal Golf Course is Par 71 and will be set up at 6,828 yards
Official Pro-Am: Butterfield Official Pro-Am, Oct. 21 at 7:30 am & 12:30 pm [Split Tee Times]
Tournament Play: Thurs., Oct. 22 at approximately 7:30 am [Split Tee Times]
- Fri., Oct. 23 at approximately 7:30 am [Split Tee Times]
- Sat., Oct. 24 at T.B.A.
- Sun., Oct. 25 at T.B.A.
Television Coverage: Thurs., Oct. 22 LIVE from 2:00 – 5:00 pm [The Golf Channel, Sky Sports]
- Fri., Oct. 23 Live from 2:00 – 5:00 pm [The Golf Channel, Sky Sports]
- Sat., Oct. 24 Live from 2:00 – 5:00 pm [The Golf Channel, Sky Sports]
- Sun., Oct. 25 Live from 2:00 – 5:00 pm [The Golf Channel, Sky Sports]
Tickets: General admission starts at $35
Beneficiaries: Bermuda-area non-profits
Charitable Impact: More than $5.3 million since 2019
*- All times are Atlantic