The PGA Tour policy board has approved significant eligibility changes that will impact the number of players holding tour cards starting in 2026. This decision marks the first reduction in jobs since the tour became all-exempt in 1983. Under the new rules, only the top 100 players in the FedEx Cup standings will be guaranteed full status for the following year.
The changes were proposed by the 16-member Player Advisory Council to ensure that all players who earn a full PGA Tour card have a fair opportunity to compete in enough tournaments to retain their cards. The board also approved smaller field sizes, limiting tournaments to a maximum of 144 players on courses with ample daylight hours.
Additionally, the board decided to eliminate the four restricted sponsor exemptions and allocate them to the alternate list. Open tournaments will still have unrestricted sponsor exemptions, typically four, to award as they see fit.
These changes will make it more challenging for players to secure a PGA Tour card. In addition to finishing in the top 100, players will now have to compete for only 20 cards from the Korn Ferry Tour, along with cards for the top 10 players from the European Tour and five from Q-school.
Players who come through the Korn Ferry and European Tour will now have lower priority than the top 100 and tournament winners. This adjustment aims to provide more equitable playing opportunities for emerging talent and refine the overall playing experience for tour members.
The tour will also implement changes to the FedEx Cup points distribution in 2025, awarding more points to second place and reducing points for finishes from 11th place onwards. For signature events, the decrease in points will begin after seventh place.
Furthermore, Monday qualifying spots will be reduced to four for 144-man fields, two for 132-man fields, and none for 120-player fields. The field sizes will vary throughout the year, with a maximum of 144 players during the summer months.
These adjustments come in response to the evolving landscape of professional golf, including the emergence of new competitions like the Saudi-backed LIV Golf. The PGA Tour aims to enhance its product and maintain its status as the pinnacle of achievement in men's professional golf.
