Smylie Kaufman expects three PGA Tour players to have breakout seasons in 2026

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Former PGA Tour player Smylie Kaufman has made some bold predictions ahead of the 2026 season.

The season is set to start at the Sony Open next week after Hawaii’s other event, The Sentry, was cancelled.

One of the biggest talking points at the beginning of every year is which players will develop into stars, as Ben Griffin and J.J. Spaun did in 2025.

Kaufman has now picked three golfers who could have similar breakout seasons on the PGA Tour in 2026.

• READ MORE: Smylie Kaufman predicts who’ll win more on the PGA Tour in 2026: Scheffler, McIlroy or Fleetwood

Michael Thorbjornsen

Kaufman’s first pick was Michael Thorbjornsen, who recently made the news for his excellent debut performance in TGL.

The 24-year-old had a strong end to the 2025 PGA Tour season and could make an impression in this year’s major championships.

“The first guy is Thor, Michael Thorbjornsen,” Kaufman said. “I was just blown away looking at his whole profile, and you get excited when you see statistics of some young guys. You’re like, ‘Oh yeah, this guy can potentially be a top-end player of the game,’ especially when you’ve got a full year of data.

“What I really liked with Thor is that he was seventh off the tee, but what I really liked is that he had 64 percent driving accuracy. If you’re a long player, which he is… he was sixth in the driving distance category this year, and he had 64 percent accuracy.

“That is a really great recipe to make a lot of money on the PGA Tour, but also to play your way into being a top player. What I liked, too, was that he was 120th in putting, and you and I both know that Stephen Sweeney is going to get him right. He putted well on TGL the other night if that means anything.”

Rico Hoey

Rico Hoey is another player who ended last year in excellent form, with four top-10 finishes in his last seven starts.

Hoey’s biggest weakness is his putting, but he has recently changed to a broomstick putter to improve in that area.

Kaufman added: “Rico Hoey. When we say he struggles with putting… He was 180th in putting. He only gained strokes with the putter in three weeks of the entire season.

“What I thought was super interesting about Rico was, first of all, he was second tee to green and eighth in approach. This is a guy who is just a flusher. He plays with a ton of swag. I love the way in which he carries himself. He’s a good player out of USC.

“But let’s look at the way he ended his fall season. He had four top-seven finishes in the fall. He was outside the top 100 heading into the FedExCup Fall, so he was potentially about to lose his PGA Tour card despite being second from tee to green. How is this even possible?

“He played his way into the top 60, so now he’s in that next 10 category and gets into the first two signature events. I think he’s poised to get to a really good start and have a big year.”

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Kurt Kitayama

The third player Kaufman expects to succeed in 2026 is former Arnold Palmer Invitational winner Kurt Kitayama.

He even predicted Kitayama to make the United States team for the Presidents Cup later this year. 

Kaufman continued: “Kurt Kitayama. He is a guy we all remember winning at Bay Hill, and we were like, ‘Who is this guy? Where did he come from?’

“He is another player who shocked me when I looked at his stats. His driving distance was fifth. Kurt Kitayama was fifth in the driving distance stat. 120 or 121 (mph) club head speed is his average, so he is a guy who swings it way faster than people realize.

“So, you throw that in, and you look at his proximity with his irons. He was fifth in his proximity with his irons. He smashes his driver. He is 148th with the putter… Kitayama is probably the most well-rounded of these guys, and he has proven that he can win on the biggest stage, winning at Bay Hill.

“He’s an elite ball-striker, so if he just improves his putting… He’s already in all of the signature events; he’s 37th in the world. I think Kitayama is a guy who I predict will be on the Presidents Cup team.”