The 2025 PGA TOUR season concludes at The RSM Classic, where the top 100 players in the FedExCup Fall standings will secure exempt status for 2026. This video breaks down what’s at stake, including the Aon Next 10, Player of the Year nominations, and the final push for PGA TOUR cards. We’ll highlight key players on the bubble, analyze the implications of the new eligibility changes, and preview the high-stakes action at St. Simons Island. Whether you’re a golf enthusiast or a PGA TOUR fan, this video is your ultimate guide to the season finale and its impact on the 2026 season. Don’t miss out on the drama as players fight for their TOUR status!
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Careers hang in the balance as the PGA Tour wraps up its 2025 season at the RSM Classic, deciding who’s in and who’s out for 2026. Dive in to uncover the drama of eligibility shifts and the thrilling opportunities that await the game’s top talent. Picture this. The 2025 PGA Tour season draws to a close this week at the RSM Classic on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, capping off the FedEx Cup Fall Series. This event isn’t just another tournament. It’s the decisive moment for players eyeing a spot on the tour for next year. Thanks to new eligibility rules kicking in for 2026. Only the top 100 performers in the FedEx Cup fall standings after the RSM Classic will automatically secure exempt status on the PGA Tour. That means full access to major events without having to qualify each time. But here’s where it gets controversial. Is this system fair, rewarding consistency over flash in the pan brilliance? We’ll explore that as we go. Other key outcomes hinge on this week’s results, too, like the AON Next10 program. Check out more at https/www.pgaour.com/aon-bet-decisions pgaour.com/aon-bet-decisions for entry into the first two signature events of 2026 and the race for PGA Tour player of the year and Rookie of the Year honors. Think of signature events as the tour’s prestige tournaments, exclusive and highstakes affairs that can make or break a player season. The RSM Classic stands as the seventh and final official PGA Tour stop in the FedEx Cup fall. Each one packed with perks for winners. a two-year exemption on the tour, 500 FedEx Cup points, and invites to big names like the Players Championship, the RBC Heritage, and the PGA Championship in 2026. It also lets players solidify or boost their standing in the priority rankings for next year’s season. For context, the FedEx Cup is like a pointsbased leaderboard that tracks a player’s performance across the year, determining who advances to playoffs and earns special privileges. Players who made it to the FedEx Cup playoffs, the top 70 back in August already locked in exempt status for 2026 and spots in the players and all full field events. Those are the standard tournaments open to a larger field. Those who reached the BMW championship numbers 1 to 50 got access to all eight signature events in 2026 and the elite top 50 even froze their FedEx Cup positions. Everyone else below number 51 kept racking up points through the fall to climb the ladder. And this is the part most people miss. The RSM Classic is the ultimate shot for players to crack the top 100 and secure that coveted exempt status. This guarantees entry into all full field events and the players championship next year. For those finishing between numbers 101 to 150, it’s not a dead end. They get conditional status split into three tiers on the priority ranking. 101 to 110, 111 to 125, and 126 to 150. These tiers dictate how many full field events they can play with higher numbers meaning more access. Plus, they’re exempt on the Cornferryy Tour, a developmental circuit that helps golfers hone their skills and aim for the big leagues. Don’t forget this interesting twist. Players who gain tour membership in 2025 via the cornfairy tour or PGA Turq School backed by Cornferry and then lose exempt status by season’s end will still get a lifeline. Exempt status on the cornfairy tour in 2026, no matter their FedEx Cupfall finish. It’s a safety net to keep them in the game, illustrating the tour’s commitment to nurturing talent. Looking at the players hovering around the top 100 this week, including Rio Hizitzun, number 95, Thorbjorn Olison, number 96, Danny Walker, number 97, Michael Brennan, number 98, Takcomi Kaya, number 99, Carl Phillips, number 100, Matt Wallace, number 102, Bo Hustler. Number 103, Isaiah Celinda. Number 104, David Lipsky. number 105 Victor Perez number 108 Patrick Fishburn number 109 and Pearson Cudi number 110 Brennan and Phillips are already safe thanks to their tournament wins. Some big movers shook up the standings after the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. Winner Adam Shank leapt from number 134 to number 67. Chandler Phillips jumped from number 139 to number 92 with a second place finish. and Takcomi Kaya climbed to number 99 after AT3. Max McGrevy, who started at number 100, also improved to number 89 with his own T3. These shifts highlight how a single strong performance can redefine a player’s year. But here’s where it gets controversial again. Does awarding spots based on points truly reflect skill, or does it favor those who play more events? Let’s turn to the AON next 10, a special pathway for the next tier of players. numbers 51 to 60 in the final FedEx Cup fall standings to access signature events. They’ll qualify for the first two in 2026, the AT&T Pebble Beach ProAm and the Genesis Invitational. Three current AON Next 10 members are competing this week. Chris Kirk number 54, Rico Hoey number 57, and Jake Knap number 59. Meanwhile, seven players from numbers 61 to 70 are also in the mix. Nico Echavaria number 62, Patrick Rogers, number 63, Joe Heismith, number 65, Stefan Jagger, number 66, Adam Shank, number 67, McKenzie Hughes, number 69, and Steven Fisk, number 70. To illustrate the impact, consider last year’s standout. Maverick McNeely clinched his first PGA Tour victory at the RSM Classic and landed at number 51 in the FedEx Cup full, unlocking spots in the 2025 AT&T Pebble Beach ProAm and the Genesis Invitational via the AON Next 10. He even finished runnerup at the Genesis Invitational, which kept him in the program and fueled a breakout year, ending up number 23 in the FedEx Cup and peaking at number 10 in the official World Golf ranking with four top 10s in signature events. Imagine the thrill for his family and friends as they celebrated that first win. It’s moments like these that remind us of the human side of the sport. For those who missed the top 100 cutoff, there’s still hope through the final stage of PGA Tour Q School presented by Cornfairy. The top five finishers, ties broken, will snag PGA Tour cards for 2026. Exempt categories include the top 40 eligible players below number 100 in FedEx Cup fall standings, non-members with points at or above number 150, and anyone in the top 50 of the official World Golf ranking from November 17th. This stage runs from Thursday, December 11th to Sunday, December 14th at DY Valley Course at TPC Srass and Sawrass Country Club in Ponte Vidra Beach, Florida. It’s a golden opportunity for statusless players to break in or for those with conditional status to upgrade. And this is the part most people miss. The RSM Classic also closes the door on considerations for the Jack Nicholas Award, Player of the Year, and Arnold Palmer Award, Rookie of the Year. With five rookies wins in 2025, the most since 2019, four are teeing off here. Michael Brennan from the Bank of Utah Championship, Steven Fisk, Sanderson Farms Championship, William Mau ISIO Championship, and Carl Phillips Puerto Rico Open. The fifth, Aldrich Pider triumphed at the Rocket Classic and had a stellar year as a 21-year-old South African with three top 10s, including a playoff loss at the Mexico Open at Vidanta. He was the lone rookie to reach the FedEx Cup playoffs and soar to number 49 in the official World Golf ranking. Award nominees will be revealed postseason with presentations following later. Finally, fresh from last week’s DP World Tour Championship, the climax of the 2025 race to Dubai, the top 10 players not already exempt in the race to Dubai rankings earned PGA Tour membership through the DP World Tour top 10. Here’s the list. Marco Penge, England. Lorie Caner, England. Christopher Wrightton, Norway. Adrien Sadier, France. Alex Norin, Sweden. John Perry, England. Hadamly, China. Kada Nakajima, Japan. Raasmus Negard Peterson, Denmark. Jordan Smith, England. Notably, Raasmus Negard Peterson surged to number nine with AT3 finish at the championship, securing his card. He made five PGA Tour starts in 2025, including a runnerup at the Puerto Rico Open, showing how international talent is increasingly integrated. In wrapping this up, what do you think about these eligibility rules? Do they promote fair competition, or do they create an unfair gatekeeping system that stifles newcomers? Is the emphasis on points versus majors a smart evolution or a divisive change? Share your thoughts in the comments. Do you agree that stars like Maverick McNeely prove the system works or disagree and want to see more radical reforms?
