Former Skyhawk Golfer Zach Haynes Ready For PGA Championship Appearance
5/13/2026 11:28:00 AM | Golf
MARTIN, Tenn. – The list of 156 participants in the 108th PGA Championship includes University of Tennessee at Martin alum Zach Haynes, who will tee off tomorrow in a showcase of some of the best golfers in the world at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa.
Haynes, who was part of the Skyhawks' first-ever Ohio Valley Conference championship squad in 2016 during his four seasons (2014-18) under head coach Jerry Carpenter at UT Martin, arrived in Pennsylvania on Sunday and played his practice round yesterday alongside Keith Mitchell and Harris English. Haynes will tee off tomorrow at 1:16 p.m. CT off Hole No. 1 with Alex Smalley and Chandler Blanchet.
Haynes' pairing is one group behind a star-studded trio of World No. 1 ranked Scottie Scheffler (defending PGA Championship winner and four-time major winner), World No. 4 ranked Matt Fitzpatrick and World No. 7 ranked Justin Rose.
In Round 2 on Friday, Haynes will tee off at 7:51 a.m. CT alongside Smalley and Blanchet off Hole No. 10. The top 70 players (plus ties) in the field will then advance to Round 3 on Saturday, May 16 with the Wanamaker Trophy presentation coming after Round 4 on Sunday, May 17.
The second of four golf majors this season, the 2026 PGA Championship field includes 15 PGA champions and 29 winners of previous majors. Located just outside of Philadelphia, the par-70 Aronimink Golf Club is playing at 7,394 yards and last hosted a PGA Championship in 1962.
"We all dream about something like this when we are playing junior golf," Haynes said. "The coolest part has probably been once the crowd got here yesterday – you look at the size of the grandstands and there are thousands of people here screaming at you and kids are asking you for autographs. All of the big names are around – I was in the short-game area chipping on the same green as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. They just make you feel like a tour player – you get the full experience and the buildup is huge because it's a major championship."
Haynes is one of 20 PGA of America professionals who earned a spot in this year's tournament field. The journey began in August 2025 as Haynes won the Kentucky PGA Professional Championship, which was one of 41 sections across the country that produced qualifiers to the PGA Professional Championship, held on April 26-29 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon. Needing a top-20 finish in the 320-man field at the PGA Professional Championship, Haynes placed fourth in the standings with a 286 (-1) that included rounds of 74-71-71-70.
A Smyrna, Tenn. native, Haynes is currently one of two PGA Teaching Professionals at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Ky. He turned professional in 2018 and made his third career start at the aforementioned 2026 PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes after his 139 (-5) included a final-round 69 at the 74th Kentucky PGA Professional Championship at Big Spring Country Club in Louisville. Previous notable finishes for Haynes include a tie for first place with an even-par 144 at the 2024 Kentucky PGA Professional Championship held at the famed Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville and a runner-up finish at the 2023 Fort Lauderdale Open (135, -9) in Plantation, Fla.
Haynes, 30, will encounter somewhat familiar surroundings and support this week. He played the Aronimink Golf Club two years ago although the course has been lengthened and reconfigured for this week's event. Haynes' former Skyhawk teammate Hunter Richardson – a UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024 inductee – will caddy for him just as he did at Bandon Dunes.
"Hunter is my best friend so it's been special having him along for the ride," Haynes said. "We've played a lot of golf together – he's been great on the bag because he's played in professional tournaments and understands how to handle the nerves. We kind of speak the same language when it comes to shot selection and everything else so when the moment is big, it's nice to have someone there that we have other stuff to talk about and share a lot of laughs. For both of us to experience a major championship together from inside the ropes has been pretty cool."
This week won't be the last high-profile event on Haynes' calendar as he has already qualified to represent the United States in the PGA Cup – essentially equivalent to the Ryder Cup for PGA of America against the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland – in Kildare, Ireland on Oct. 2-4.
Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford is a former teammate of Haynes and also was a graduate assistant coach to the lefty who competed in 68 rounds over 24 collegiate tournaments.
"This is such a huge accomplishment and we are so proud of Zach," Swafford said. "To watch Zach get to compete against the best golfers in the world this week is a major milestone and a testament to his hard work and dedication. We wish Zach all the best of luck and know he will represent himself, Olde Stone and UT Martin well on this global stage at the PGA Championship."
Fans can watch the 2026 PGA Championship on ESPN and ESPN+ for the first two rounds while CBS and Paramount+ continues the television coverage for Rounds 3 and 4. To follow along with Haynes' individual progress, click on his official player profile at this link.
Haynes, who was part of the Skyhawks' first-ever Ohio Valley Conference championship squad in 2016 during his four seasons (2014-18) under head coach Jerry Carpenter at UT Martin, arrived in Pennsylvania on Sunday and played his practice round yesterday alongside Keith Mitchell and Harris English. Haynes will tee off tomorrow at 1:16 p.m. CT off Hole No. 1 with Alex Smalley and Chandler Blanchet.
Haynes' pairing is one group behind a star-studded trio of World No. 1 ranked Scottie Scheffler (defending PGA Championship winner and four-time major winner), World No. 4 ranked Matt Fitzpatrick and World No. 7 ranked Justin Rose.
In Round 2 on Friday, Haynes will tee off at 7:51 a.m. CT alongside Smalley and Blanchet off Hole No. 10. The top 70 players (plus ties) in the field will then advance to Round 3 on Saturday, May 16 with the Wanamaker Trophy presentation coming after Round 4 on Sunday, May 17.
The second of four golf majors this season, the 2026 PGA Championship field includes 15 PGA champions and 29 winners of previous majors. Located just outside of Philadelphia, the par-70 Aronimink Golf Club is playing at 7,394 yards and last hosted a PGA Championship in 1962.
"We all dream about something like this when we are playing junior golf," Haynes said. "The coolest part has probably been once the crowd got here yesterday – you look at the size of the grandstands and there are thousands of people here screaming at you and kids are asking you for autographs. All of the big names are around – I was in the short-game area chipping on the same green as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. They just make you feel like a tour player – you get the full experience and the buildup is huge because it's a major championship."
Haynes is one of 20 PGA of America professionals who earned a spot in this year's tournament field. The journey began in August 2025 as Haynes won the Kentucky PGA Professional Championship, which was one of 41 sections across the country that produced qualifiers to the PGA Professional Championship, held on April 26-29 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon. Needing a top-20 finish in the 320-man field at the PGA Professional Championship, Haynes placed fourth in the standings with a 286 (-1) that included rounds of 74-71-71-70.
A Smyrna, Tenn. native, Haynes is currently one of two PGA Teaching Professionals at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, Ky. He turned professional in 2018 and made his third career start at the aforementioned 2026 PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes after his 139 (-5) included a final-round 69 at the 74th Kentucky PGA Professional Championship at Big Spring Country Club in Louisville. Previous notable finishes for Haynes include a tie for first place with an even-par 144 at the 2024 Kentucky PGA Professional Championship held at the famed Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville and a runner-up finish at the 2023 Fort Lauderdale Open (135, -9) in Plantation, Fla.
Haynes, 30, will encounter somewhat familiar surroundings and support this week. He played the Aronimink Golf Club two years ago although the course has been lengthened and reconfigured for this week's event. Haynes' former Skyhawk teammate Hunter Richardson – a UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024 inductee – will caddy for him just as he did at Bandon Dunes.
"Hunter is my best friend so it's been special having him along for the ride," Haynes said. "We've played a lot of golf together – he's been great on the bag because he's played in professional tournaments and understands how to handle the nerves. We kind of speak the same language when it comes to shot selection and everything else so when the moment is big, it's nice to have someone there that we have other stuff to talk about and share a lot of laughs. For both of us to experience a major championship together from inside the ropes has been pretty cool."
This week won't be the last high-profile event on Haynes' calendar as he has already qualified to represent the United States in the PGA Cup – essentially equivalent to the Ryder Cup for PGA of America against the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland – in Kildare, Ireland on Oct. 2-4.
Skyhawk head coach Austin Swafford is a former teammate of Haynes and also was a graduate assistant coach to the lefty who competed in 68 rounds over 24 collegiate tournaments.
"This is such a huge accomplishment and we are so proud of Zach," Swafford said. "To watch Zach get to compete against the best golfers in the world this week is a major milestone and a testament to his hard work and dedication. We wish Zach all the best of luck and know he will represent himself, Olde Stone and UT Martin well on this global stage at the PGA Championship."
Fans can watch the 2026 PGA Championship on ESPN and ESPN+ for the first two rounds while CBS and Paramount+ continues the television coverage for Rounds 3 and 4. To follow along with Haynes' individual progress, click on his official player profile at this link.
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