The Myrtle Beach Classic has proven to be a launching pad for its first two champions – Chris Gotterup and Ryan Fox – and with a field loaded with ascending talent, it could happen again in 2026.
The PGA Tour is making its annual stop at the Dunes Golf & Beach Club this week, and here are five young players that could be poised for a breakout victory.
Blades Brown
Two years ago, Brown arrived in Myrtle Beach as a 16-year-old curiosity playing on a sponsor’s exemption. Now, he is a legitimate threat to win.
Brown played in the final group with Scottie Scheffler before fading at the American Express Championship earlier this year, and he finished third in the Puerto Rico Open. Toss in second and third place finishes on the Korn Ferry Tour in the last two months, and Brown could be poised for a life-changing victory. (Blades Brown top photo)
Johnny Keefer
After winning twice on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025, Keefer arrived on Tour with momentum. It hasn’t fully clicked yet, with a T3 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open standing as his lone top 25 finish. But his length off the tee is an advantage, particularly on the vulnerable par 5s at the Dunes Club.
Marco Penge
The DP World Tour Player of the Year in 2025, Penge has gotten off to an uneven start, but he has made the cut in four consecutive events and pounds the ball off the tee. If his approach play is good, expect Penge’s name to be on the first page of the leaderboard.
Luke Clanton
Luke Clanton staked his claim as a name to watch in 2024, making seven of eight cuts and recording four top 10 finishes on Tour while still a collegian at Florida State. That effort was good enough to earn him a Tour card upon turning pro. While Clanton has struggled in 2026, the 22-year-old has shown he has a game capable of winning on golf’s biggest stage.
Gordon Sargent
The biggest long shot in our group of young guns – 22-year-old Gordon Sargent – once appeared on the way to stardom. He won the 2022 NCAA Championship as a freshman at Vanderbilt, and he is first on the PGA Tour this year in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. Unfortunately, Sargant is 164th in SG: Approached, surrendering 1.9 shots per round. Making matters worse, he is 118th in SG: Putting. That being said, the talent that once made him a seemingly can’t miss prospect is still there.
