When Xander Schauffele two-putted for par on his final hole of the Baycurrent Classic, it not only cemented his one-stroke victory in Yokohama, Japan, but it also cleared the stage for two pairs of scheduled exemptions on Sunday, one in Indiana, the other in Spain.

That’s because Schauffele already is set for starts in all Signature Events, THE PLAYERS Championship and all four majors in 2026. What he gained with his 10th career title in his 200th PGA TOUR start was an additional season on his multi-year exemption anchored by the five-year exemption secured by his win at the 2024 PGA Championship. Schauffele is now exempt as a winner through 2030.

Schauffele’s bid to hold off fellow 54-hole co-leader Max Greyserman at Yokohama Country Club wasn’t anywhere near the predictable outcome that the season-ending tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour produced, but it doesn’t mean that the latter was any less dramatic.

With a share of 12th place at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance, Johnny Keefer remained atop the season-long points list. His only threat was Austin Smotherman, but Smotherman settled for a T41 at The Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort in southern Indiana. He would have needed to win to claim the top spot and the spoils that go with it.

For finishing first in points, Keefer earns exemptions into the 2026 editions of THE PLAYERS Championship and the U.S. Open. He’ll also be in his own category of the PGA TOUR’s Priority Ranking and exempt from the periodic reorder of all graduates. Incidentally, Chandler Blanchet prevailed by two strokes at French Lick and snuck into second overall in points. Smotherman finished third.

A few hours before the Korn Ferry Tour distributed PGA TOUR cards to the top 20 in points, Marco Penge of England disposed of fellow countryman Daniel Brown with a birdie on the only hole of a playoff at the Open de España in Madrid.

It’s Penge’s third victory of a breakout season on the DP World Tour. The 27-year-old went winless as a rookie in 2023-24. He also has a second and a third among four other top 10s in 2024-25. This win nets an automatic exemption into the Masters for the first time. The tournament was also the first stop in the Open Qualifying Series for The Open Championship, for which the highest finisher who made the cut gains entry into the field at Royal Birkdale in 2026, so Penge is now exempt into the final major. He’s 0-for-3 in The Open, but he has never qualified for the Masters.

Penge also solidified his position atop the Race to Dubai ranking among eligible DP World Tour members to join the PGA TOUR in 2026. The top 10 at the conclusion of this season will earn cards.

This week’s Japan Open is the second leg of the OQS. Similarly, the top finisher who isn’t currently exempt into The Open will punch his ticket into the major. The winner of the Japan Open also will earn an exemption into the Masters for the first time.

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 -- Johnny Keefer
MAS -- Marco Penge
PGA -- none
US -- Johnny Keefer
OPEN -- Marco Penge

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 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 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 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") 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 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

• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Japan Open (Oct. 19).
• Winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (Oct. 26).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Hong Kong Open (Nov. 2).
• Top 25 in the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the DP World Tour Championship (Nov. 16).
• Top 3, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Australian Open (Dec. 7).
• 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).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the New Zealand Open (March 1).
• Top 3, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the South African Open Championship (March 1).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Argentina Open (March 1).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 8).
• Winner of THE PLAYERS Championship (March 15).
• Top 2, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at an Asian Tour event (TBD).
• Winner of the Masters (April 12).
• Winner of the PGA Championship (May 17).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the KOLON Korea Open (TBD).
• 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).
• 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).
• 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).
• Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the LIV Golf Individual Standings at the conclusion of LIV Golf Louisiana (June 28).
• 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 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).