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Qualifiers for all 2026 Signature Events, THE PLAYERS and majors

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2025 Ryder Cup preview: Which pairings will we see at Bethpage?

2025 Ryder Cup preview: Which pairings will we see at Bethpage?

    Written by Rob Bolton

    One of the revisions affecting the FedExCup Fall is that its winners no longer will receive exemptions into the Masters the following year. Well, that won’t be a problem for the PGA TOUR member who won the Procore Championship on Sunday. Scottie Scheffler is exempt for life into the major as a former champion.

    Scheffler prevailed by one at Silverado Resort’s North Course. He was making his tournament debut. He was among 10 Americans headed to the Ryder Cup who capitalized on the timing of the annual stop in Napa, California, not only to compete and stay sharp, but also to connect off the course. Chemistry can be a difference-maker in the biennial exhibition match. The Europeans are forever filled with it.

    The usual haul of exemptions reserved for the winner are unnecessary because Scheffler also has qualified for The Sentry, THE PLAYERS Championship and the PGA Championship many times over, and his PGA TOUR membership exemption has been extended to its five-year reach through his age-34 season of 2030 for a while.

    However, the fields of the U.S. Open and The Open Championship each grew by one on Sunday when Alex Noren took the title at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in England. The 43-year-old Swede prevailed in a playoff with Adrien Saddier of France. Noren clinched with a birdie on the first hole of overtime. It’s his second victory in the tournament (2017).

    It’s also Noren’s second victory in his last three starts, so he was already on a trajectory to qualify for all of the majors in 2026. Not too shabby for a talent of a certain age who missed the first four months of the year to recover from a torn glute and hamstring.

    The next exemptions into the Masters and the U.S. Open are scheduled to be determined this Thursday. That’s when the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship is scheduled to conclude at Troon Country Club north of Phoenix. Its champion is eligible for both majors provided that he retains his amateur status for each. Three-time Mid-Am champ Stewart Hagestad finished stroke-play qualifying at T3. The 34-year-old is fresh off his second straight triumph as a member of the U.S. Walker Cup team.

    NOTE: Until all methods of entry are released by the governing bodies, traditional criteria are used to determine qualifiers. Refer to the remaining qualifying criteria at the bottom of the page for details.

    SE = All Signature Events
    TPC = THE PLAYERS Championship
    MAS = Masters
    PGA = PGA Championship
    US = U.S. Open
    OPEN = The Open Championship

    Recent additions
    SE -- none
    TPC -- none
    MAS -- none
    PGA -- none
    US -- Alex Noren
    OPEN -- Alex Noren

    NOTE: Golfers are omitted if they haven’t competed recently in majors for which they are eligible (e.g., The Open Championship = David Duval, Paul Lawrie).

    GolferQualified
    Ludvig ÅbergSE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN
    Rich BeemPGA
    Daniel BergerSE, TPC
    Akshay BhatiaSE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN
    Keegan BradleySE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Jacob BridgemanSE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN
    Sam BurnsSE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN
    Ángel CabreraMAS, PGA
    Brian CampbellSE, TPC, MAS, PGA
    Patrick CantlaySE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN
    Bud CauleySE, TPC
    Stewart CinkOPEN
    Wyndham ClarkTPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Darren ClarkeOPEN
    Hamilton ColemanUS (must remain an amateur to compete)
    Corey ConnersSE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN
    Fred CouplesMAS
    John DalyPGA, OPEN
    Cam DavisTPC
    Jason DaySE, TPC, MAS, PGA
    Bryson DeChambeauMAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Thomas DetrySE, TPC
    Jason DufnerPGA
    Nico EchavarriaTPC
    Ernie ElsOPEN
    Harris EnglishSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Ethan FangMAS, US (must remain an amateur to compete in both)
    Tony FinauTPC
    Matt FitzpatrickSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Tommy FleetwoodSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Rickie FowlerSE, TPC
    Ryan FoxSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, OPEN
    Sergio GarciaMAS
    Ryan GerardSE, TPC, PGA
    Lucas GloverSE, TPC
    Chris GotterupSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Max GreysermanTPC
    Ben GriffinSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Emiliano GrilloTPC
    Harry HallSE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN
    Brian HarmanSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Padraig HarringtonPGA, US, OPEN
    Tyrrell HattonMAS, *PGA, US
    Russell HenleySE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN
    Jackson HerringtonMAS, US (must remain an amateur to compete in both)
    Garrick HiggoTPC
    Joe HighsmithTPC, PGA
    Tom HogeSE, TPC
    Rasmus Højgaard*PGA
    Max HomaMAS
    Billy HorschelOPEN
    Viktor HovlandSE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN
    Mason HowellMAS, US, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in the Masters and The Open Championship)
    Mackenzie HughesTPC
    Sungjae ImSE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN
    Stephan JaegerTPC
    Miguel Angel JiménezTPC
    Dustin JohnsonMAS, US
    Zach JohnsonMAS, OPEN
    Martin KaymerPGA
    Michael KimSE, TPC
    Si Woo KimSE, TPC, PGA
    Chris KirkTPC
    Kurt KitayamaSE, TPC, MAS, PGA
    Jake KnappTPC
    Brooks KoepkaMAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Jackson KoivunUS, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in both)
    Michael La SassoMAS (must remain an amateur to compete)
    Min Woo LeeTPC
    Justin LeonardOPEN
    Haotong LiMAS, OPEN
    Shane LowrySE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN
    Robert MacIntyreSE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN
    Hideki MatsuyamaSE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN
    Denny McCarthySE, TPC, PGA
    Rory McIlroySE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Maverick McNealySE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN
    Shaun MicheelPGA
    Phil MickelsonMAS, PGA, OPEN
    Francesco MolinariOPEN
    Collin MorikawaSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    William MouwTPC, PGA
    Joaquin NiemannPGA
    Alex NorenUS, OPEN
    Andrew NovakSE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN
    José Maria OlazábalMAS
    Louis OosthuizenOPEN
    Carlos OrtizMAS, US
    Taylor PendrithSE, TPC, PGA
    J.T. PostonSE, TPC, PGA
    Aldrich PotgieterTPC, MAS, PGA
    Jon RahmMAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Aaron RaiTPC
    Patrick ReedMAS
    Davis RileyTPC, MAS, PGA
    Patrick RodgersTPC
    Justin RoseSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Xander SchauffeleSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Scottie SchefflerSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Matti SchmidTPC
    Charl SchwartzelMAS
    Adam ScottMAS
    Vijay SinghMAS
    Cameron SmithMAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    J.J. SpaunSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Jordan SpiethTPC, MAS, OPEN
    Henrik StensonOPEN
    Sam StevensSE, TPC
    Sepp StrakaSE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN
    Nick TaylorSE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN
    Justin ThomasSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Erik van RooyenTPC
    Jhonattan VegasSE, TPC, PGA
    Jimmy WalkerPGA
    Bubba WatsonMAS
    Mike WeirMAS
    Danny WillettMAS
    Gary WoodlandUS
    Tiger WoodsMAS, PGA, OPEN
    Y.E. YangPGA
    Cameron YoungSE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Kevin YuTPC

    REMAINING QUALIFYING CRITERIA

    Criteria are listed in chronological order where possible. Best estimates are given but all are subject to change.

    Signature Events

    • The Sentry (Jan. 8-11)
    • AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Feb. 12-15)
    • The Genesis Invitational (Feb. 19-22)
    • Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 5-8)
    • RBC Heritage (April 16-19)
    • Miami Championship (April 30-May 3)
    • Truist Championship (May 7-10)
    • Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 4-7)
    • Travelers Championship (June 25-28)

    THE PLAYERS Championship (TPC) at TPC Sawgrass (Stadium) – March 12-15

    • Winners of PGA TOUR events through the final week before THE PLAYERS.
    • Leader of the Korn Ferry Tour Points List at the conclusion of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance (Oct. 12).
    • Leader of the Race to Dubai ranking to earn a PGA TOUR card at the conclusion of the DP World Tour Championship (Nov. 16).
    • Top 100 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of The RSM Classic (Nov. 23).
    • Top 10 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the Cognizant Classic (March 1).
    • Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (March 2).
    • If necessary to complete the field of 120, golfers outside the Top 10 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the Cognizant on March 1 will gain entry in order of position.

    Masters (MAS) at Augusta National Golf Club – April 9-12

    • Winners of PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation for the TOUR Championship.
    • Winner of the U.S. Mid-Amateur, if still an amateur (Sept. 18).
    • Winner of the Open de España (Oct. 12).
    • Winner of the Japan Open (Oct. 19).
    • Winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (Oct. 26).
    • Winner of the Hong Kong Open (Nov. 2).
    • Winner of the Australian Open (Dec. 7).
    • Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (Dec. 31).
    • Winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (Jan. 18).
    • Winner of the South African Open (March 1).
    • Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (March 30).
    • Special invitations to international players per Masters Tournament Committee as its discretion.

    PGA Championship (PGA) at Aronimink Golf Club – May 14-17

    • Winners of PGA TOUR events through the final week before the 2026 PGA Championship.
    • Top 3 from International Federation Ranking List (TBD).
    • Top 3 from Asian Swing ranking on the DP World Tour (TBD).
    • Top 20 from PGA Professional Championship (April 29).
    • Top 70 from special money list (i.e., "PGA Championship Points" (link: https://www.pgatour.com/stats/detail/132)) on PGA TOUR from 2025 Charles Schwab Challenge through the Miami Championship (May 3).
    • *All 2025 Ryder Cup members inside Top 100 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 4).
    • Special exemptions per PGA of America. (This likely will include all golfers from Top 100 of Official World Golf Ranking on May 4.)
    • If necessary to complete the field of 156, golfers outside Top 70 from special money list (three lines above) will gain entry in order of position.

    U.S. Open (US) at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club – June 18-21

    • Winners of multiple PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation since the 2025 U.S. Open.
    • Winner of the U.S. Mid-Amateur, if still an amateur (Sept. 18).
    • Leader of the Korn Ferry Tour Points List at the conclusion of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance (Oct. 12).
    • Winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (Jan. 18).
    • Winner of THE PLAYERS Championship (March 15).
    • Winner of the Masters (April 12).
    • Winner of the PGA Championship (May 17).
    • Top 5, not otherwise exempt, in the FedExCup at the conclusion of a PGA TOUR event TBD in 2026 (TBD).
    • Top 2, not otherwise exempt, in the 2025 Race to Dubai at the conclusion of an event TBD in 2026 (TBD).
    • Top player, not otherwise exempt, in the 2026 Race to Dubai (TBD).
    • Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the Top 3 of the LIV Golf Individual Standings (May 18).
    • Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (1 of 2) (TBD).
    • Final qualifying (TBD).
    • Winner of the NCAA Division 1 individual championship, if still an amateur (June 1).
    • Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (2 of 2) (TBD).
    • Special exemptions per the USGA.

    The Open Championship (OPEN) at Royal Birkdale Golf Club -- July 16-19

    • Winner of the Japan Open (Oct. 19).
    • Winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (Oct. 26).
    • Top 25 in the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the DP World Tour Championship (Nov. 16).
    • Open Qualifying Series (TBD).
    • Winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (Jan. 18).
    • Winner of the African Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (Feb. 7).
    • Winner of the 119th VISA Open de Argentina (TBD).
    • Winner of THE PLAYERS Championship (March 15).
    • Winner of the Masters (April 12).
    • Winner of the PGA Championship (May 17).
    • Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (TBD).
    • Top 5 in the Federation Ranking (TBD).
    • Winner of the British Amateur, if still an amateur (June 20).
    • Winner of the U.S. Open (June 21).
    • Top 5, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the PGA TOUR event TBD in 2026 (TBD).
    • Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the Top 5 of the LIV Golf Individual Standings (TBD).
    • Winner of the European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 27).
    • Leader in World Amateur Golf Ranking points accumulated at the St. Andrews Links Trophy (June 7), British Amateur (June 20) and European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 27).
    • Final Qualifying. Top 4 at each of four sites (TBD).
    • Top 5, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the DP World Tour event TBD in 2026 (TBD).
    • Winner of the Last-Chance Qualifier (July 13).

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