The PGA Tour is raising the stakes with a new benchmark that reduces fully exempt players from 125 to just 100 on the FedExCup points list. This change is creating heightened pressure, especially for those on the bubble. Hear from pros like Peter Malnati and Lanto Griffin as they discuss how this shift impacts their season strategy and what it means for players trying to secure their spots. Will you make the cut in 2026? Learn more about the intensified competition and its implications for golfers in this insightful analysis.
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The PGA Tour is facing a seismic shift, but sending ripples of anxiety through its players, especially those teetering on the edge of full exemption. Starting next season, the tour is slashing the number of fully exempt players from 125 down to just 100 based on the FedEx Cup points list. This change isn’t just a minor tweak. It’s a gamecher that’s ratcheting up the pressure on everyone competing in the fall events, particularly at the Silverado Resort where the fall schedule is already intense. We all know the spots are fewer now and we know exactly what’s at stake, said Peter Malnati, who’s currently breathing a little easier thanks to his win at the 2024 Valpar Championship, which guarantees his exemption next year. If I didn’t have that win in my back pocket, the challenge ahead would be overwhelming. To truly grasp the weight of this new benchmark, consider this. The gap between the current number 125 and number 100 on the points list is 114 points. That’s roughly equivalent to securing a top five finish in a regular PGA Tour event that isn’t a major or a signature tournament. It’s a significant hurdle. That’s a huge difference. Malnati, who is currently ranked 179th in points, explained. Does it make things more stressful? Absolutely. Fewer spots mean more pressure, but the feeling is familiar. It’s just intensified now. Lanto Griffin knows this pressure all too well. Last fall, he was 171st on the points list and managed only one top 10 finish before reclaiming his status through Q school. But with the new top 100 cutoff, the stakes have climbed even higher. With everything shrinking, it feels like the walls are closing in, Griffin said after opening the Procore Championship with a strong 65, placing him inside the top five. There will be players who had decent seasons, but still end up around 105th or 110th on the list. Griffin plans to compete in six of the seven fall events, fully aware that the new system brings uncertainties. Previously, players finishing between 126th and 150th on the coins list earned conditional status, which allowed them to enter a fair number of tournaments the following season. Now, with the cutoff at 100, it’s unclear how many starts those ranked 101st to 125th will receive in 2026. Honestly, no one really knows what finishing 110th or 120th will mean in terms of tournament entries, Griffin admitted. The tour says those spots will still get you starts, and historically, they’ve been pretty accurate. The top 100 is the clear goal, but finishing around 110 should still get you a decent number of starts next year. He also highlighted how spread out the points are between rank 70 and 150, emphasizing that consistent strong play is more crucial than ever. But here’s where it gets controversial. Is this reduction to 100 fully exempt players a fair move that will elevate the competition? Or does it unfairly squeeze out talented players who just miss the cut? Could this lead to a more elite tour? Or will it create unnecessary stress and instability for many professionals? What do you think? Does this new benchmark improve the game or does it risk sidelining deserving players? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation.
