4 Major changes proposed by the PGA Tour for the 2026 season
Sports are always evolving, and the PGA Tour, and golf as a whole, is no different. The sport is often looking at how to improve and at changes that will benefit players and fans. Every so often, these changes are implemented if they get approval, and a few have been teased for 2026.
The PGA Tour board is going to review a few major changes proposed, and if they're approved, implement them by 2026. These changes wouldn't change the core of what golf is, but they would impact a lot of things. Here are the proposed changes that they're reviewing.
PGA Tour changes potentially coming in 2026
4) Changing field sizes
Under the new proposal, almost every single non-Signature Event would see a drop in field size. The RBC Canadian Open, WM Phoenix Open, Sony Classic, and so many others would have fewer player spots available under this new proposal. Some fields would drop from 156 to 144 players, and others would go as low as 132 or even 120 depending on some daylight saving stipulations. Either way, the vast majority of tournaments would have fewer players. None would have more.
3) Limiting entry
The PGA Tour may be decreasing the number of membership cards coming from the Korn Ferry Tour. Right now, it's 30, but they are proposing to drop it from 30 to 20. They would, in this scenario, keep 10 from the DP World Tour and limit the qualifying school, or Q-School, to five players. This would make it a bit harder for players to make the jump to the Tour.
2) Alter FedEx Cup points
The Tour is also considering altering the FedEx Cup points awarded from certain tournaments. They are reportedly looking to adjust FedExCup points distribution by adding a slight increase to second-place finishers in Major championships and in The Players Championship. There would also be a slight decrease in points for those who finish 11th and lower. The Tour would also drop the Signature Event points awarded for everyone seventh or lower.
1) Change exempt totals
Golfers, who are at the lower end of the FedEx Cup standings, have to sweat it out at the end of the year in order to retain their membership. Right now, 125 golfers can keep their spot for 2025. Everyone else is no longer a member. That can be stressful, but now the PGA Tour is considering making it even more stressful. One of the proposals is to drop the exempt status from the top 125 to the top 100 players. They would add a conditional category for the players ranked 101-125.