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Tiger woods, phil mickelson highlight 12 sponsor exemptions who won a pga tour event since 1990, share this article.

Every PGA Tour event has a handful or so of spots in the field to dole out to golfers who didn’t otherwise qualify.

Those spots may go to a past champion. They often are awarded to a rising star in the game. The strategy there is that perhaps the up-and-comer will remember the courtesy later in his pro career and will become a regular at that particular Tour stop.

Sometimes a sponsor exemption gets doled out to someone noteworthy as a means to drive interest in a tournament, such as former NFL quarterback Tony Romo, who got into the Charles Schwab Challenge, or LPGA star Lexi Thompson, who wowed the Las Vegas crowd last October before just missing the weekend cut at the Shriners Children’s Open.

According to the PGA Tour, since 1990 there have been just 12 golfers to win a tournament after getting a sponsor exemption. There’s been over 1,000 PGA Tour events in that time, proving the long odds a sponsor invite faces.

Here’s the list of those who won on the PGA Tour after receiving a sponsor exemption since 1990.

Nick Dunlap, The American Express (2024)

Nick Dunlap of the United States reacts on the sixth green during the third round of The American Express at La Quinta Country Club on January 20, 2024 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Nick Dunlap became the first amateur since Phil Mickelson in 1991 to win on the PGA Tour at the 2024 The American Express at PGA West in La Quinta, California, with a one-shot victory over Christiaan Bezuidenhout.

Martin Laird, Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (2020)

Martin Laird celebrates with the trophy after winning the 2020 Shriners Hospitals For Children Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas. (Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

After failing to end matters on the 72nd hole and then again on the first playoff hole, Martin Laird knocked in a 23-foot putt for birdie on the second extra hole to win the 2020 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Sunday’s fading light at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas over Austin Cook and Matthew Wolff.

Matthew Wolff, 3M Open (2019)

Matthew Wolff celebrates after a eagle putt on the 18th green to win the 2019 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Wolff, who turned professional just a month earlier, earned his first PGA Tour victory at the 2019 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota. Wolff, 20, shot a 6-under 65 in the final round to edge out fellow Tour newcomer Collin Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke at 21-under.

Billy Hurley III, Quicken Loans National (2016)

Billy Hurley III holds the trophy after winning the 2016 Quicken Loans National. (Photo: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

In a year of fairytale first-time winners on the PGA Tour, Billy Hurley III, a Navy grad and military man, winning the 2016 Quicken Loans National on a sponsor invitation not far from where he learned the game has to take the cake.

“Couldn’t script a better one for me to win my first Tour win,” said Hurley, who closed with a 2-under 69 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. “Grew up on one side of D.C., live on the other side of D.C. and then at the premier military event.”

Hurley, 34, entered the week ranked No. 607 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Padraig Harrington, The Honda Classic (2015)

Padraig Harrington won the 2015 Honda Classic in a playoff over rookie Daniel Berger. (Photo: Associated Press)

That victory arrived for the 43-year-old Irishman was stunning – not because Padraig Harrington was ranked 297th in the world, not because he was riding into tournaments on the strength of a sponsor exemption, and not because an old case of the yips had crept into his putting stroke late Sunday.

It was stunning because when he returned Monday morning to finish the rain-plagued 2015 Honda Classic, he trailed Ian Poulter by four strokes with just 11 holes to play.

Lee Westwood, St. Jude Classic (2010)

Lee Westwood kisses his trophy after winning the 2010 St. Jude Classic in a playoff. (Photo: Associated Press)

Lee Westwood has played golf long enough to be philosophical despite all the times he’s come up short when so very close to victory.

The Englishman who finished second at the Masters, lost a playoff in Dubai and finished tied for fourth at the Players Championship in 2010 won the St. Jude Classic for his second career PGA Tour victory and first since 1998, beating Swede Robert Karlsson on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff.

Jason Gore, 84 Lumber Classic (2005)

Jason Gore at the 2006 84 Lumber Classic at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania. (Photo: Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

Jason Gore’s seven wins on the Korn Ferry Tour are the most in that circuit’s history. That includes three wins in 2005, the same year he won the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic and played in the final group of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, where he was dubbed the Prince of Pinehurst. He also was a member of Pepperdine’s NCAA title team in 1997 and represented the United States in that year’s Walker Cup.

Adam Scott, Deutsche Bank Championship (2003)

Adam Scott celebrates a four-stroke victory on the 18th green after the final round of the 2003 Deutsche Bank Championship at the TPC of Boston in Norton, Massachusetts. (Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Adam Scott, 23, shot a final-round 66 to win the 2003 Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston. He led by at least three shots during a rainy final round and he went on to win by four over Rocco Mediate. The win marks Scott’s first on the PGA Tour and fifth worldwide.

David Gossett, John Deere Classic (2001)

David Gossett holds the trophy after winning the 2001 John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. (Photo: Scott Halleran/Allsport)

David Gossett was once a can’t-miss kid who won the 1999 U.S. Amateur, played on the Walker Cup team and starred at the University of Texas. He won his first PGA Tour event at the 2001 John Deere Classic.

Tiger Woods, Las Vegas Invitational (1996)

PGA Tour rookie Tiger Woods holds a check after winning the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational at TPC Summerlin. (Photo: Lennox McLendon, Associated Press)

A 20-year-old Tiger Woods collected his first winner’s check as a professional at the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational in a playoff over Davis Love III.

“Those magicians’ white tigers on the strip were second-string felines,” wrote Golfweek ’s Jeff Rude after Woods rallied from four shots back with a final-round, 8-under 64 at TPC Summerlin.

Vijay Singh, Buick Classic (1993)

Vijay Singh holds the trophy after winning the 1993 Buick Classic at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, New York. (Photo: Bebeto Matthews/Associated Press)

Vijay Singh earned $180,000 for winning the 1993 Buick Classic, his first PGA Tour win, at Westchester Country Club in New York. The 30-year-old Singh made the victory his 14th worldwide. Singh would go on to win 33 more times on the PGA Tour.

Phil Mickelson, Northern Telecom Open (1991)

Phil Mickelson won the Northern Telecom Open at Tucson National Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona, on Jan. 22, 1995, as an amateur at Arizona State. He birdied the 18th hole to finish with a final-round 68. He is the last amateur to win a PGA Tour event. (Photo: Getty Images)

Phil Mickelson won the 1991 Northern Telecom Open in Tucson, Arizona, while still a member of the Arizona State men’s golf team. The first of the 11 golfers on this list of sponsor exemptions to win a PGA Tour event, Mickelson also headlines an even shorter list: amateurs to win on golf’s big stage . Only seven golfers have pulled off that feat.

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How do you qualify for the Masters field? Here’s a list of the criteria

Scottie Sceffler hits a drive on the 18th hole at Augusta National.

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There’s no tournament more anticipated than the Masters , and even for seasoned pros, scoring an invitation is reason for celebration.

But how does a player qualify for the Masters?

Though it’s a major championship, the Masters is also an invitational, so the tournament field is assembled at the discretion of the Masters Committee. That said, the Committee has established criteria for players to earn an invitation to compete at Augusta National .

How to qualify for the Masters

Winning the Masters earns the champion a lifetime exemption into the field — the most generous exemption in the world of golf. Many former champions continue to play the Masters even though they are long past their prime. Earlier this year, 64-year-old Larry Mize announced that the 2023 Masters will be his last. This year will mark 40 consecutive Masters for Mize, who won his green jacket in 1987.

Win one of the other three majors

Players who win one of the other three majors (PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship) are awarded a five-year exemption into the Masters field.

Win the Players Championship

Winners of the Players Championship can enjoy a three-year exemption into the Masters.

Win Olympic gold

The Olympic gold medalist can enjoy a one-year exemption into the Masters field.

The hardest shots the pros will face at the Masters (according to the teachers who coach them)

Win (or finish runner-up) in an elite amateur tournament

Winners of the U.S. Amateur Championship, British Amateur, Asia-Pacific Amateur, Latin American Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur are invited to play the Masters. Traditionally, the U.S. Amateur runner-up is also invited.

Play well in the majors

The top-12 finishers (including ties) at each year’s Masters are invited back the following year if they are not otherwise exempt. For the other major championships, it’s the top 4 and ties.

Win a PGA Tour tournament

Winners of PGA Tour events that received full FedEx Cup points are eligible for a spot in the Masters.

Qualify for the Tour Championship

The 30 players who qualify for the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship are exempt into the Masters field the following year.

Be a Top-50 player

The top 50-ranked players in the Official World Golf Ranking as of January 1 every year earn an exemption into the Masters field.

Be a Top-50 player the week before the Masters

Any player who enters the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking and who is not otherwise exempt the week before each Masters gets an invitation to join the field.

Catch the Masters Committee’s attention

The Masters Committee also reserves the right to extend an invitation to players that they feel are deserving of a place in the field. This year, Japanese pro Kazuki Higa and reigning NCAA champion Gordon Sargent accepted special invitations .

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5 Perks Of Winning A PGA Tour Event

There's more than just a trophy on offer for those who manage to win on Tour...

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Winning on the PGA Tour is what most professional golfers dream about, but it's a feat easier said than done. To fend off more than 100 other golfers over four gruelling days and 72 long holes is something many professionals don't achieve in their careers.

To be a solid pro doesn't require winning. Many players go through their careers without a win but make a very comfortable winning as a rank-and-file Tour player who consistently keeps their card.

However, for those fortunate enough to come out on top in a Tour event, there are plenty of rewards that go far beyond the big cheque and a fancy trophy awarded to you on Sunday afternoon.

Here are a few of the perks you get for winning on the PGA Tour...

What Does A PGA Tour Win Get You?

A nice cash prize.

Perhaps the first, and most obvious, perk is a nice winner's cheque. Prize purses on the PGA Tour have been going up for a number of years to the point where there is quite a lot on offer in every event. 

In 2023, for example, the smallest winner's cheque on offer came at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship where the winner took home $1.17 million. Meanwhile, at the top end of the scale is the FedEx Cup Tour Championship, which sees the winner take home the end-of-season trophy and a cool, $18m bonus.

As well as that cash prize, players also get a healthy amount of FedEx Cup points - 500 for a regular Tour event - which gives them a helping hand towards making the lucrative end-of-season playoffs.

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Tour card extension

For many players, however, the most important thing about winning on the PGA Tour is the multi-season extension of playing privileges. A regular PGA Tour event win extends a player's Tour card for two years after the current season, meaning they don't have to make the top 125 in the FedEx Cup in those seasons to maintain full playing privileges for the following year.

Kurt Kitayama earned a three-year Tour exemption after winning the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Should a player win The Arnold Palmer Invitational, Genesis Invitational or Memorial Tournament they earn a three-year exemption, while a victory at a Major Championship or The Players grants you a five-year extension. Winning multiple times in a year adds an extra year for each additional win with a maximum of five years able to be accrued in one season.

A new year’s trip to Hawaii

Rahm won The Sentry in 2023

Played on Maui at Kapalua's Plantation Course, the Sentry takes place in January and is the first event of the Tour's calendar year. Formally known as the Tournament of Champions, the competition is still largely reserved for those who have won on Tour the previous year. 

Changes to the 2024 season mean that, from now on, the top 50 players from the prior year’s FedEx Cup Playoffs will also qualify for the event but a win on Tour is a sure-fire way of punching your ticket to the event.

More tournament invites

It's not just entry to the Sentry Tournament of Champions that a PGA Tour win guarantees you. A winner on Tour also has a spot in the field at the next Players Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational and Memorial Tournament.

Furthermore, with the revamped 2024 format, a win on Tour will gain you an invite into all of the remaining 'signature' events in the calendar year. These eight signature tournaments are limited-field events, with bigger, guaranteed prize money and points. Some are also no-cut events.

Major exemptions

And the cherry on top for any winner on Tour is a guaranteed exemption into two of the four Major Championships - the next Masters as well as the next PGA Championship. Furthermore, if a player is fortunate enough to win an event that is listed on the Open Qualifying Series, they will gain entry to that year's Open Championship. 

In 2024, there are four PGA Tour events in the qualifying series - The Arnold Palmer Invitational the Memorial Tournament, the RBC Canadian Open and the John Deere Classic - with the winners of each gaining a spot in the Open field later in the year. 

Ben joined Golf Monthly having completed his NCTJ in multimedia sports journalism at News Associates, London. He is now a freelance journalist who also works for The Independent, Metro, UEFA and Stats Perform.

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By Matt Cradock Published 28 April 24

Although he is yet to win on the LIV Golf circuit after joining in December 2023, Rahm's consistency hasn't gone unnoticed as the Spaniard has finished inside the top 10 in all six events

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Money Matters

Inside the PGA Tour's new program that guarantees all exempt players will make a minimum of $500K

Rookie Cameron Young was able to make more than $6 million this season. But for first-timers less fortunate moving forward, the PGA Tour is guaranteeing they'll make at least $500,000.

Cliff Hawkins

ATLANTA — Much of the talk surrounding the PGA Tour in recent months has focused on figuring out ways top players can be compensated well enough to want to stick around and not be lured away by LIV Golf. But on Wednesday, tour commissioner Jay Monahan announced a new financial incentive program geared not just for the tour’s biggest stars, but all its members.

For the 2022-23 season, all fully exempt tour players who compete in 15 tournaments will be guaranteed to earn $500,000 through the creation of the Earnings Assurance Program. For rookies and returning members to the tour, that money isn’t just guaranteed, but will be paid up front, with the players drawing against it during the season from their earnings.

“We believe it meets the challenging dynamic of how players manage and invest in their careers, and it's comparable to how other leagues approach their athlete compensation,” Monahan said when discussing the program during a press conference ahead of the Tour Championship.

MORE: PGA Tour adds more lucrative events, gets top players to commit to play together on regular basis

According to Monahan, any player making more than $500,000 will, obviously, accrue all the money they earn. And any player who comes up short of $500,000, the tour at the end of the year will pay the difference.

Typically, 215 to 220 golfers are fully exempt during the PGA Tour season. The tour is confident the majority of those players will surpass the $500,000 threshold. For that reason, Monahan said it was estimated the program would cost the tour between $2 million and $3 million to implement.

During the 2021-22 season, 163 players earned more than $500,000 on tour.

“I think what we're trying to do here is that, as you start a season and you plan for a season knowing the monies that you have to invest to compete … at the highest level,” Monahan said. “There are significant costs. So if you’re not able to play for whatever reason, you have that as a backstop. You know that that’s there for you.”

There were 28 rookies on the PGA Tour this season, led by the meteoric rise of Cameron Young. His seven top-10s this season include a third at the PGA Championship and a second at the Open at St. Andrews, which combined for $6.5 million in earnings through the BMW Championship.

MORE: Why the Player Impact Program will become even more important (and lucrative) in 2023

Down the list of rookies, however, there are six who did not earn $500,000 and thus would have been paid the difference: Paul Barjon, Dylan Wu, Curtis Thompson, David Skinns, Jared Wolfe and Joshua Creel.

The program, however, will benefit not just newcomers to the tour, but even some who already have had stand out careers. During the 2022-23 season, former FedEx Cup champion Brandt Snedeker played 22 events but struggled with just two top-25 finishes. He wound up earning $352,198. Even a player like him, however, would be entitled to the $500,000 minimum, with the tour paying the remaining $147,802.

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How to Qualify for the Masters: All 20 Exemptions at a Glance

Check out the 19 Masters exemptions, plus one more way to get an invite!

• DESCRIPTION Hideki Matsuyama chipping at 2021 Masters
• SOURCE Augusta National/Masters Historic Imagery
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The Masters is surrounded by decades of tradition and endless memorable moments and highlights. Outside of tournament organizers and perhaps a few seasoned golf scribes, not many could recite all 20 routes that players take to complete the field each and every year. All 20 Masters qualifications are described here. See how many you already knew and which ones you just learned about.

Exemptions for Champions

The first Masters exemptions are handed out to champions of prestigious events, including previous Masters champions. Here are the events that include a Masters invitation with the trophy.

1. Previous Masters Champions

Anyone who has won the Masters is invited back for life. Arnold Palmer played in 50 consecutive Masters tournaments but the overall record is held by Gary Player who played in 52 spanning from 1957-2009.

2. U.S. Open Champions

Players who have won the U.S. Open are invited to the Masters for the following five years. In the case of a player like Brooks Koepka who won the U.S. Open in 2017 and 2018, the exemption is based on the most recent win.

3. British Open Champions

The same rules apply as the exemption for U.S. Open winners listed above. Win the British Open , and you get invited to play in the Masters for the next five years.

4. PGA Champions

Again, the same rules apply to winners of the PGA Championship as the U.S. and British Open champions, a five-year exemption from the player’s most recent PGA Championship victory. If Phil Mickelson had never won a green jacket, he would be exempt until 2026 for winning the 2021 PGA Championship.

5. Players Championship Winner

The golfer that conquers TPC Sawgrass and wins The Players Championship receives a three-year exemption into the Masters. Quite the luxury for winning “golf’s 5th major.”

6. Olympic Gold Medalist (current)

This one didn’t come into play until golf was reintroduced as an Olympic sport in 2016. The golfer that wins the gold medal is exempt for one year. Xander Schauffele won Olympic gold in 2021, and his golf medal exemption expired after the 2022 Masters.

7. U.S. Amateur Champion (current)

The winner of the U.S. Amateur is exempt for one year. Players such as Tiger Woods, Bryson DeChambeau, Matt Kuchar, and Viktor Hovland have gotten their first looks at Augusta National by way of winning the U.S. Amateur.

8. British Amateur Champion (current)

Like the U.S. Amateur, the champion of the British Amateur is exempt into the Masters for one year. Notable champions include Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria Olazabal, who both went on to become Masters champions.

9. Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion (current)

The Asia-Pacific Amateur champion receives a one-year Masters exemption. 2021 Masters Champion Hideki Matsuyama won this event in 2010 and 2011.

10. Latin American Amateur Champion (current)

The champion of the Latin American Amateur also secures a one-year Masters exemption. 2018 Latin American Amateur Champion Joaquin Niemann is now routinely in the Masters via other exemptions.

11. U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion (current)

One spot is reserved in the Masters for the top amateur player who isn't a powerhouse collegiate star merely months away from turning professional. The U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion enjoys a one-year exemption.

Other Masters Exemptions

In addition to earning a Masters invitation through winning one of the events above, invitations are handed out to players who meet any of the following criteria, regardless of if they have won a big event.

12. The top-12 players from the previous Masters, including ties.

13. The top-4 players from the previous U.S. Open, including ties.

14. The top-4 players from the previous British Open, including ties.

15. The top-4 players from the previous PGA Championship, including ties.

16. Players who have won a PGA Tour event that awards full-points for the Tour Championship since the last Masters.

17. Players that qualified for the previous year’s Tour Championship.

18. The top-50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking the previous year.

19. The top-50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking the week before the current Masters year.

20. The first 19 exemptions are ironclad, and then there’s this one. The Masters Committee, which oversees the tournament, is allowed to invite international players that are not otherwise qualified to play in the event.

Trying to remember all of these different avenues to Magnolia Lane can be dizzying. A very positive note, Augusta National and the Masters Committee continues to evolve and looks to other areas of the world to bring the best players to the tournament each year.

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A Brief Look at the PGA Tour Exemption System

There are a variety of ways to acquire an exemption on Tour, but the bottom line is that you have to play well to get it at some point in your life. That time is now for many.

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Last week, at the Ginn sur Mer Classic in the developing region of Palm Coast, Florida, Ryan Palmer, who was previously on the “bubble,” (he was ranked 143 entering the week), secured himself a spot in the aforementioned 125 with a victory (and a two-year exemption, of course, for winning). Exempt status often seems to be a vague, mysterious, and perhaps sinister thing, even though the qualifications for such a status are laid out on the Tour’s website and the information is readily available to any seeker. In order to save you the trouble of additional navigation deeper into the recesses of cyberspace, a variety of ways (and a few exemplary individuals satisfying the various requirements) will be looked at here, along with any potential “exempt status drama” brewing in the final relevant tournament of the year (officially referred to as an “event cosponsored by the PGA Tour”).

The Big Tournaments Contrary to a certain opinion, Tiger Woods is not permitted to play on the PGA Tour just because he’s a very good golfer, people generally like him, and he makes the Tour a great deal of money. Under the current system, Woods would be exempt for a variety of reasons, but officially, he received an exemption for the 2008 season because of his status as “Winner of a PGA Championship or U.S. Open prior to 1970 or in the last 10 calendar years.”

As the web site points out, “each PGA Tour player has earned a position on the priority ranking system that will be used to select tournament fields.” Of the 33 qualifications for exempt status, “Winner of a PGA Championship…” is given top priority. This is also a five-year exemption, which is the longest given by the PGA. It’s interesting that top priority is placed upon winning the PGA’s Major, but when this is considered in light of the fact that the other majors hand out exempt status to their own tournament, and indeed to other majors, it seems to be a logical choice for top priority in the PGA’s system.

Following this, winners of the Players Championship, The Masters, and the British Open during the past ten years are granted an exemption. Members of this five-year exempt status entering the current year include Davis Love III, Zach Johnson and Ben Curtis. The next tier below this are winners of the Tour Championship, or any World Golf Championship event since 2005. The latter is the reason for David Toms’ exempt status entering this year.

It’s certainly not particle physics, but it’s easy to see why players generally designate between the Majors, the second level events (Players, Tour, WGC) and the remaining events of significance. It makes sense that a golfer is compensated more fully in the system for a victory in one of the more difficult tournaments, thus giving the golfer a better chance for further self-preservation by guaranteeing him tournament appearances for a longer period of time. As an example, Ben Curtis and Todd Hamilton, respectively, are neither the highest earning nor the winningest golfers on Tour, but the magnitude of their wins has ensured them an exempt status for a period of ten years. However, it could be asked whether or not the PGA Championship is five times more difficult than the average event on Tour, which is what the decision to allow exemption for a period of 10 years versus only two seems to be suggesting.

The Regular Tour Events A bit further down the list of possibilities for exemption come winners in Tour-approved events within the past two years. Fred Couples may have earned the gross domestic product of several small countries in the Skins Game, but it doesn’t contribute to his exempt status for the 2008 season. Interestingly, he is insured this as a player “among the Top 25 in career earnings as of the end of the preceding calendar year” who “elect[s] to use this special exemption for a second year, provided that the player remains among the Top 25 on the career money list.” J.B. Holmes, Rory Sabbatini, Jonathan Byrd, and Charles Howell III all are exempt because of a victory during the previous two seasons.

Other Means of Exempt Status After a number of other less than common classifications, such as “Two international players designated by the Commissioner,” comes a rather interesting category: “Life Members (who have been active members of the PGA TOUR for 15 years and have won at least 20 co-sponsored events),” in other words, golfers who were formerly winning a number of tournaments but are now, essentially, past their prime. Tom Watson, a fan favorite and arguably one of the 15 greatest golfers of all time, is the only member of this category. Watson, of course, spends the majority of his time playing on the Champions Tour, where he is anything but past his prime, having won twice this year.

Next, the contentious and highly visible “Top 125 on previous year’s Official Money List.” Jose M. Olazabal, Tommy Armour III, and Shigeki Maruyama are exempt coming into this year for this reason. The chief drama surrounding a potential leap into the top 125 this week ought to be provided by Jeff Overton. Overton, who underwent an emergency appendectomy only weeks ago and is wearing a naproxen patch because of the immensity of the pain he is enduring, is teeing it up this week in hopes of maintaining — if not bettering — his 125th place status. We’ll return to a glance at players “on the bubble” this week, but the rest of the list awaits.

A few categories past medical exemptions – which allowed David Duval to play this year – comes another visible battle for inclusion in an exempt group. Membership in the category “Top 25 and Ties from the previous year’s PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament… and players 2-25 on the 2007 Nationwide Tour money list” allowed Chez Reavie and Kevin Streelman to compete on Tour this year. Reavie did not earn an exemption for 2009 with his victory at the RBC Canadian Open, however, as this is not a Tour cosponsored event. Following this are a number of “special” classes, including past tournament winners and “Veteran Members who have made a minimum of 150 cuts.”

Returning to players around the “125” number, a few names stand out. David Toms is perhaps the most notable. However, there’s no need to panic, golf fans. Toms is exempt through 2001 because of his status as a winner on Tour in the previous few years, even though he will no longer be exempt as a result of his 2005 victory at the Accenture Match Play Championship. Davis Love III, at 118, has recently increased the value of his stock with good play. Should he finish in the top 125, he won’t be forced to use an exemption based upon his place in the career money list. This may be a mere technicality, but the perception that he earned his exemption based upon good play recently, rather than past success, is surely worth something to the man and keeps him free (at least temporarily) of the “has-been” label.

Jason Gore is presently situated at number 136 on the money list. Having played well in previous years, Gore was comfortably situated in the top 125 on the list last year. He’s been invisible in 2008, save for a few weeks. Unless he rights the ship in Orlando this week, the man will be in trouble. Perched at number 131, Bob Tway also finds himself in an uncomfortable position entering the week. Regardless of these two individuals, the standout story is Overton, who has defied doctor’s orders in an attempt to keep his card.

There are a variety of ways to acquire an exemption on Tour, but the bottom line is if you haven’t won recently, haven’t played well in the present year, or don’t have a legacy of great play to fall back upon, you might find yourself in a very undesirable spot entering a tournament, as a few players do this week at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic. Of course, a miracle victory by someone well outside the top 125 is always a possibility, and an assurance of exemption for the upcoming year.

14 thoughts on “A Brief Look at the PGA Tour Exemption System”

I’m guessing that if you add up all those who are exempt under the 33 criteria, you’d have more than can fit into a PGA Tour event field.

Can you do a follow up on how a player gets into a PGA Tour event based on how he got his exemption?

How many 2009 PGA Tour event starts would the guy who came 25th at Q School or 25th on the Nationwide Tour expect to get with their exemptions earnt in 2008?

Further to Mark’s question, can you explain what each exemption entitles a player to do? In other words, I thought some of the exemptions do not necessarily entitle a player to enter any tournament he wants (not talking about special invites like Masters, etc.) on the tour, but others do, and that some exemptions are limited as to number of tournaments. Also, how is the pecking order established?

I have never understood how all this is done.

Thanks for the comments. I would be more than happy to do a follow up on the subject and answer the questions you have posed. If anyone else has further inquiries, please post them here and I’ll try to include a response to all of them in a follow up article in a few weeks.

Thanks again,

I get the top 125 money list and the exeptions it provides a given player for the following year. What I do not get is when the commentator says it is important because the top 125 players can set their schedule for next year.

Another question I have is the same as TRAV’s, how are the pairings determined at each tournatment? Bill Haas never seems to play with Vijay, Tiger or Phil. If the threesomes were selected at random you would think he would end up playing with someone in the top 25 once in a while.

Finally, how are the tee times determined for the first two rounds?

And these aren’t enough questions to keep you busy, please let us know …..

“Reavie did not earn an exemption for 2009 with his victory at the RBC Canadian Open, however, as this is not a Tour cosponsored event.”

Yes it is, and yes he did earn a two year exmemption. I was at his winning press conference when he was asked about it.

hi just wondering when a player is lucky enough to win more than once in a season, how does the exemption work for each event, do they run concurrently or one after another

regards colm

same question as colm. if a player wins more than once in the same year how does the exemption work.do they run concurrently or consecutive.

also how do you earn a lifetime exemption?

Davis Love III scored his 20th PGA Tour victory last November. Why was he not in the field of this years Masters?

Because he won a Fall Series event after the Tour Championship. They don’t count for the Masters the same way a “regular season” win does.

Hope to answer some of these:

1. You get up to five additional years for multiple wins (ie if you win three times you get a 5 year exemption) 2. The top 50 golfers ranked in the world that play in each non invitationals get the preferred times and the rest are picked at random. 3. Jay Williamson (25th Q) got into 19 events as of 10/4 and Ricky Barnes (25th NW) got into 20 events. 4. Each non invite tournament is has 132 or 144 players. They are ranked by each of the 33 categories. In order for a PGA player to keep his card he must play in at least 15 events per year. The top 100 players average about 20. So the tournaments get probably 90-100 of the 1-19 exempt status players enter each week. That is done on the Friday before the tournament. Then there is a stand by list where you are ranked by priority. Each week, there is always a couple of people that commit drop out.

If a PGA player missed the 125 players for the year, however qualified and made it to play in a tournament.. What is his status for that year if he wins a tournament,

What is Billy Hurley III’s Past Tour Winner Status ?

What exemptions do you get for second or third in a major?

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PGA of America Adds New PGA Championship Exemption Category

The PGA of America today announced a new exemption category for the PGA Championship. Beginning with the 2023 PGA Championship, set for May 18-21 at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, the top three players on the International Federation Ranking List as of April 24 will earn exemptions into the field.

The International Federation Ranking List, which was announced last month by the Governing Board of the Official World Golf Ranking, ranks international players competing on the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, and the Sunshine Tour.

"This new category will help identify current or emerging international players who may not yet have had the opportunity to showcase their talents in the cauldron of a Major Championship setting,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “It provides all players from these four International golf tours an opportunity to compete throughout their respective seasons to be rewarded by access into the PGA Championship."

Let the countdown begin. 100 days. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/WjUFUmyS40 — PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) February 4, 2023

The complete list of PGA Championship exemptions may be found below. Any player who qualifies through these exemptions will be eligible to compete in the PGA Championship. The PGA of America also reserves the right to invite additional players not included in the categories listed below in pursuit of our annual goal to deliver the strongest field in golf.

“Our decisions are always based on what’s in the best interest of the PGA of America and conducting the best Championship possible,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “Sadly the current division in the professional game is not good for the sport or the future of the game. We hope there might be some resolution soon. In the meantime, as always, our focus will be on our mission to grow the game and improve the lives of our members, who work so hard to impact millions of lives every day.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The total field will be a maximum of 156 players.

The PGA of America has approved the following list of players who qualify for the 105th PGA Championship:

1. All former winners of the PGA Championship

2. Winners of the last five Masters (2019-23)

3. Winners of the last five U.S. Opens (2018-22)

4. Winners of the last five Open Championships (2017-22). [Note: Canceled in 2020]

5. Winners of the last three THE PLAYERS Championships (2021-23)

6. The top three on the OWGR’s International Federation Ranking List as of April 24, 2023.

7. Winner of 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship

8. The top 15 finishers and ties from the 2022 PGA Championship

9. The top 20 finishers from the 2023 PGA Professional Championship.

10. The top 70 players who are eligible and have earned the most PGA Championship points from the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson through the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship (ending May 7, 2023).

11. Playing members of the last named U.S. and European Ryder Cup teams (2021), provided they remain in the top 100 on the Official World Golf Rankings as of May 7, 2023.

12. Winners of PGA TOUR co-sponsored or approved tournaments whose victories are considered official, from the 2022 Charles Schwab Challenge through the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson.

13. If necessary to complete the field, those players beyond the top 70 players who are eligible and who have earned the most PGA Championship points from the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson through the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship (ending May 7, 2023) in order of their position on such a list.

*Note: The PGA Championship points list is based on Official Money earned in PGA TOUR events within the defined period in Nos. 10 and 12 above and is available at https://www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.132.html . Announcement of the final field is planned for May 10.

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The perks of winning a major championship: Tournaments, exemptions

There are a lot of perks that come with winning a major championship -- the Masters, PGA Championship, US Open and British Open Championship -- in golf.

Aside from the first-place prize money, which is 18 percent of the total purse, a men's major winner earns entry into the major they won for a number of years (sometimes life), PGA Tour exemptions and other goodies.

Let's lay out all the benefits of winning a major championship.

The perks of winning a major championship

• Prestige, obviously -- you're in a limited company of players to ever win a major
• If you win the Masters, you're in the Masters for life, basically, and you're in the U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship for five years
• If you win the U.S. Open, you're exempt in the U.S. Open for 10 years, and you're in the Masters, Open Championship and PGA Championship for five years
• If you win the British Open, you're in the Open until you're 60, and you're in the Masters, U.S. Open and PGA Championship for five years
• If you win the PGA Championship, you're in the PGA Championship for life, basically, and you're in the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship for five years
• You get a 5-year exemption on the PGA Tour for winning a major, and you can pretty much set your schedule for two years
• You get a spot in the Tournament of Champions
• You get 100 Official World Golf Ranking points, which pretty much locks up a spot in the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking for 18 months, no matter what
• You get 600 FedEx Cup points
• You get big Ryder Cup points if you're an American or European player

About the author

Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is founder and editor of Golf News Net. He has been writing and broadcasting about golf for nearly 20 years. Ballengee lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family. He is currently a +2.6 USGA handicap, and he has covered dozens of major championships and professional golf tournaments. He likes writing about golf and making it more accessible by answering the complex questions fans have about the pro game or who want to understand how to play golf better.

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2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans money: Purse, winner’s share, updated prize money payout

T he 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans prize money payout is from the $8.9 million purse, with 80 professional players who complete four rounds at TPC Louisiana in the Avondale, La., earning PGA Tour prize money this week.

The winner's share of Zurich Classic of New Orleans prize pool is $2,572,100 ($1,286,050 to each player on the team), with the second-place finishers taking home $1,050,200 ($525,100 each) in PGA Tour prize money today. The Zurich Classic of New Orleans prize-money payout breakdown shows a payout of 18 percent of the purse to the winner, and how much each PGA Tour player earns is guaranteed down to the last-place professional team, which is $32,218 ($16,109 each). Prize money is updated after the cut is made to guarantee all professional players who make the cut earn cash.

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans field is headed by Rory McIlroy , Shane Lowry , Zac Blair, Patrick Fishburn, Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin and more. The PGA Tour leaderboard is topped by Blair and Fishburn, who seek a huge win toward helping their status on the PGA Tour -- particularly for Fishburn.

This tournament started with 160 players, and a cut was made this week after two rounds. Every professional player in the field is paid for completing the event, but how much each player is paid at the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans from the correct 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans full-field payout is based on their finish.

The 36-hole cut is typically made to the top 65 players and ties, with every player able to move up in the final round. However, in this unique event, the cut was made to the top 33 teams (66 players) and ties.

The 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans prize money payout is set ahead of the event, with the PGA Tour adding money to the purse if more than 65 professionals make the cut to ensure all players are paid, as is the case this week.

What else is on the line

Beyond money, there are important points, perks and benefits on the line for the field -- in particular, the tournament winner.

The winner of this event will each get 400 FedEx Cup points, as is the practice for this team event, splitting the combined first- and second-place FedEx Cup points for an individual event.

There are no Official World Golf Ranking points on the line for the winners, as team events cannot be rated for points.

While this event offers a significant payday, the win comes with enhanced PGA Tour status. The winner gets berths into the PGA Championship and the remaining Signature events this year, along with a two-year PGA Tour exemption.

2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans prize money, winner's share, first-place payout

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George Bryan IV earns sponsor exemption for Myrtle Beach Classic

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George Bryan IV narrowly missed a spot at the PGA TOUR’s inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic via “The Q,” an 18-hole, 16-player qualifier (for one spot) that featured a mix of golf YouTubers and South Carolinian pros. Bryan led by two strokes into the 18th hole, but he made bogey to Matt Atkins’ birdie. Atkins earned the spot with a birdie on the first playoff hole.

“It’s almost like a dream come true,” said Bryan in a video shared on the Myrtle Beach Classic X account, after learning of his spot. “Playing in a PGA TOUR event in my home state, and the first one … holy cow! I mean, when I finished out on 18 (at The Q), I really thought … I don’t know what to say. Because I know my game is good, and I’ve shown myself I can play well at a high level. But getting this chance to do it in Myrtle Beach is going to be something special.”

Bryan made his TOUR debut at last year’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship, making the cut and finishing T69. The University of South Carolina alum has steadily built the “Bryan Bros Golf” YouTube channel in recent years, alongside younger brother Wesley (a TOUR winner who finished runner-up at the Corales Puntacana Championship earlier this month).

That finish will improve Wesley Bryan's position in the TOUR's reshuffle of conditional members (occurring after the Zurich Classic of New Orleans), to the point where he'll likely earn a spot in Myrtle Beach on his number.

It means the Bryan brothers are slated to play together for the second time on TOUR (Wesley finished T37 last year in Bermuda, meaning the younger Bryan currently has the 1-0 edge).

“Holy cow!” exclaimed the older Bryan in the Myrtle Beach Classic video. “Honestly, I don’t even know what to think right now. I’m still trying to … Holy cow! Let’s go.”

Last year, the Bryan brothers also met in a playoff at the Wyndham Championship’s Monday qualifier, with Wesley earning the spot. That appearance was a sign that the older Bryan can hang at this level, which he continued to prove in Bermuda. Now he’ll have a chance to prove it in Myrtle Beach as well.