Discover which notable PGA Tour golfers failed to retain full playing privileges for the 2026 season. This video covers the 2025 season finale at the RSM Classic, the impact of the PGA Tour’s membership tightening from top 125 to top 100 FedEx Cup standings, and profiles of big names like Matt Wallace, Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker, Zach Johnson, and more who face conditional status or exemptions.
Stay informed about career exemptions, major medical exemptions, and what this means for players’ futures including possible returns to the DP World Tour or transitions to the PGA Tour Champions.
If you’re a golf fan or follow the PGA Tour closely, this update gives you essential insight ahead of the 2026 season.
Keywords: PGA Tour 2026, FedEx Cup standings, PGA Tour card lost, Matt Kuchar status, Zach Johnson PGA Tour, Brandt Snedeker Presidents Cup, DP World Tour, PGA Tour Champions
Attention golf enthusiasts. We’re about to dive into a hot topic that has the golf world buzzing. The PGA Tours 2025 season finale at the RSM Classic revealed some shocking results. And not just because of Sami Valamaraki’s historic win as the first Finnish champion. While Valamaraki celebrated, a battle for playing privileges in 2026 was underway. And some big names didn’t make the cut. But here’s where it gets controversial. The PGA Tours membership criteria tightened this year, requiring players to finish within the top 100 of the FedEx Cup to retain full status, a significant drop from the traditional top 125. This shakeup has left many talented golfers with conditional status or worse. Some, like Max Homer and Billy Horchel, still hold on to their cards based on past winner exemptions, but others aren’t so lucky. Let’s take a closer look at 12 notable golfers who failed to secure full PGA Tour status for 2026. Matt Wallace, the five-time DP World Tour winner, managed just one top 10 finish this season, and his 2-year PGA Tour exemption has now expired. At 35, with Ryder Cup ambitions, Wallace might consider a full-time return to the DP World Tour, where he’s found most of his success. Bo Hustler, a talented American yet to win on the PGA Tour, had a poor 2025 season. His lone top 10 finish at the Barracuda Championship wasn’t enough to keep his card, leaving him with conditional status for next year. Ninetime PGA Tour winner Matt Cuchar at 47 had a disappointing year with only one top 10 finish. He’s expected to use a career money exemption for 2026 and then likely transition to the PGA Tour Champions in 2028. Fan favorite Joel Darmmen missed 16 cuts this season despite three top 10 finishes. He’s now facing conditional status for 2026 and a winter of reflection to regroup. Branska, the next year’s US President’s Cup captain, will enter 2026 without full PGA Tour status. The ninetime winner had a patchy season with several top 10 finishes, but too many missed cuts. His focus will now shift to his captaincy duties. Adam Hadwin, a surprising name on this list, missed 12 cuts and ended just inside the top 140. He’s almost certain to miss the 2027 International President’s Cup team, having previously competed in 2017 and 2019. Two-time major champion Zack Johnson had a difficult campaign, missing nine cuts in 17 starts. He’s expected to rely on his career money exemption for 2026. And at 50 in February 2026, he’ll also become eligible for the PGA Tour champions, potentially joining Tiger Woods. Cameron Champ, once a rising star with three early career victories, continued to struggle in 2025. He managed just one top 10 finish at the RBC Canadian Open and a long run of missed cuts saw him lose full status. Camilo Viegas, who ended a 9-year drought with victory in 2023, couldn’t maintain that momentum in 2025. The 43year-old posted two top 10s this season but missed the cut at the RSM Classic, ending a disappointing year. Thristan Lawrence, who nearly won the Open in 2024 and earned his PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour rankings, struggled to replicate his European form in the United States. Despite winning the Omega European Masters earlier this year, he couldn’t maintain his PGA Tour card for 2026. He’ll now return to the DP World Tour full-time. Danny Willlet, the former Masters champion, retained his card in 2025 via a major medical extension, but that protection is unlikely to continue into next season. Former Open Champion Franchesco Molinari also lost his card after a difficult year. However, with the 2027 Rider Cup captaincy expected to be awarded soon, potentially to Molinari or Luke Donald, this setback could be a blessing in disguise. And this is the part most people miss. The PGA Tours restructuring has created a new landscape for golfers and these changes will undoubtedly shape the future of the sport. What are your thoughts on these developments? Do you think these golfers will bounce back or is this the beginning of a new era for the PGA Tour? Share your insights and predictions in the comments below.
