It’s been a pretty poor start to the 2026 season for 2023 Open Championship winner Brian Harman.
He started the season with two missed cuts and a T61 finish, and has found himself in the top 50 in just three of seven events so far.
That said, Harman did find some form in his last outing at The Players. While he wasn’t in contention on Sunday, a round of 64 on Friday meant he finished the event in T11. And according to the American, it was a result that finally reflected his performances.
Brian Harman says why he was really upset with his results at the start of 2026
Four-time PGA Tour winner Harman is playing in his final event before The Masters, the Valero Texas Open, where he won last year. He’s hoping to build on his performance at The Players, after what he called a disappointing set of results.
He said, “Starting the year, I have been happy with my game, just really upset with the results. I felt like I was getting out there and kind of shooting the highest score that I could every day.
“Kind of when I got it going, I couldn’t keep it going, and when I got it going bad, I didn’t really have a good answer for it. So it was a tough first day at The Players, was pretty down. Played the last three days pretty well, had a big day on Friday.
“It finally felt like I kind of turned the corner a little bit and felt like I got a little better command on things. I had my head down, working really hard. I kind of went for it on 16 of The Players. I could have finished a little bit better if I had played a little bit safer, but that’s not what we’re here to do.”
Harman will be hoping that he’s found something at TPC Sawgrass that he can bring into the rest of the year, as the first major of the season approaches.
Brian Harman says if he thinks he can still win at 39 years old
Harman is approaching 40, but the start of 2026 has seen both Justin Rose and Gary Woodland win in their mid-40s.
But does Harman think that he can match those impressive feats? Before the Texas Open, he says he feels better than ever.
He was asked if it scares him that this year’s Masters will be his 400th career start, and he replied, “No, no, I feel like I’m just getting going. Obviously, that voice creeps in all the time, 39 years old, been out here, this is my 15th year, I think.
“So statistics say it’s kind of coming to an end, but I don’t feel that way. I feel like I’ve got a lot left in the tank. My body’s in as good shape as it’s ever been. I’m feeling really good. My ball speed’s gotten up a little bit, so I feel like I can contend in most places.”
Woodland has set the blueprint, ranking second on the PGA Tour in driving distance in 2026 at 41. In modern golf, it seems that elder statesmen on tour can still compete for distance and speed with the younger generation, so you cannot rule them out at Augusta.
