NORTON, Massachusetts (July 17, 2026) – Mass Golf on Friday officially announced a landmark partnership with the PGA TOUR’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship, establishing a direct pipeline from the Massachusetts Open Championship to the highest level of professional golf.
Starting in 2027, the winner of the Massachusetts Open will receive an exemption into the field for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, held annually in the fall shoulder season at the breathtaking Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda. Perched above Bermuda’s western coastline, Port Royal is one of the island’s two public courses and a cornerstone of Bermudian golf. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1970, the championship layout combines demanding play with dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
This historic agreement also marks the first time a Mass Golf champion will receive a direct, automatic exemption into an official PGA TOUR event.
“While the Massachusetts Open has always boasted one of the most competitive fields and respected purses in the country, this exemption is truly priceless,” said Jesse Menachem, Mass Golf Executive Director/CEO. “To offer our champion a direct pathway to compete alongside the world’s best on the PGA TOUR is a life-changing opportunity, and we are thrilled to partner with the Butterfield Bermuda Championship to make this dream a reality.”
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The partnership will also provide memorable experiences for active Mass Golf members, with access to Wednesday Pro-Am, along with general-admission and exclusive club/hospitality ticket opportunities. Additional details regarding pro-am qualification, member ticket packages, and travel accommodations will be announced by Mass Golf at a later date.
The championship has attracted accomplished fields featuring major champions Wyndham Clark, Pádraig Harrington, Francesco Molinari, Lucas Glover, Mike Weir and John Daly. Its winners include Camilo Villegas, who tied the tournament record at 24-under 260 in 2023 and has maintained a close friendship with Bridgewater golfer Victoria Veator and her family since meeting her at TPC Boston in 2009. Veator later supported Villegas’ family and Mia’s Miracles by distributing rainbow-colored ribbons in memory of his daughter, Mia.
Mass Golf is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to advancing golf in Massachusetts by building an engaged and inclusive community.
With a community made up of over 145,000 golf enthusiasts and over 360 member clubs, Mass Golf is one of the largest state golf associations in the country. Members enjoy the benefits of handicapping, engaging golf content, course rating and scoring services along with the opportunity to compete in an array of events for golfers of all ages and abilities.
At the forefront of junior development, Mass Golf is proud to offer programming to youth in the state through First Tee Massachusetts and subsidized rounds of golf by way of Youth on Course.
The Butterfield Bermuda Championship debuted in 2019 as the PGA TOUR’s first official event on the island. Held at the picturesque Port Royal Golf Course amidst a backdrop of turquoise waters and lush landscapes, the tournament generates more than $1 million in charitable impact each year, achieved through a variety of initiatives including the Butterfield Bermuda Championship Birdies for Charity, the BF&M Volunteer Programme, the Butterfield Bermuda Junior Championship and the Butterfield Bermuda APGA Championship.
