The PGA Tour is initiating its most significant changes to eligibility criteria in over four decades, with plans to cut 25 tour cards and reduce the overall size of tournament fields.
This all-exempt tour system has been in effect since 1983, enabling the top 125 players from the official money list—now known as the FedEx Cup standings—to retain full tour cards for the upcoming season.
Set to take effect in 2026, this policy adjustment has been approved by the PGA Tour Policy Board. Under the new structure, only the top 100 players will secure full tour cards for the following year, while the previously automatic advancement of the top 30 from the Korn Ferry Tour will now be limited to 20.
Additionally, just five players will earn cards from the qualifying school, a decrease from the previous five and ties that used to qualify.
The tour is also eliminating fields of 156 players, with the exception of two tournaments that take place on multiple courses. Most events will feature 120 players before Daylight Saving Time, increasing to 132 players during the spring, and reaching a maximum of 144 players during the summer months.
The rationale behind these changes revolves around the need to streamline eligibility.
With an all-exempt tour, membership ballooned to nearly 200 players, many of whom were unable to secure spots in tournaments due to a congested priority list.
Graduates from the Korn Ferry Tour, for instance, often found themselves participating in only a handful of events early in the season, putting them at a disadvantage.
The PGA Tour aims to ensure that limiting full status to the top 100 players will provide equitable access to all who meet the standard for earning a card.
The updated priority list for tournament entry begins with winners of major championships and The Players Championship from the past five years, followed by winners of prestigious events like the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Memorial, and Genesis Invitational from the last three years.
This list continues with tournament winners from the previous two years, career money leaders, the top 125 players, those with medical extensions, and the 45 players who qualified from the Korn Ferry Tour, European Tour, and qualifying school.
Despite having PGA Tour cards, not every member will have guaranteed access to all tournaments.
The most significant beneficiaries of these changes will be players consistently ranked within the top 100.
Those excelling in their performances should find it easier to maintain their cards, thanks to reduced competition from a smaller field size.
Furthermore, newcomers from the Korn Ferry Tour, European Tour, and qualifying school will likely have improved opportunities to enter regular tournaments, potentially increasing their chances of qualifying for lucrative $20 million signature events.
These adjustments are expected to amplify the competitiveness of an already formidable PGA Tour, raising the likelihood of top players vying for titles.
The tour also anticipates that these changes might enhance the pace of play and prevent tournament rounds from extending into the following day.
However, these alterations could negatively impact players like Peter Malnati and Taylor Pendrith, who would not have qualified for a full PGA Tour card under the new rules.
Both golfers secured victories this year—Malnati at the Valspar Championship and Pendrith at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson—which grants them exemption until 2026.
For players struggling to find consistency, the new format demands higher performance levels to maintain their status on the tour.
The latest changes will also curtail opportunities for aspiring professional golfers by decreasing the number of spots available through Monday qualifiers in open tournaments from four to only two for fields of 132 players, and no spots for 120-player fields.
Golf’s allure often lies in the unpredictability of career-changing performances in a single week, yet there has only been one Monday qualifier to win in the past five years—Corey Conners at the 2019 Texas Open.
The new eligibility rules will be implemented starting in 2026, meaning that players need to perform well this year to secure their position within the top 100.
It is important to note that these changes will not impact the four major championships, which are not governed by the PGA Tour.
The Masters traditionally sees a smaller field, typically under 100 players, while the U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship can feature up to 156 players.
Finally, The Players Championship, a leading event managed by the PGA Tour, will also decrease its capacity from 144 to 120 players.