Biltmore Championship 2026 Results: Bridgeman Wins Before Medinah Clincher

Jacob Bridgeman won the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville on September 20, closing with a 10-under-par 61 for a 26-under total of 258. He finished two strokes ahead of Ben James at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in North Carolina, earning his second PGA TOUR title of 2026.

One week later, Bridgeman supplied the winning point for the United States at the Presidents Cup. Those consecutive Sunday finishes connect the Biltmore result to Medinah: an individual title first, followed by a decisive singles victory in a team competition.

Biltmore's Final Leaders

Bridgeman's four rounds were 66, 67, 64 and 61. His final-round score was his lowest of the week and turned a five-shot deficit to overnight leader Neal Shipley into a two-shot victory. James also shot 61, keeping the contest close despite the eventual winner's surge.

The round sequence is useful context for the comeback. Bridgeman improved in each of his final two rounds, producing 125 strokes across the weekend. The first two rounds had kept him in the tournament; the last two moved him to the top.

A Second Title With a Different Finish

Bridgeman's first TOUR victory came at the Genesis Invitational in February. Biltmore added another title to the same season and gave him a win immediately before his first senior Presidents Cup appearance.

Golf Monthly's final report places him five behind Shipley entering Sunday. That starting position demanded a different task from protecting an overnight lead: Bridgeman needed to create chances while other contenders still controlled their own rounds. The closing 61 supplied enough improvement to change the order at the top.

His closing round contained eight birdies and an eagle, including birdies on four of the final six holes. That finish was especially valuable with James matching his round of 61. Bridgeman could not rely on a challenger falling away; he continued adding birdies while the pursuit remained close.

Koivun Also Finished in the Top Five

Koivun shared fifth place with Poston, giving the United States two Presidents Cup newcomers among Biltmore's top five finishers. For readers following the team, that is the most direct connection beyond the winner himself.

Seven Medinah players were in the Biltmore field: Bridgeman and Koivun from the United States, alongside Corey Conners, Nick Taylor, Nico Echavarria, Ryo Hisatsune and Christiaan Bezuidenhout from the International Team. Justin Thomas withdrew before Biltmore began but remained on the American Presidents Cup roster.

The distinction between preparation and team selection is straightforward here. Biltmore was a separate PGA TOUR tournament; the Presidents Cup squads had already been selected. It offered competitive rounds before travel to Medinah, while the captains still had to make their own decisions about partnerships and session workloads.

From Asheville to Sunday's Winning Point

On September 27, Bridgeman defeated Min Woo Lee 1-up to clinch the Presidents Cup for the United States. Koivun also won his singles match, beating Si Woo Kim 2-up. Both featured in the American comeback that ended with a 17–13 final score.

Stroke play and match play reward different decisions. At Biltmore, every stroke counted toward a four-round total against the entire field. At Medinah, each hole had its own outcome against an opponent, and the team scoreboard supplied a separate layer of pressure.

Bridgeman's two Sundays offer a clear example of that contrast. His Asheville victory required four complete rounds and a low final total; his Medinah finish required winning one match. The U.S. picks review places that clinching contribution alongside the full-week records of Koivun and fellow debutant Chris Gotterup.