The 2025 PGA Tour season concluded at the RSM Classic, where Sami Välimäki made history. But for many golfers, the focus was on securing their playing privileges for 2026. Here’s a list of 12 notable players who failed to retain full PGA Tour status for the upcoming season:
Matt Wallace (103)
Beau Hossler (104)
Matt Kuchar (118)
Joel Dahmen (122)
Brandt Snedeker (126)
Adam Hadwin (139)
Zach Johnson (141)
Cameron Champ (147)
Camilo Villegas (155)
Thriston Lawrence (163)
Danny Willett (169)
Francesco Molinari (185)
These golfers, despite their past successes, will have to navigate the challenges of conditional status or explore other avenues to regain their PGA Tour cards.
Imagine the thrill of victory on the PGA Tour, where dreams are made and shattered in the blink of an eye. But this season, for a group of talented golfers, it’s the sting of exclusion that’s stealing the spotlight. As the 2025 PGA Tour wraps up with Sami Velamaki’s historic win at the RSM Classic, marking the first ever PGA Tour title for a Finnish player, the real drama unfolded behind the scenes. Dozens of pros battled fiercely not just for trophies, but for their very livelihoods on the circuit. And this is the part most people miss. The tour’s radical shakeup has turned eligibility into a highstakes gamble, leaving some big names scrambling for survival. This year’s RSM Classic wasn’t just another tournament. It signaled a seismic shift in PGA Tour membership rules. To keep full playing privileges for 2026, golfers had to climb into the top 100 of the FedEx Cup, a drastic drop from the usual top 125 cutoff. If you’re new to this, think of the FedEx Cup as a year-long points race that determines who gets to play in the tour’s biggest events without worrying about qualifying. Those landing between 101 and 125 now face conditional status, which means they must prove themselves further to maintain access. All part of a major overhaul announced last year to make the two more competitive and exclusive. But here’s where it gets controversial. While some players clung to exemptions from past wins or medical issues, others were left out in the cold, sparking debates about fairness and the changing face of professional golf. Is this a necessary evolution to elevate the sport, or is it unfairly punishing veterans and rising stars alike? Fortunately, a few outliers retain their cards through special provisions. Take Max Homer, who finished and Billy Horchel at 116th. They benefited from past winner exemptions allowing them to keep full status despite missing the cutoff. Will Zelator ending at 153rd earned a major medical exemption due to multiple back surgeries giving him a lifeline for next year. Yet for the rest it was a harsh reality check. Here are 12 prominent players who couldn’t clinch full PGA Tour status for 2026. And as a quick note, one of them might still use a career money exemption, which lets high earners from past seasons hold on to privileges based on lifetime earnings. Talk about a safety net. Matt Wallace, 103, a five-time winner on the DP World Tour, Wallace only notched one PGA Tour top 10 this season, a solid T3 at the 3M Open. His 2-year exemption from a 2023 Coral’s Pontacana victory ran out, forcing him into conditional status. At 35, with Ryder Cup aspirations still alive, he might pivot back to the DP World Tour full-time, where he’s had most of his triumphs. It’s a tough call. Does loyalty to one tour outweigh exploring greener pastures? Bo Hustler, 104. One of America’s most promising talents without a PGA Tour win yet. Hustler had a rough go in 2025. His single top 10 came at the Barracuda Championship, but it wasn’t enough to save his card. He’ll navigate conditional status next year, leaving fans wondering if this setback will ignite his breakout moment or lead to more frustration. Matt Cuchar 118. This ninetime PGA Tour winner, now 47, managed just one top 10 all year at the John Deere Classic, sliding to 118th in the FedEx Cup 4 standings. Luckily, he can lean on a career money exemption for 2026, likely before eyeing the over50s PGA Tour Champion circuit in 2028. It’s a graceful exit strategy, but does it diminish the legacy of a true tour veteran? Joel Dharm, 122, a beloved figure among fans, Darmmen missed a staggering 16 cuts this season despite three top 10s and even parted ways with his longtime caddy. That means conditional status for 2026 and plenty of time for self-reflection. Will this winter reboot his career or is it the beginning of an inevitable decline? Brandt Snedekica 126. As next year’s US President’s Cup captain, Snedica enters 2026 without full status. The ninetime winner had a mixed season with several top 10s, but too many miscuts. His focus will pivot to captaincy duties, raising questions. Can leadership roles compensate for encore struggles? Adam Hadwin 139. It’s surprising to see Hadwin this low on the list. The 2017 Valbar champion missed 12 cuts and just edged inside the top 140. A late push in Bermuda fizzled with a weak weekend, likely ruling him out for the 2027 International President’s Cup team after representing Canada in 2017 and 2019. For beginners, this shows how one bad stretch can derail even established pros. Food for thought on golf’s unpredictable nature. Zack Johnson, 141. The two-time major winner faced a challenging year, missing nine cuts in 17 starts with only a standout T8 at the Masters to brag about. He’ll likely use his career money exemption for 2026. Turning 50 in February, he could join the PGA Tour champion soon, perhaps even crossing paths with Tiger Woods if the legend makes the leap. But is age just a number or a barrier in the sport? Cameron Champ, 147. Once hailed as a rising star with three early wins, Champ battled through a dismal 2025, his lone top 10 at the RBC Canadian Open overshadowed by numerous miscuts. Ending at 147th, he loses full status. Fans might argue this proves the tour’s pressure can break even the brightest young talents. Camilo Villigers 155. After ending a 9-year winless streak in 2023, the 43-year-old couldn’t sustain the momentum, posting two top 10s in 2025, but missing the cut at the RSM Classic. It’s a reminder that comebacks aren’t guaranteed. What do you think defines a player’s prime? Thristen Lawrence 163. Here’s the biggest shocker of the bunch. Lawrence, who qualified for the PGA Tour via DP World Tour rankings and nearly claimed the Open in 2024, couldn’t translate his European success to American soil. Despite his fifth DP World Tour win at the Omega European Masters, where he edged out Wallace, he faltered states side and missed the required DP World Tour spots for retention. He’ll head back full-time to Europe, where he could thrive. This raises eyebrows. Is the tour too harsh on international talent, or should everyone adapt equally? Danny Willlet 169. The former Masters champ kept his card in 2025 thanks to a major medical extension, but that shield probably won’t extend to next season. It’s a stark contrast to others protections. Does this highlight unfair advantages in golf? Franchesco Molinari 185. The past Open champion also lost his card amid a tough year. But here’s an intriguing twist. With the 2027 Rder Cup captaincy possibly going to him or Luke Donald in the coming weeks, this setback might actually be a hidden blessing. If Donald gets picked again, he could become the first captain to win three straight Ryder Cups. Talk about a plot twist. Does offc course recognition outweigh oncourse wos? For the full FedEx Cup 4 standings, check them out here. https col/www.gatter.com gadget.com/fedexcup/fedxup-fall to see who else was impacted. What do you think about these membership changes? Do they level the playing field or create an elite club that’s harder for newcomers to crack? Share your thoughts in the comments. Are you rooting for any of these players to bounce back or do you see this as golf’s way of evolving? And here’s a controversial take. Maybe exemptions are the real issue, rewarding past glory over current performance. Agree or disagree? Andy Roberts first joined Golf Magic on a month’s work experience back in April 2011.
