The 2025 PGA Tour season brought major changes! Several well-known golfers failed to secure their full playing privileges for 2026. This video breaks down the biggest names who lost their PGA Tour cards, including:
Matt Wallace
Beau Hossler
Matt Kuchar
Joel Dahmen
Brandt Snedeker
Adam Hadwin
Zach Johnson
Cameron Champ
Camilo Villegas
Thriston Lawrence
Danny Willett
Francesco Molinari
We’ll discuss their struggles, exemptions, and what this means for their future in professional golf. Stay tuned for insights and analysis on these surprising results!
In the highstakes world of professional golf, nothing stings quite like losing your ticket to the big leagues. Imagine dedicating your life to the sport only to have the door slam shut on your dreams. That’s the raw reality for several top golfers facing a 2026 season without full PGA Tour privileges. And while we are all buzzing about Sami Valamaka’s historic win, many others are scrambling for their professional futures. But here’s where it gets controversial. Is the PGA Tour’s stricter membership rules a smart way to elevate the game, or just a harsh gatekeeping move that sidelines talented players? Let’s dive in and unpack this drama, breaking it down step by step, so even newcomers to golf can follow along. The 2025 PGA Tour season wrapped up at the RSM Classic on Sunday at Sea Island where Sami Valamak made history as the first Finnish golfer to claim victory on the circuit. You can check out the full leaderboard and highlights here. httpsw.golfmagic.com/tour/pga-ourism-class-fboard golfmagic.com/tour/pga-our/ISM-class-final-leer-valaki-captures- first-pa tour-title-season. It was a thrilling end to the year, but for dozens of players, the focus shifted to something even more critical, securing their spots for 2026. This year’s ISM Classic wasn’t just another tournament. It brought a seismic shift to the PGA Tours landscape. The organization, which you can learn more about at their official site, https/www.golfmagic.com/tour/pga-our tightened its membership requirements significantly, lowering the bar for full status to finishing in the top 100 of the FedEx Cup standings. Previously, it was the top 125. So, this change means more players are now on the outside looking in. To put it simply for beginners, the FedEx Cup is like a point system that tracks a player’s performance throughout the season. Think of it as a leaderboard score that determines your job security on the tour. Players who end up between 101 and 125 will get conditional status instead, which limits how many events they can play and under what conditions, forcing them to prove themselves further in qualifying tournaments. And this is the part most people miss. While the rules got tougher, some players still hang on to their cards thanks to special exemptions based on past wins or other criteria. For instance, folks like Max Homer, who finished 105th, and Billy Horchel, 116th, keep full privileges through past winner exemptions from earlier triumphs. Will Zelator at 153rd, qualifies for a major medical exemption due to his multiple back surgeries, giving him a reprieve to recover and compete. But not everyone gets such a lifeline. Let’s look at 12 standout golfers who won’t have full access next season. Though one might snag a career money exemption, but perk for those who’ve earned big over their careers. Matt Wallace, ranked 103rd, is a five-time DP World Tour champion who only notched one PGA Tour top 10 finish this season, a tie for third at the 3M Open. His 2-year exemption from a 2023 win expired, so he’s stuck with conditional status. At 35, with RDER Cup aspirations still alive, he might pivot back to the DP World Tour where he’s thrived. It’s a tough call. Does the tours shake up unfairly pressure veterans like him to chase greener pastures? Bo Hustler at 104th is a highly skilled American who’s yet to break through with a PGA Tour win. His 2025 was rough with just one top 10 at the Barracuda Championship, leading to conditional status. For golf fans new to the scene, conditional status means playing fewer guaranteed tournaments, often requiring strong showings in qualifiers to earn more opportunities. Matt Cuchar, the ninetime winner at 47 and 118th, had only one top 10 at the John Deere Classic. He’ll likely use a career money exemption for 2026 before eyeing the over 50 PGA Tour Champions Circuit in 2028. This highlights a bittersweet aspect of golf careers, aging out but transitioning to new chapters. Joel Dharm, a beloved figure at 122nd, missed 16 cuts despite three top 10s and even parted ways with his longtime caddy. He’s facing conditional status and a winter of self-reflection. It’s a reminder that even fan favorites can hit rough patches. Brance Netica, next year’s US President’s Cup captain at 126th, won’t have full status. His nine wins and solid top 10s were overshadowed by too many missed cuts. His captaincy role might just become his primary focus now. Adam Hadwin, surprisingly at 139th, missed 12 cuts and just barely made the top 140. The 2017 Valpar winner tried a late push in Bermuda, but faltered, likely costing him a spot on the 2027 International President’s Cup team, having played in 2017 and 2019. For context, the President’s Cup pits US golfers against internationals, so this miss hits hard for a Canadian star. Zack Johnson, the two-time major champ at 141st, missed nine cuts in 17 events with a bright spot of a tie for eighth at the Masters. He’ll probably lean on his career money exemption for 2026. and turning 50 in February 2026 opens the door to PGA Tour champions potentially alongside legends like Tiger Woods. Cameron Champ, once a rising star with three early wins at 147th, struggled mightily in 2025. One top 10 at the RBC Canadian Open couldn’t offset his string of missed cuts, costing him full status. Camilo Villigas at 155th and 43 ended a 9-year winless streak in 2023, but couldn’t sustain it, posting two top 10s this year before missing the cut at the ISM Classic. A disappointing close to a comeback attempt. Thristen Lawrence, a shocking 163rd, earned his card via DP World Tour rankings and nearly won the Open in 2024. He couldn’t translate European success to the US despite a DP World Tour win at the Omega European Masters, edging out Wallace. Failing to meet ranking thresholds, he’s heading back to the DP World Tour full-time, where he’ll probably flourish again. Is this an example of how the tour’s differences can trip up players? Danny Willlet, the exmasters champ at 169th, held on to his card in 2025 via medical extension, but that likely won’t extend to next year. Franchesco Molinari, the former Open winner at 185th, lost his card, too. But with the 2027 Ryder Cup captaincy possibly on the horizon, potentially for him or Luke Donald, this could turn into a positive pivot. Donald, if selected, might become the first to captain three straight wins. For the complete FedEx Cup standings, head over here, https colww.gatter.com/fedexcup/fedexcup. Andy Roberts started at Golf Magic with a month’s work experience in April 2011 and became editor in 2015. What do you think? Does the PGA Tour’s decision to shrink full memberships make the circuit more elite? Or does it unfairly boot out deserving talents who might just need a break? Should medical or career exemptions be expanded to give more players a fighting chance? Drop your thoughts in the comments. I’m curious to hear if you agree with these changes or see them as a step too far.
