Chris Gabriele’s Road to the 2026 PGA Championship

by Metropolitan PGA | May 18, 2026 | Championships, News | 0 comments

From Bandon Dunes to Aronimink: Chris Gabriele’s Road to the 2026 PGA Championship

Explore the stories, interviews, podcasts, videos and memorable moments surrounding Metropolitan PGA Professional Chris Gabriele’s Major Championship debut

Chris Gabriele, PGA, began the 2026 season stepping into a new leadership role as Head Golf Professional at Old Westbury Golf & Country Club. Just weeks later, the Metropolitan PGA Professional produced the defining shot of his competitive career to earn a place in his first Major Championship.

Gabriele represented the Metropolitan Section as one of 20 PGA of America Golf Professionals in the 108th PGA Championship, contested May 14–17 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

His road to Aronimink included four demanding rounds at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, a dramatic eagle on the final hole of the PGA Professional Championship and an unforgettable week competing alongside the strongest field in golf.

This hub brings together Gabriele’s championship journey, features, interviews, podcasts, videos and results from a milestone moment in his career.

The Shot That Sent Gabriele to a Major

Gabriele secured his place in the PGA Championship at the 2026 PGA Professional Championship, held April 26–29 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon.

The championship was contested on the resort’s Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes courses, challenging 312 PGA of America Golf Professionals with unpredictable weather, strong winds and two of the country’s most demanding coastal layouts.

It was Gabriele’s fourth appearance in the PGA Professional Championship.

He opened with a 2-over-par 74 before responding with a 2-under 69 at Pacific Dunes. A third-round 73 left Gabriele at 2-over for the championship and tied for 12th entering the final round.

The top 20 finishers would earn places in the PGA Championship as members of the Corebridge Financial Team.

Gabriele began the final round on the Bandon Dunes course with a purpose, making the turn in 3-under-par 33. However, five bogeys during a seven-hole stretch on the back nine put his PGA Championship hopes in jeopardy.

When Gabriele arrived at the par-5 18th, he believed he needed a birdie simply to have an opportunity to participate in a playoff for one of the final qualifying positions.

After finding the fairway with his tee shot, Gabriele struck a 3-wood from 263 yards to inside five feet. He converted the eagle putt, completing an even-par 72 and finishing the championship at 1-over-par 288.

The eagle proved to be even more valuable than he initially realized. It moved Gabriele one stroke clear of the qualifying line, secured a tie for 10th and officially sent him to the PGA Championship.

He had earned a place in his first Major.

Click here for a video about his Thought Behind the Putt

A New Chapter at Old Westbury

Gabriele’s qualification came during a period of significant change in his professional career.

In March 2026, he became Head Golf Professional at Old Westbury Golf & Country Club. While Gabriele traveled across the country to compete at Bandon Dunes, his wife, Caitlin, remained at Old Westbury to oversee the golf shop that the couple operates together.

That support allowed Gabriele to pursue an opportunity that ultimately led to the biggest competitive achievement of his career.

Before arriving at Old Westbury, Gabriele served as a PGA Assistant Professional at Quaker Ridge Golf Club. He also previously worked under David Young, PGA, at Sleepy Hollow Country Club from 2019–22.

Gabriele was named the Metropolitan PGA’s 2025 Assistant Golf Professional of the Year in recognition of his contributions as a PGA Professional, competitor, mentor and member of the Section’s Assistants Board.

Growing Up in the Metropolitan Section

Gabriele’s PGA Championship appearance carried additional meaning because of his longstanding connection to the Metropolitan Section.

A native of Cold Spring Harbor, New York, Gabriele grew up competing in Metropolitan PGA junior events. Among the players he encountered during those early years was future PGA TOUR winner and Met PGA Foundation Ambassador Cameron Young.

Gabriele’s connection to the Young family later continued at Sleepy Hollow, where he worked for Cameron’s father, longtime PGA Head Professional David Young.

Years after competing in the same junior golf community, Gabriele and Cameron Young were reunited as members of the field at the 2026 PGA Championship. The PGA of America highlighted their relationship during championship coverage, sharing the story of two players whose careers followed different paths before leading both to Aronimink.

Young arrived as one of the leading players in professional golf. Gabriele arrived as a first-year Head Professional who had earned his opportunity through the PGA Professional Championship.

Both reached one of golf’s biggest stages with roots firmly planted in the Metropolitan Section.

Making His Major Championship Debut

The 2026 PGA Championship marked Gabriele’s first appearance in a Major Championship.

The 30-year-old joined the Corebridge Financial Team, a group consisting of the top 20 finishers from the PGA Professional Championship. These PGA of America Golf Professionals represented clubs and facilities across the country while competing in the same field as Major champions and many of the world’s highest-ranked players.

Gabriele was grouped with William Mouw and Taylor Pendrith for the opening two rounds at Aronimink. His father, Paul, served as his caddie, while Caitlin and a large group of family members, friends, club members and Metropolitan Section supporters followed his experience.

Gabriele opened the championship with a 6-over-par 76. One of the highlights of his first round came at the 11th hole, where his approach set up a memorable moment that was shared by both the PGA and PGA Championship media channels.

He followed with a second-round 78, completing his Major Championship debut at 14-over-par 154. Although he did not advance to the weekend, the final score did little to diminish the accomplishment or the experience.

Gabriele had gone from managing the daily responsibilities of a golf operation to competing in the strongest field in golf—and he had earned every part of the opportunity.

More Than a Tournament Result

For Gabriele, qualifying for the PGA Championship represented the possibilities available to PGA of America Golf Professionals.

His primary career is rooted in serving members, managing a golf operation, mentoring staff and helping players improve. At the same time, he has continued to develop his own competitive game.

Gabriele’s appearance at Aronimink was the culmination of years spent balancing those responsibilities.

A 2019 graduate of Clemson University’s PGA Golf Management program, Gabriele became a PGA of America Member that same year. His career has included roles at Sleepy Hollow, Quaker Ridge and Old Westbury, along with consistent involvement in Metropolitan PGA competition and leadership.

His competitive résumé also includes a pair of PGA Tournament Series victories in December 2024. Gabriele earned his first professional win in Event No. 2 before adding another victory in Event No. 6 less than two weeks later.

Those successes helped establish the confidence that eventually carried him through four rounds at Bandon Dunes and into the PGA Championship field.

Chris Gabriele’s Championship by the Numbers

2026 PGA Professional Championship

Venue: Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Oregon
Dates: April 26–29, 2026
Courses: Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes
Rounds: 74-69-73-72
Total: 288, 1-over par
Finish: Tied for 10th
Defining moment: Eagle on the par-5 18th hole in the final round
Result: Earned one of 20 places on the Corebridge Financial Team

2026 PGA Championship

Venue: Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Dates: May 14–17, 2026
Rounds: 76-78
Total: 154, 14-over par
Result: Missed the 36-hole cut
Caddie: His father, Paul
Significance: First PGA Championship and first Major Championship appearance

Explore the Journey

Qualifying at Bandon Dunes

Gabriele Secures Spot in PGA Championship
The Metropolitan Golf Association recounts Gabriele’s final round at Bandon Dunes, including his closing eagle and qualification for Aronimink.
Read the MGA feature

Jesse Droemer Wins the 2026 PGA Professional Championship
The PGA of America’s complete final-round recap includes Gabriele’s T-10 finish and the 20 PGA Professionals who advanced to the PGA Championship.
Read the PGA of America recap

Clutch Performance
The Met Golfer provides an expanded look at the pressure Gabriele faced over the closing holes and the 263-yard shot that changed his career.
Read “Clutch Performance”

The Eagle on No. 18
Watch the moment Gabriele eagled his 72nd hole at Bandon Dunes to give himself a chance at a PGA Championship berth.
Watch the qualifying moment

PGA Championship Features

Long Island Golf Professional Brings One Simple Goal to His PGA Championship Debut
The New York Post followed Gabriele during his first practice round at Aronimink and explored the emotions surrounding his Major debut.
Read the New York Post feature

Meet the Only Long Islander to Qualify for the PGA Championship
Greater Long Island details Gabriele’s journey to Bandon Dunes, his dramatic finish and his expectations entering his first Major.
Read the Greater Long Island feature

Twenty PGA Professionals Compete as the Corebridge Financial Team
Learn more about the 20 PGA of America Golf Professionals who earned places at Aronimink, including Gabriele’s route to his first Major.
Read the Corebridge Financial Team feature

Official PGA Championship Player Profile
Explore Gabriele’s biography, championship information, statistics and official player page.
View Gabriele’s PGA Championship profile

Gabriele Reflects After His Major Debut
Newsday spoke with Gabriele after his second round about the conclusion of an unforgettable first PGA Championship.
Read the Newsday article

Podcasts and Audio Interviews

The Eagle That Landed Him in a Major — The Mulligan Man Podcast
Gabriele discusses the pressure-packed final hole at Bandon Dunes, earning his place in the field and preparing to compete at Aronimink.
Listen on Apple Podcasts

Sports Innerview with Ann Liguori
Recorded during PGA Championship week at Aronimink, Gabriele joins fellow PGA Professional Tyler Collet to discuss qualifying and competing in the Major.
Listen on Spotify

Videos and Championship Moments

Gabriele’s Approach on No. 11
Watch one of the memorable shots from the opening round of his PGA Championship debut.
Watch on PGAChampionship.com

From Junior Golf to the PGA Championship
The PGA of America highlights Gabriele’s longtime relationship with Cameron Young and their shared Metropolitan Section roots.
Watch the Cameron Young and Chris Gabriele feature

A Metropolitan Section Reunion at Aronimink
Gabriele, Cameron Young and David Young reunite during PGA Championship week.
View the Met PGA feature

All Smiles at Aronimink
The PGA shares Gabriele’s highlight from the 11th hole during the opening round.
Watch the PGA highlight

Official Results and Profiles

Representing the Metropolitan Section

Gabriele’s PGA Championship journey captured what makes the championship’s group of PGA of America Golf Professionals so meaningful.

The members of the Corebridge Financial Team are coaches, mentors, merchandisers, tournament administrators and leaders at their respective facilities. Their everyday work is centered on serving golfers and growing the game. The PGA Professional Championship provides them with a route to compete on the same stage as the game’s most recognizable players.

For Gabriele, that route stretched from the Metropolitan Section to the Oregon coast and finally to Aronimink.

It required four rounds at Bandon Dunes, one fearless 3-wood and an eagle putt under the greatest pressure of his competitive career.

The result was an experience Gabriele, his family, Old Westbury Golf & Country Club and the entire Metropolitan PGA Section will not soon forget.