The band-aid wanted to be ripped off sooner or later, and because the PGA Tour proposes sweeping modifications to its subject sizes and eligibility, all set to take impact in 2026, the transition gained’t come with out this painful actuality:
The Korn Ferry Tour and Q-College graduates will face an unprecedented process to maintain their playing cards in 2025.
In preparation for 2026, solely the highest 100 gamers on the ultimate 2025 FedExCup factors listing will retain totally exempt standing, whereas different ’26 modifications embody lowering subject sizes throughout the board, lowering or eliminating Monday qualifying spots, and reducing the variety of KFT graduates from 30 to twenty gamers.
Here’s a deeper take a look at the latest modifications proposed by the PGA Tour and what every of them imply.
These proposed modifications can be voted on by the Tour’s coverage board on Nov. 18, the week of the RSM Traditional, although they’re anticipated to go.
The challenges this previous season for these coming off the KFT and out of Q-College included issue stepping into full fields, particularly early within the calendar and earlier than the early-April reshuffle, and within the occasions they did qualify for, taking part in for considerably fewer FedExCup factors.
Now, these reorder-category gamers will function in the identical surroundings in 2025, although as an alternative of taking pictures for the highest 125 in FedExCup factors, they might want to end subsequent fall inside the highest 100. For reference, by final week’s Zozo Championship, solely 5 KFT/Q-College grads (excluding totally exempt Ben Kohles) sat inside the highest 100 in factors:
48. Max Greyserman
61. Jake Knapp
85. Rico Hoey
86. Patrick Fishburn
98. Mac Meissner
Coming into the mid-fall bye week, Rafa Campos, who started the yr because the thirtieth KFT grad, has competed in 22 occasions providing a mixed 9,900 FedExCup factors to winners. As compared, Mac Hughes, No. 50 on final yr’s FedExCup listing, has competed in 24 occasions for 16,100 whole factors, and Carl Yuan, No. 125 in factors in 2023, has logged 25 begins providing 11,850 factors.
“I don’t really feel a part of the PGA Tour, I actually don’t, and that’s actually miserable,” Campos mentioned in February.
Beginning in 2026, such emotions must be quelled.
As soon as the modifications happen, it’s broadly believed that the reorder gamers, who can be bumped up simply behind Nos. 71-100 on the precedence listing, will be capable of get into all open occasions with probably the one exception being the WM Phoenix Open, which can have its subject diminished to 120 gamers.
The PGA Tour revealed on Tuesday proposed sweeping modifications to its future subject sizes and eligibility.
This, mixed with the slight discount in factors awarded to finishers down the leaderboards at majors and signature occasions (high 11 or worse at majors; high 7 or worse at signature occasions) will present the graduates a extra stage taking part in subject with these totally exempt members and top-50 guys.
However, once more, that doesn’t assist the ’25 guys.
On Wednesday, the PGA Tour’s incoming rookies gathered in Ponte Vedra Seashore, Florida, for orientation. The earlier first-year gathering was held in Hawaii the weekend earlier than this yr’s Sony Open, which about half of the KFT and Q-College guys didn’t find yourself stepping into. So, already a marked enchancment.
The rookies reached by Golf Channel on Tuesday night had been simply beginning to analyze the modifications, although the frequent sentiment was optimistic.
“In all probability a sensible transfer on most of it,” texted one. “Not a fan of eliminating a whole lot of Monday qualifiers, nonetheless, I get it.”
There was additionally the glass-half-full take that, sure, 2025 can be tough to maintain your card, but when the modifications had been made a yr earlier, Nos. 21-30 on the KFT factors listing wouldn’t even have their playing cards.
Then there’s the thought that fewer playing cards accessible by the KFT will push extra gamers to the DP World Tour. Second stage of DPWT Q-College begins on Thursday, and over two dozen latest U.S. faculty grads are competing, together with internationals Mats Ege, Herman Wibe Sekne, Adam Wallin, Bastian Amat, Julian Perico and present Arizona standout Tiger Christensen, plus Individuals Canon Claycomb, Ryggs Johnston, Palmer Jackson and Spencer Cross.
However not less than a kind of gamers dismissed that perception:
“I don’t assume these modifications make Europe extra interesting. I simply assume extra persons are going to give up and attempt to discover a extra steady, actual job. Individuals say it’s cheaper to come back over right here, however I’m within the gap 7-ish grand already. … It’s an insanely laborious factor to do getting on certainly one of these excursions, and now they’ve made it even tougher.”
For these sitting in a ballroom on Wednesday making ready for his or her debut PGA Tour seasons, they’ve already gotten to the large present. Their problem is now staying on the market.
That process can be more durable than ever subsequent yr, however they do have what many don’t – and that’s the chance.
Texted one other rookie: “Time to get to work.”
