Power Rankings: Bermuda Butterfield Championship

No more breaks and no more special events, just wall-to-wall action on the PGA Tour between now and the holidays.

Well, that’s not entirely true. There will There will be breaks over the next five weeks, the kind of breaks the golf gods are known to throw in every now and then, with no off weeks. And for a lucky few, the remaining tournaments will bring home something special – if not a win, then a 2027 PGA Tour card.

FedExCup Fall resumes with the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. As has been the case since its inception in 2019, Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton welcomes. This year’s 120 participants are aiming for the eighth title in tournament history. To find out what to expect on the par 71, what the stakes are and much more, continue reading below for the rankings of those expected to compete.

Not that the sites the PGA Tour visits aren’t special for their own reasons, but for members returning to work, it can’t hurt that Port Royal is the final destination. So, check that out – get back to “work”.

Truth be told, just as the Atlantic Ocean surrounding Bermuda can appear calm even when navigating its waters, the same can be said about this time of the PGA Tour season. Amid this sport with the best views lies the challenge of surviving with the finish line on the horizon. In this context and at the moment, this means aiming for a place in the top 100 at the end of the FedExCup Fall.

In each of the first three fall tournaments, exactly one golfer has squeezed into the bubble that determines full exemption status for 2027. Position closest to the threshold is a guide and statuses through FedExCup 150 are in play, but it’s all about points. That’s one reason why, with five tournaments in as many weeks before the class of 2026 is dismissed, our Top 100 watch returns for another milestone. (Check out my writing calendar below for timing.)

As the FedExCup standings capture the attention of dozens of people engaged in Butterfield’s Bermuda, all are captivated by the beauty and extremes of Port Royal.

It may be trite to state the obvious, but it is still relevant to confirm that wind is the primary defense during the test which spans just 6,828 meters. The putting surfaces, which are Bermudagrass – what else? – are prepared to reach only 10.5 feet, as measured by the Stimpmeter. This is so that Mother Nature’s huffs and puffs don’t push the bullets from where they initially stopped and, worse yet, cause a delay in action until the invisible force stabilizes. It’s hard enough to cede control in the air from tee to green, but primary defense is why targets average about 8,000 square feet.

Last year’s average of 71.272 was the highest of the first seven editions, but it was inflated by a final split of 73.113 due to gusts of up to 40 mph. The round ranked fourth among all season-long finales in 2025, but gusts still reached 25 to 35 mph during the first three rounds. It was a golf course on the edge of an archipelago.

This story could repeat itself this week and in a similar chronological order. Sustained breezes of up to 25 mph are forecast through Saturday and before the potential for an uptick on Sunday when rain is likely for the first time seriously. Thrusts from all directions over the four days cannot be ruled out, so prior experience is valuable. Daytime temperatures will camp in the 70s throughout.

Averaging 3.20 last year, the four par 3s once again ranked among the toughest sets of any Tour course (fourth overall), but the trio of par 5s, which should automatically be scoring opportunities, also held up to last year’s conditions. They checked in at 4.76, the sixth highest in its class in 2025. Although the wind governs distance off the tee, even the two par 5s used for Port Royal’s submission for measured drives — Nos. 2 and 7 — only coughed up an average of 261.8 yards last year. This is the lowest reading since the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort averaged just 254.2 yards during the wind-battered season-opening tour in 2013, and that course is a half-mile longer than Port Royal.

All this to say that Patience is the 15th club in the bag this week. Taking advantage of hole locations when, uh, if the wind sets will be paramount, but so will accepting what Port Royal gives will be, because even without winning, a comfortable climb into the FedExCup top 100 can be considered a victory.

Rob Bolton of PGATour.com presents and recaps each tournament. See the schedule of his contributions below. He is also active as

@RobBoltonGolf on X where you can connect with him.

MONDAY: Power Rankings
TUESDAY: Expert choice; Sleepers*; Top 100 watches
SUNDAY: Points and payments; Qualifications

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