ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Tournament officials today announced the sponsor exemptions for the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville, set for Sept. 17-20, 2026, at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.

Brendan Valdes will make his sixth career start on the PGA Tour and first since stepping away from competitive golf after being diagnosed with primary mediastinal lymphoma in January. Valdes underwent treatment in Auburn, Alabama and entered remission in June before being declared cancer-free by the end of the month. A graduate of Auburn University, Valdes finished his collegiate career as the No. 2 player in the PGA Tour University Class of 2025, earning exempt membership on the Korn Ferry Tour for the remainder of the 2025 season. A two-time First-Team All-American, Valdes was a key contributor in helping the Tigers win the 2024 NCAA Championship, the first national title in program history.

A senior at Western Carolina University, Tyler Jones will make his PGA Tour debut as a sponsor exemption. Jones recorded one of the best seasons in program history with three individual titles, including the 2025 J.T. Poston Invitational, hosted by WCU in Waynesville, North Carolina. Jones was named the 2025-26 Southern Conference Player of the Year, becoming the fourth player in WCU history to earn the award and first since J.T. Poston in 2014. A native of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Jones played two seasons collegiately at UNC Charlotte prior to transferring to WCU in 2025.

Currently ranked No. 21 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Carson Bertagnole is making his second PGA Tour start and first since the 2026 Puerto Rico Open. The Pinehurst, North Carolina native is in his sophomore season at the University of North Carolina where he earned Third-Team All-America honors last year and became the fourth Tar Heel to be named Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year.

University of Tennessee freshman Tyler Watts, No. 3 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, is making his third ever start on the PGA Tour and first of the 2026 season. The left-handed 18-year-old made the cut in each of his two starts on Tour last Fall at the Procore Championship (finished T53) and Butterfield Bermuda Championship (T58). A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Watts owns an impressive amateur resume, including being the youngest player to win the Alabama State Amateur Championship (15 years old in 2023), helping the United States Team win the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup, finishing runner-up at the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur and garnering 2025 AJGA Rolex Junior All-America First Team honors.

“This group brings a lot of talent, and it's an exciting opportunity for them to compete on this stage,” said Nate Goldsnider, Event Director of the Biltmore Championship Asheville. “They add real depth to what's already shaping up to be a strong field for our inaugural year. We're excited to welcome them to Asheville and The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.”

The inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville marks the PGA TOUR's return to Asheville for the first time in more than 80 years and serves as the opening event of the FedExCup Fall. Additional information, including tickets and hospitality packages, is available at BiltmoreChampionship.com