PGA Tour makes announcement ahead of Austin Championship final round

The PGA Tour has announced a significant change to Sunday's final-round schedule at the Austin Championship presented by Compliance Solutions, with the threat of inclement weather prompting an earlier start for the tournament's closing day.

In a statement released on Saturday, the PGA Tour confirmed that final-round tee times would take place between approximately 7:00 a.m. and 9:01 a.m. CT, with players going out in groups of three from both the 1st and 10th tees.

The statement read: "Due to forecasted inclement weather, final round starting times at the Austin Championship presented by Compliance Solutions will be approximately 7:00 - 9:01 a.m. CT off Nos. 1 and 10 tees in groups of three."

The decision comes with a challenging weather forecast for the Austin region on Sunday, with thunderstorms and heavy showers expected to affect the area.

According to the latest forecast, Omni Barton Creek in Austin is set for considerable cloudiness, with a chance of heavy thunderstorms and a daytime precipitation probability of 99%. 

Temperatures are expected to reach a high of around 63°F (17°C), with storms forecast during the early morning hours when the final groups will begin their rounds.

The weather is therefore likely to be a significant talking point throughout Sunday's action, with the PGA Tour bringing forward proceedings in an attempt to navigate the forecast conditions.

There is certainly no shortage of contenders heading into the final round, with the leaderboard tightly packed and several players firmly in the hunt for victory.

Trace Crowe Sami Valimaki, Erik van Rooyen, Chad Ramey and Ben Kohles are among those battling near the top, while Austin Smotherman is another major name to watch. 

Smotherman arrives in particularly impressive form and is chasing a remarkable third consecutive victory on the PGA Tour. Having already enjoyed a hugely successful run, he will be hoping to maintain that momentum and complete another memorable week in Texas.

Keep track of the latest Austin Championship scores here.

The tournament also carries significant implications beyond the battle for the trophy, with the Austin Championship serving as the penultimate event of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Fall Series.

Next week's RSM Classic represents the final opportunity for players to improve their positions before the FedEx Cup standings are finalised. The top 100 players in the standings following that tournament will secure their PGA Tour cards for the 2027 season.

That means Sunday's final round could prove hugely important for a number of competitors, particularly those hovering around the crucial top-100 cut-off. For some, a strong finish could make the difference between retaining full playing privileges and facing a much more uncertain future.

There is also an interesting backstory to this week's tournament. Originally announced as the Good Good Championship in October 2025, the event was intended to bring professional golf and creator culture together through a multi-year partnership with YouTube golf collective Good Good.

However, following controversy surrounding a promotional video released in August 2026, Good Good withdrew as title sponsor. The PGA Tour subsequently confirmed that the tournament would remain on the schedule, taking responsibility for the $6 million purse. The event was rebranded as the Austin Championship before Compliance Solutions was secured as presenting sponsor.

With the weather threatening to play its part, a tightly contested leaderboard and valuable FedEx Cup points up for grabs, there is plenty at stake as the Austin Championship heads towards its conclusion.