Austin Smotherman won the 2026 Butterfield Bermuda Championship on Monday, October 26, defeating Ireland’s Seamus Power on the third sudden-death playoff hole at Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda. The victory gave the American his second PGA Tour title in October after severe winds forced the tournament to be shortened to 54 holes.
Smotherman and Power completed three rounds tied at 16-under-par 197 before returning on Monday to determine the champion. Both players made par on the first two playoff holes, but Smotherman secured the title with another par on the third after Power made bogey.
The victory came just 22 days after Smotherman captured his maiden PGA Tour title at the Bank of Utah Championship.
How Austin Smotherman Won the Bermuda Championship Playoff
The playoff unfolded on Port Royal’s spectacular par-3 16th hole, an exposed oceanside challenge where strong winds remained a major factor.
On the first extra hole, Smotherman missed the green to the right but recovered with a delicate chip that left him a short par putt. Power found the putting surface with his tee shot and had an opportunity to win with a birdie, but his putt missed.
Both players made par, sending the contest back to the 16th tee.
The second playoff hole brought another testing situation for Power when his approach finished in the left greenside bunker. The Irishman played a controlled recovery shot and converted his par putt, matching Smotherman, who safely two-putted from long range.
Tournament officials then moved the hole location for the third attempt.
Smotherman found the green with his tee shot, while Power missed left and faced a difficult recovery from thick rough. His chip barely reached the putting surface, leaving a lengthy par attempt.
Power could not save par and settled for bogey.
That opened the door for Smotherman, who two-putted to secure the championship and complete a dramatic Monday finish.
Speaking to Golf Channel after his victory, Smotherman admitted: “I’m still shaking.”
The decisive putt delivered another significant milestone in a remarkable October for the 32-year-old.
Why the 2026 Bermuda Championship Was Shortened to 54 Holes
The tournament had originally been scheduled for four rounds from October 22 to October 25.
However, severe weather disrupted the championship on Sunday, October 25, when wind gusts exceeded 40 mph at Port Royal Golf Course.
Conditions became too dangerous for competition, and none of the 72 players who had made the cut began their final round.
PGA Tour officials initially considered completing the tournament on Monday. With further unfavorable weather forecast, they determined that there was insufficient confidence the entire field could complete another 18 holes.
The Tour consequently declared the championship final after 54 holes, subject to a playoff between the two players tied for first.
Smotherman and Power were two strokes clear of their nearest challengers, leaving them to contest the title on Monday morning.
It was the first PGA Tour tournament reduced to 54 holes since the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Butterfield Bermuda Championship 2026 Final Results
Smotherman recorded rounds of 65, 66 and 66 to finish on 16-under 197. Power reached the same total with rounds of 66, 64 and 67.
The final leading positions were:
| Position | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Smotherman (USA) | −16 (197), won playoff |
| 2 | Seamus Power (Ireland) | −16 (197) |
| T3 | Taylor Moore (USA) | −14 (199) |
| T3 | Corey Conners (Canada) | −14 (199) |
| T3 | Ben Silverman (Canada) | −14 (199) |
| T6 | Tom Hoge, Chris Kirk, Chan Kim, Danny Walker, Chandler Blanchet | −13 (200) |
The championship carried a total prize fund of $6 million.
Smotherman earned $1,080,000 for winning, while Power collected $654,000 as runner-up. Moore, Conners and Silverman each received $318,000 for their share of third place.
Further down the standings, Ben Kohles finished tied for 17th at 10 under, while Neal Shipley was tied for 34th at eight under.
All regulation scores were finalized after Saturday’s third round, with Monday’s playoff determining only the champion.
Why Smotherman’s Second PGA Tour Victory Matters
Smotherman entered October without a PGA Tour victory.
On October 4, he changed that by winning the Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah, finishing 26 under par and two strokes ahead of Doug Ghim.
That breakthrough came in his 100th PGA Tour start.
Just over three weeks later, he had added a second title.
The Bermuda victory strengthens Smotherman’s position for the next stages of his PGA Tour career. According to Golf Channel, his latest success extends his exemption in the Tour’s new Championship Series through 2029.
For Power, the playoff defeat was disappointing, particularly given his history at Port Royal.
The Irishman won the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in 2022 and had been seeking his third PGA Tour victory. His other title came at the 2021 Barbasol Championship.
Although he narrowly missed another trophy, his runner-up performance substantially improved his FedExCup Fall position and helped secure his playing status for 2027.
What Happens Next for Smotherman and Power?
The PGA Tour’s FedExCup Fall schedule continues with the VidantaWorld Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta from October 29 to November 1.
However, Golf Channel reported on October 26 that both Smotherman and Power had withdrawn from the upcoming event.
For Smotherman, attention now turns to the benefits of his second victory and his opportunities in the 2027 season, including a place in the U.S. Open field.
Power, meanwhile, leaves Bermuda with renewed confidence from a runner-up finish and a stronger position heading toward next season.
The 2026 Butterfield Bermuda Championship will be remembered for its extreme conditions, unusual 54-hole finish and tense three-hole playoff.
For Austin Smotherman, it will also be remembered as the tournament that turned his breakthrough PGA Tour month into a two-title run.