PGA Tour reveals proposal to reduce field sizes and change eligibility starting in 2026

The PGA Tour is set to reduce the number of fully exempt players by about 20% starting in 2026, according to a 17-page memo sent to members Tuesday.

The proposed changes are part of an ongoing review by the tour’s Player Advisory Council that began this summer to examine playing privileges, game play and the current points structure of the FedExCup with an emphasis on “the ideal peloton size”.

According to the memo obtained by GolfChannel.com, 28 percent of this year’s tournaments had at least one round that was not completed due to darkness.

With daylight and the pace of play being the main reasons why rounds do not end as planned, the proposal would reduce the field size for most full events before DST to 120 players and limit the size of the field at 144 players (with one exception: the American Express, which is played on three courses and remains at 156).

Explore the latest proposed changes to PGA Tour fields and eligibility

Here’s a closer look at the PGA Tour’s recent proposed changes and what each one means.

The Sony Open, WM Phoenix Open and Cognizant Classic, all of which feature 144 players, would be reduced to 120 players and events held during the summer months, such as the RBC Canadian Open, the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the Genesis Scottish Open, would be reduced. from 156 to 144 players.

The changes would also reduce the field size for the Players Championship from 144 to 120 players (proposed event-by-event breakdown at the bottom of the article).

Some PAC members have suggested the Tour could make up for lost playing opportunities in full events by expanding the field at flagship events, which have a minimum of 72 players.

“Any changes at this time would be disruptive and could increase fan confusion,” the memo said. “No changes to signature event field sizes have been recommended.”

Under the plan, reducing player sizes would require the Tour to adjust the number of fully exempt players to the top 100 of the FedExCup points list from the previous season (2025), down from the current threshold of the top 125. The number of full maps offered to Korn Ferry Tour players would also be reduced under the proposed plan from 30 to 20.

Q-School would award membership to the top 5, down from the current model of top 5 and ties, and the plan would also reduce or eliminate the number of spots available for open events via Monday qualifiers and byes from sponsors.

The adjusted priority ranking would now place members of the Korn Ferry Tour, Q-School and DP World Tour (top 10) ahead of players finishing 101.^st up to 125^th on the previous year’s points list in the conditional status category.

The plan, which must be approved by the Tour board at the final meeting of the year next month at the RSM Classic, would also slightly adjust points awarded at flagship events.

“It has been determined that the middle of the points distribution for flagship events is slightly misaligned with player performance. Therefore, there is also a proposal for a minor adjustment to the FedExCup points distribution table,” the memo states.

Adjusting the points distribution would reduce the number of FedExCup points available for mid-pack finishes (seventh place and above). A seventh-place finish in a major tournament, for example, would remain at 250 points, but the allocation would be reduced by 25 points at a marquee event.

If approved by the political council, the changes will start from the 2026 season.