Dylan Wu Left Out of Full-Field WM Phoenix Open: PGA Tour Controversy Explained
🏌️♂️ Full PGA Tour status, but no spot in a “full-field” event? That’s what Dylan Wu is facing at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open.
Despite being fully exempt, Wu finds himself sixth alternate at one of the Tour’s most iconic stops. The controversy stems from recent PGA Tour policy changes, confusing field allocations, and the WMPO’s shifting status.
🗣️ Wu didn’t hold back on social media:
“The WMPO is back to a regular full-field event, and for some reason they’re ‘special’… the Tour says they’re allowed to be the only full-field event that doesn’t include ALL fully exempt members.”
The tournament’s evolution is complicated: elevated to a Signature Event in 2022 with a $20M purse, stripped of that status in 2024, then adjusted again this year to 123 players — still leaving Wu on the outside.
📊 Why it matters
• Dylan Wu is 72nd in FedEx Cup standings
• Not eligible for any limited-field Signature Events
• Full-field tournaments are critical for ranking points
• Exclusion limits opportunities to climb the leaderboard
Wu also highlighted an inconsistency involving Lee Hodges, who boasts eight top-11 finishes over the last 15 months yet sits as 10th alternate behind less experienced players.
🤯 Star-studded absences at WM Phoenix Open
While top pros like Scottie Scheffler will tee off, others are skipping, including Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Keegan Bradley, Ludvig Åberg, and Russell Henley.
✅ Still in the field:
• Xander Schauffele
• Hideki Matsuyama (two-time winner)
• Jordan Spieth
• Rickie Fowler
• Cameron Young
• Viktor Hovland
• Brooks Koepka (two-time winner making his second start since returning to the Tour)
The situation has sparked debate over whether the term “full-field” truly reflects opportunity and fairness on the PGA Tour — or if policy quirks are unfairly leaving deserving pros like Dylan Wu out of competition.
💬 What do you think? Should full-status players automatically gain entry to all full-field events? Comment below!
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