Sure, Matti Schmid's modest fist-pump after pouring in a 5-footer for par on the last hole of the PGA Championship certainly was an expression of his pleasure for polishing off a 1-under 69 en route to a career-best T4 in a major, but it can’t be ruled out that he knew that it also secured an exemption into the U.S. Open.

OK, so the 28-year-old from Germany likely would require the brain of Rain Man or at least Alan at the casino in “The Hangover” to have been able to determine all of the possibilities in real time, but he’s the latest evidence in how every stroke counts.

While Aaron Rai was sealing victory at the 108th edition of the PGA Championship, this one at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia, many others were boxing out for a flurry of exemptions into the next major and others beyond it, so we’ll get back to Schmid in a minute.

For starters, Rai’s breakthrough in the major locks up an exemption in the PGA Championship for life. He also can book trips to the next five editions of all of the other three majors. He’s also now exempt into the last two Signature Events this season via the victory at worst, and his PGA TOUR membership exemption as the winner of the PGA Championship extends through his age-36 season of 2031.

The PGA of America invites the top 15 and ties to the next PGA Championship. This year, 17 golfers finished inside the bubble, many of whom already have been through another conduit, but this was a qualifier of sorts for all of the guys who couldn’t tackle Rai.

Augusta National Golf Club traditionally makes room for the top four of every major into the Masters. While Rai’s Official World Golf Ranking already was tracking for another appearance in the first major of the season, he’s now set through 2031, whereas Alex Smalley (T2) and Schmid (T4) now can clear their schedules for their debuts next April. Jon Rahm (T2) and Justin Thomas (T4) already knew that they’d be in the 2027 Masters. Ludvig Åberg (T4) was a virtual lock to qualify in time.

The latest OWGR is the first of its two checkpoints for entry into the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in mid-June. Both versions loop all inside the top 60 into the field of 156 on eastern Long Island. This first one adds 24 golfers, ranging from Patrick Reed at 21st through Ryo Hisatsune at 60th. Smalley (42nd) and David Puig (58th) played their way into the top 60 at Aronimink. Smalley was 78th upon arrival, while the Spaniard climbed four spots with a T18. The latest ranking is a personal best for both. (The second checkpoint is the latest OWGR on June 15, immediately before the major.)

With the OWGR applied, the USGA reserves exemptions for the top five in the updated FedExCup standings. This year’s cohort is Alex Fitzpatrick (25th), Sahith Theegala (36th), Sudarshan Yellamaraju (42nd), Patrick Rodgers (46th) and ... wait for it ... Matti Schmid (49th).

The next golfer in the FedExCup not yet eligible for the U.S. Open is Aldrich Potgieter at 52nd. Schmid’s margin over Potgieter is 28.625 FedExCup points. So, to further understand Schmid’s modest fist-pump, his conversion for par was worth 62.500 FedExCup points. That’s the difference between his three-way T4 and what would have been a four-way T6 had he bogeyed the par-4 18th.

The USGA also reserves space for the best performers in the Race to Dubai on the DP World Tour – the top two not otherwise exempt from 2025 and the highest not already eligible via the 2026 ranking. As a result, Laurie Canter (seventh) and Adrien Saddier (ninth) will be at Shinnecock Hills for their 2025 slots, while Jayden Schaper represents this year’s exemption at third.

LIV Golf also is promised up to two spots, one each via its top three in the Individual Standings in 2025 and 2026. Joaquin Niemann (second) was the only of the three last year who wasn’t yet exempt, but he’s now officially in. Lucas Herbert (third) gains entry this year.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, now the real fun begins! Final qualifying for the U.S. Open in England and Texas will be held on Monday, May 18. Once both 36-hole contests are complete, this page will be updated to reflect the results and latest wave of entries into the major.

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

SE = All Signature Events
US = U.S. Open
OPEN = The Open Championship

Recent additions

SE -- Aaron Rai
US -- Daniel Berger; Michael Brennan; Laurie Canter; Pierceson Coody; Jason Day; Nico Echavarria; Alex Fitzpatrick; Rickie Fowler; Ryan Fox; Ryan Gerard; Lucas Herbert; Ryo Hisatsune; Nicolai Højgaard; Michael Kim; Si Woo Kim; Kurt Kitayama; Jake Knapp; Min Woo Lee; Matt McCarty; Joaquin Niemann; Marco Penge; David Puig; Aaron Rai; Patrick Reed; Kristoffer Reitan; Patrick Rodgers; Adrien Saddier; Jayden Schaper; Matti Schmid; Adam Scott; Alex Smalley; Jordan Spieth; Sam Stevens; Sahith Theegala; Sudarshan Yellamaraju
OPEN -- none

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).

REMAINING QUALIFYING CRITERIA

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

Signature Events

• the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 4-7)
• Travelers Championship (June 25-28)

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.
• Final qualifying at one site in England (May 18).
• Final qualifying at one site in Texas (May 18).
• Final qualifying at one site in Japan (May 25).
• Winner of the NCAA Division 1 individual championship, if still an amateur (June 1).
• Final qualifying at one site in Canada (June 8).
• Final qualifying at nine sites in the United States (June 8).
• Special exemptions per the USGA.

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

• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the KOLON Korea Open (May 24).
• Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 25).
• Top 5 in the Federation Ranking (May 25).
• Top 3, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Mizuno Open (May 31).
• Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the LIV Golf Individual Standings at the conclusion of LIV Golf Andalucía (June 7).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 7).
• Top 3, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the RBC Canadian Open (June 14).
• Winner of the British Amateur, if still an amateur (June 20).
• Winner of the U.S. Open (June 21).
• 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).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Italian Open (June 28).
• Top 5, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the Travelers Championship (June 28).
• Final Qualifying. Top 4 at each of four sites (June 30).
• Top 5, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the BMW International Open (July 5).
• Top 3, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open (July 12).
• Winner of the Last-Chance Qualifier (July 13).