Myrtle Beach is having a moment. The coastal South Carolina city, long celebrated for its 60-plus golf courses and beach-vacation vibes, is cementing itself as a legitimate stop on professional golf's biggest stage. The third annual ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic at Dunes Golf and Beach Club officially gets underway Thursday, May 7, and the buildup has already delivered more star power and storylines than most tournaments manage across four rounds.
Wednesday's Celebrity Pro-Am turned the Dunes into a Hollywood-meets-Hilton-Head spectacle, while the main field of 123 players — now trimmed by six withdrawals — prepares to navigate a 7,347-yard, par-71 course with thunderstorms threatening multiple rounds. Here's everything you need to know about one of the PGA Tour's most entertaining non-major events of the spring.
The Celebrity Pro-Am: When Hollywood Came to the Grand Strand
If you thought PGA Tour pro-ams were stuffy affairs with corporate executives hacking around for charity, Wednesday at Dunes Golf and Beach Club would have disabused you of that notion entirely. The celebrity field featured Kurt Russell, Vanna White, Greg Kinnear, Jennie Garth, Michael Peña, Lando Norris, and John McEnroe — a lineup that spans Hollywood A-listers, television icons, a Formula 1 world champion, and one of tennis's all-time greats.
The pairing of Norris and McEnroe alone is worth unpacking. Norris — who captured the Formula 1 world championship and has become one of the most marketable athletes on the planet — has made no secret of his love for golf. His presence at a PGA Tour event speaks to how the sport is actively courting younger, crossover audiences. McEnroe, meanwhile, remains as competitive on a golf course as he was at Wimbledon, which is to say: extremely.
But the emotional anchor of the day was Vanna White. The Wheel of Fortune legend is a North Myrtle Beach native, and she returned as honorary ambassador for the tournament, a role that carries genuine meaning given her roots in the community. "We love being here," was the sentiment echoed by multiple participants — and in White's case, that's not a PR platitude. This is her backyard.
The Course: What Makes Dunes Golf and Beach Club a Legitimate Test
Dunes Golf and Beach Club isn't just a pretty backdrop — it's a genuinely demanding track that has earned its place on the PGA Tour schedule. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in 1949, the course measures 7,347 yards and plays to a par of 71. That par-71 configuration matters: without a second par-5 that many courses use to inflate scoring, Dunes rewards precision over raw power.
The course entered the PGA Tour rotation ahead of the 2024 season, when the Myrtle Beach Classic was added to the schedule. In just its second year as host in 2025, it produced Ryan Fox as champion — the New Zealander who enters this week as the defending title holder. Fox's victory was earned the hard way, and his familiarity with the layout gives him a meaningful edge heading into the week, even as the market assigns higher win probability to other players.
The weather adds another variable entirely. Thunderstorms are forecast for Thursday's opening round and again Sunday, with an 87% chance of rain on Saturday. Soft conditions typically benefit longer hitters who can take advantage of receptive greens, but lightning delays can fracture momentum and compress the leaderboard in ways that make prediction genuinely difficult.
Betting Odds and the Koepka Question
Brooks Koepka enters the week as the tournament favorite, with a 6% win probability according to Kalshi prediction markets. That number requires context: a 6% win probability in a 123-player field is actually quite substantial. In a fully random draw, each player would have roughly a 0.8% chance of winning. Koepka at 6% means the market sees him as roughly 7.5 times more likely to win than the average field member.
What makes Koepka interesting at Dunes specifically is his ball-striking profile. He generates elite distance and is among the best in the world at par-4 scoring — and with Dunes playing as a par-71 without a cushion par-5, strong par-4 performance is disproportionately important this week. Koepka has also shown a pattern of peaking around major championships, and with the U.S. Open on the horizon, a confidence-building Myrtle Beach performance wouldn't surprise anyone who follows his preparation cycles.
For fantasy players and bettors looking beyond the chalk, there are compelling longshot cases to be made for players with strong approach games and the ability to navigate soft, potentially waterlogged conditions. The withdrawal situation (more on that below) has also reshuffled the field in ways that may create value at longer odds.
The Withdrawal Wave: What Six WDs Mean for the Field
Six players withdrawing from a 123-person field before tournament play begins is notable. The most prominent of those withdrawals is Marco Penge, the world No. 39, who cited health reasons while calling it "nothing serious." Penge had been one of the more intriguing players in the field — a 28th-place finish at the 2025 PGA Championship demonstrated he can compete at the highest level, and his world ranking suggested genuine title contention potential this week.
The cascading effect of multiple withdrawals has had one significant upside: Andrew Putnam and Austin Smotherman were bumped up to the Truist Championship Signature Event at Quail Hollow after two WDs there, meaning the Myrtle Beach field absorbed its own alternates — Troy Merritt and James Hahn — to stay at its full complement.
From a competitive standpoint, Penge's absence removes one of the more dangerous ball-strikers in the field. Players ranked in the 30-50 range globally who are comfortable with mid-size events often perform well at tournaments like this, where the pressure differential from majors and Signature Events creates a more level psychological playing field. Whoever benefits from the reshuffled groupings and starting times could find themselves in an advantageous position.
Myrtle Beach as a Golf Destination: The Bigger Picture
The ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic doesn't exist in isolation — it's part of a broader strategy by the PGA Tour to expand its geographic footprint and tap into golf markets that are passionate but historically underserved by top-tier professional events. Myrtle Beach hosts more rounds of recreational golf annually than virtually any other destination in the United States. The Grand Strand's 60-plus courses attract millions of golfers each year, and those golfers now have a PGA Tour event to anchor their visits.
The tournament's growth trajectory has been impressive. In just three years, it has evolved from a newcomer on the schedule to an event that attracts genuine star power — both in the professional field and, clearly, in the celebrity pro-am component. Vanna White's role as honorary ambassador is a smart piece of storytelling: it grounds the event in local identity while amplifying it through her national profile.
For the city itself, the economic and reputational impact of hosting a PGA Tour event extends well beyond the tournament week. Television exposure, media coverage, and the general visibility that comes with being part of professional golf's premier circuit all contribute to Myrtle Beach's brand as a destination. Golf travelers — who tend to spend more per trip than average tourists — now have another reason to schedule their visit around a specific week in May.
If you're planning to attend or follow along from home, having the right gear matters. A quality golf rangefinder or tour golf umbrella (given those rain forecasts) are worth considering for anyone attending in person.
What This Means: Analysis of a Tournament at an Inflection Point
Three years is enough time to evaluate whether a new tournament has found its identity. The Myrtle Beach Classic has. It occupies a specific and valuable niche: a mid-tier event with genuine regional significance, an accessible and attractive venue, and a growing celebrity component that generates coverage well beyond the golf media bubble.
The Koepka storyline is the one to watch competitively. If he wins, the tournament gets a significant credibility boost — a five-time major champion choosing to compete at Myrtle Beach and performing well is exactly the kind of signal that attracts better fields in future years. If a lesser-known player wins — a Merritt or a Hahn who entered as an alternate — that's a different kind of story, one about the depth of professional golf and the opportunities this event creates for players fighting to maintain their Tour cards.
The weather situation bears watching closely. A rain-interrupted tournament — especially one where a full round gets suspended or rescheduled — can compress the field into formats that reduce the role of skill and increase the role of timing and luck. That's not inherently bad for entertainment value, but it does complicate the competitive narrative. Tournament officials at Dunes will have decisions to make about tee times and round structures that could meaningfully affect the outcome.
Lando Norris's participation in the Pro-Am is also worth noting from a sports-culture perspective. Formula 1's ascent in American popularity — driven in part by the Netflix Drive to Survive series — has produced a new generation of fans who are deeply invested in F1 drivers as personality brands. Norris playing in a PGA Tour pro-am creates content that travels well across social platforms and reaches audiences who might not otherwise engage with golf coverage. That's a genuine win for the sport's long-term health, and it's no accident that tournament organizers secured his participation.
Sports fans tracking multiple major events this spring will find a busy calendar — from golf to the Champions League Final 2026 between Arsenal and PSG in Budapest to horse racing's big moments like Golden Tempo's Preakness and Belmont considerations. The Myrtle Beach Classic holds its own in this crowded landscape by offering something those events don't: four days of stroke-play golf on a course that genuinely rewards skill, with a leaderboard that can change dramatically in the final round.
How to Watch the 2026 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic
Coverage of the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic runs Thursday through Sunday, May 7-10, 2026. Check Golf Channel and the PGA Tour's streaming platforms for broadcast schedules. Given the weather forecast — particularly the 87% rain probability on Saturday — be prepared for potential schedule adjustments and check the PGA Tour app for real-time updates on tee times and round status.
For those attending in person at Dunes Golf and Beach Club, the course's layout allows spectators to follow multiple groups efficiently. The par-3 holes and the finishing stretch are traditionally the best vantage points. With soft conditions likely, walking the course comfortably will require waterproof footwear — a solid pair of waterproof golf shoes isn't just for the players this week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic?
Brooks Koepka is the tournament favorite, carrying a 6% win probability according to Kalshi prediction markets. In a 123-player field, that represents a significant edge over the average competitor. Defending champion Ryan Fox is also worth watching — familiarity with Dunes Golf and Beach Club is a real advantage on a course that rewards course management as much as raw power.
Where is the Myrtle Beach Classic played, and what are the course details?
The tournament is held at Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., measures 7,347 yards, and plays to a par of 71. It was added to the PGA Tour schedule ahead of the 2024 season and has hosted the Myrtle Beach Classic since then.
Who withdrew from the 2026 Myrtle Beach Classic, and why?
Marco Penge, ranked No. 39 in the world, was the most notable withdrawal, citing health reasons that he described as "nothing serious." He was the sixth player to withdraw from the tournament before play began. Alternates Troy Merritt and James Hahn were added to the field as replacements.
Who participated in the Myrtle Beach Classic Celebrity Pro-Am?
The Wednesday Pro-Am featured an eclectic mix of celebrities and sports figures, including Kurt Russell, Vanna White, Greg Kinnear, Jennie Garth, Michael Peña, Lando Norris (Formula 1 world champion), and John McEnroe. Vanna White, a North Myrtle Beach native, served as honorary tournament ambassador.
What is the weather forecast for the 2026 Myrtle Beach Classic?
Conditions are expected to be challenging throughout the week. Thunderstorms are forecast for Thursday's opening round and again Sunday. Saturday carries an 87% chance of rain, making it potentially the most disruptive weather day of the tournament. Players and fans attending in person should prepare accordingly, and PGA Tour officials may need to adjust tee times or suspend play at various points.
When did the Myrtle Beach Classic start, and how has it grown?
The Myrtle Beach Classic was added to the PGA Tour schedule ahead of the 2024 season, with Dunes Golf and Beach Club serving as host. The 2026 event is the third edition of the tournament. In that short span, it has grown from a new schedule addition to an event that attracts significant star power in both the professional field and its celebrity pro-am component, establishing itself as a legitimate anchor event for one of America's most active recreational golf markets.
Conclusion: A Tournament That Earns Its Place
The ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic has done what new tournaments rarely manage: it has developed a genuine identity in a short window of time. The celebrity pro-am delivers entertainment and cross-platform reach. The Dunes Golf and Beach Club provides a legitimate competitive test. The field, even accounting for six withdrawals, includes players capable of producing compelling tournament golf over four rounds.
What happens Thursday through Sunday will determine whether this year's edition adds to that momentum or tests it. Koepka chasing a win. Fox defending. Storm systems rolling in from the Atlantic. And somewhere in the field, a player no one's talking about right now who will make the weekend interesting. That's tournament golf — and Myrtle Beach is learning to do it well.
