Source: Kaulig Companies Championship & Kaulig Giving
What a week! The 2026 Kaulig Companies Championship brought another unforgettable celebration of golf, community, entertainment, and giving to Firestone Country Club – and this year carried even more meaning as we celebrated the final Championship at a course that has been part of Northeast Ohio’s professional golf history for more than seven decades.
The festivities began Wednesday evening with the annual VIP Party, bringing together friends, colleagues, partners, and supporters to kick off Championship Week. It was the perfect start to several days centered around connection, celebration, and everything that makes this event so special to our community.
On Thursday, tournament play officially began at Firestone while another special celebration took place just a few miles away at House Three Thirty. Two-time major champion John Daly was honored as the 2026 recipient of the Ambassador of Golf Award, presented by Northern Ohio Golf Charities & Foundation in conjunction with the Kaulig Companies Championship. Friends, family, sponsors, and members of the golf community gathered to celebrate Daly’s remarkable career and lasting impact on the game.
Friday brought even more excitement as Championship golf continued before Firestone transformed for an unforgettable night of live music. Multi-platinum country artist Bailey Zimmerman took the stage in the Kaulig Infinity Zone, with Akron’s own The Shootouts opening the show. Bringing an artist of this caliber to Akron was another opportunity to create an experience that extended beyond the golf course and brought our community together in a whole new way.
The energy continued into Saturday with another full day of championship golf and entertainment, including Rockin’ on the Green featuring Red Wanting Blue. Throughout the weekend, fans filled Firestone to watch an incredible 78-player field compete on the iconic South Course while enjoying everything Championship Week had to offer.
Then came Championship Sunday – a day filled with celebration, gratitude, and plenty of emotion. Our Kaulig Companies team gathered for one final group photo, commemorating the people, partnerships, and memories that have made this event so meaningful over the years. On the course, Zach Johnson capped off an incredible week by finishing 15-under and securing a six-shot victory, earning his first PGA TOUR Champions major title.
While this year’s Championship marked the end of an era at Firestone Country Club, the memories and impact created throughout these years will live far beyond the final putt. For Kaulig Giving, the Championship has always represented so much more than golf. It has provided a platform to celebrate our nonprofit partners, bring people together, showcase Northeast Ohio, and create meaningful charitable impact throughout the communities we call home.
To every nonprofit partner, volunteer, fan, colleague, community member, golfer, and friend who has been part of this journey: thank you. You helped make Championship Week – and every year leading up to it – something truly special.
We are incredibly grateful to have been part of this chapter in Firestone’s storied history and proud of the impact created along the way and look forward to what comes next.
Relive the 2026 Kaulig Companies Championship:
Read more about Zach Johnson’s Championship victory:
Zach Johnson Wins at Firestone Country Club for First PGA TOUR Champions Major Title
Read about John Daly receiving the 2026 Ambassador of Golf Award: