Jacob Bridgeman just wanted to get the competitive juices flowing ahead of his debut representing the United States in international competition ahead of next week’s Presidents Cup.
Mission accomplished.
Bridgeman shot a bogey-free 10-under 61 at the Cliffs at Walnut Cove on Sunday to win the 2026 Biltmore Championship Asheville in North Carolina by two strokes over Ben James.
“There are going to be a lot of guys lining up to play with him next week,” said Golf Channel analyst Brendon de Jonge.
Bridgeman, the highest-ranked player in the field this week, birdied three of the first four holes to cut into his deficit entering the final round. He rolled in a 10-foot eagle at the par-5 eight hole, nabbed another birdie at 10 and then poured in three straight
beginning at 13. A two-putt birdie at 17 provided a two-stroke cushion en route to a 72-hole total of 26-under 258. His 61 wasn’t even the lowest round of the day. That figure was matched by James and bettered by one by J.T. Poston, a Western Carolina University grad, who missed a 26-foot birdie putt at the last in his bid to shoot 59.
“I felt like starting the day I had nothing to lose and was going to go out there and try and birdie every hole,” Poston said.
The Tour's debut in Asheville marked the first time in 84 years that the PGA Tour has visited this part of Western Carolina. Bridgeman, who earned his maiden Tour title in February at the Genesis Invitational, was a fitting inaugural winner. He’s a member of The Cliffs community, which includes seven courses in North Carolina and South Carolina, and noted before the tournament began that he might benefit from a bit of local knowledge, not to mention fan support.
“It's only an hour and 20 minutes from my house and even closer to where I grew up,” he said. “A teammate of mine, his dad is a pro at a course up in Asheville, and we came and played a couple times and just always enjoyed the area.”
Bridgeman recorded his seventh top-10 finish of the season and third in a row. He was a captain’s pick for the U.S. Presidents Cup, which faces The International Team at Medinah No. 3 in Chicago. Asked what that selection meant to him, he said, “Coolest thing ever. I've never had that much anticipation in my life in this sport.”
And cool to head there with a win that felt like a home game.
Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jacob Bridgeman wins Biltmore Championship Asheville in style
