The PGA Tour announced Monday that it will make sweeping changes to its field sizes, membership structure, priority rankings and FedEx Cup points system. The changes were approved by the PGA Tour Policy Board ahead of this week's RSM Classic and will take effect at the start of the 2026 season.
“The PAC discussions were based on a number of guiding principles, including our belief that PGA Tour membership represents the pinnacle of achievement in men's professional golf,” said board member and 14-time PGA Tour winner Adam Scott. “The PGA Tour player representatives recognize the need to continually improve their offerings to enhance the golf fan experience. The changes approved today will provide equitable playing opportunities for new young talent and positively improve the playing experience for our members.”
Key changes include reducing exempt status from the top 125 players to the top 100 players in the FedEx Cup. Those at ranks 101-125 will now only receive conditional status with some restrictions instead of full-time status.
Numbers 101-110 will be in their own exemption category through the FedEx Cup fall, including major medical extensions, above a category for numbers 111-125 and another for numbers 126-150. The change is intended to help those who purchased PGA Tour tickets through the DP World Tour and Korn Ferry Tour, as these individuals have had difficulty competing in full-field events under the current exemption categories.
The Top 125 exemption system has been in place since 1983.
This decision will prevail and result in smaller fields and fewer membership opportunities. The maximum field size for a single-course tournament will be reduced from 156 players to 144 players for most events, 120 players for tournaments played before daylight saving time (including World Cup Phoenix Open, Players Championship). Three tournaments, held after summer time but before the Masters, will feature 132 players.
“These field size adjustments, which also promote better play flow, increase the chances of rounds being completed each day and allow for a greater opportunity to complete the 36-hole cut on time under normal weather conditions,” said Tyler Dennis, Chief PGA Tour Competition Officer said. “For our fans, this peace of mind makes weekend action much more effective and the PGA Tour easier and more enjoyable to follow.”
The number of PGA Tour cards awarded to Korn Ferry Tour graduates will be reduced from 30 to 20 annually. A maximum of five PGA Tour cards will be awarded through Q-School, while the DP World Tour avenue will remain unchanged and the top ten players in the Race to Dubai (who are not otherwise exempt) will receive PGA Tour cards. Open qualification for 144-player events remains unchanged, but will be reduced to two spots for 132-player fields and eliminated entirely for 120-player fields.
The FedEx Cup points system will also see a slight change. Observe the advice of Maverick McNealyThe PGA Tour adjusted the FedEx Cup points distribution table so that runners-up in major championships and the Players Championship receive more, while those who finish 11th and above receive less. A similar adjustment will be made in Signature Events, where those who finish in 7th place and above will receive fewer points. These changes, unlike the others, will come into force in 2025.
“While the FedExCup points system worked as planned and met the key objectives set for the season, player feedback indicated that we needed to examine certain areas of the points system,” Dennis said. “Member input and collaboration with the Player Advisory Council were critical to developing an equitable points system.”