{"id":309764,"date":"2025-11-26T10:52:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T10:52:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/309764\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T10:52:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T10:52:14","slug":"which-big-name-golfers-lost-their-pga-tour-cards-for-the-2026-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/309764\/","title":{"rendered":"Which big name golfers lost their PGA Tour cards for the 2026 season?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2025 PGA Tour season reached its conclusion at the RSM Classic<\/a> at Sea Island on Sunday, where Sami V\u00e4lim\u00e4ki became the first Finnish native to win on the circuit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But while V\u00e4lim\u00e4ki celebrated, dozens of players were fighting for something arguably more important: their playing privileges for 2026.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s RSM Classic brought an even bigger shake-up than usual.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The PGA Tour<\/a>\u2019s membership tightening meant players needed to finish inside the top 100 of the FedEx Cup to retain full status\u2014down from the traditional top 125.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Those finishing 101\u2013125 will now receive only conditional status, part of the Tour\u2019s significant restructuring announced last year.<\/p>\n

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A number of PGA Tour players finishing outside the top 100 still maintain their cards for next season based on past winner exemptions, such as Max Homa (105) and Billy Horschel (116).\u00a0<\/p>\n

Will Zalatoris (153) will also be eligible to take advantage of a ‘major medical exemption’ in 2026, as a result of multiple back surgeries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Others are not quite so fortunate though.<\/p>\n

Here are 12 notable names who failed to secure full PGA Tour status for 2026. (although one of the below players will be able to take advantage of a career money exemption)…<\/p>\n

Matt Wallace \u2013 103<\/p>\n

Five-time DP World Tour winner Wallace posted just one PGA Tour top-10 this season\u2014a T3 at the 3M Open. Wallace\u2019s two-year PGA Tour exemption from his 2023 Corales Puntacana victory has now expired, leaving him with only conditional status. At 35, and with Ryder Cup ambitions still burning, Wallace may opt to return full-time to the DP World Tour next season, a circuit where he has enjoyed the bulk of his success.<\/p>\n

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Beau Hossler \u2013 104<\/p>\n

One of the more talented American players yet to win on the PGA Tour, Hossler endured a poor season in 2025. His lone top-10 this year came at the Barracuda Championship, but that was not enough to keep his card. He will also rely on conditional status next season.<\/p>\n

Matt Kuchar \u2013 118<\/p>\n

Nine-time PGA Tour winner Kuchar, 47, picked up just one top-10 all year\u2014coming at the John Deere Classic\u2014and he slipped to 118th on the FedEx Cup Fall standings. However, Kuchar has a lifeline in that he can use up one of his two career-money exemptions<\/a> for 2026, before he likely then turns hi attention to the over 50s PGA Tour Champions in 2028.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Kuchar <\/p>\n

Kuchar has a big decision to make<\/p>\n

Joel Dahmen \u2013 122<\/p>\n

Fan favourite Dahmen missed a whopping 16 cuts this season, sealing his fate despite three top-10s. He also split with his longtime caddie during the year. The result: conditional status for 2026 and a winter of reflection as he looks to rebound.<\/p>\n

Brandt Snedeker \u2013 126<\/p>\n

Next year\u2019s US Presidents Cup captain will enter 2026 without full PGA Tour status. The nine-time winner endured a patchy season featuring several top-10s but too many missed cuts. His focus will now shift heavily toward his captaincy duties.<\/p>\n

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Adam Hadwin \u2013 139<\/p>\n

A surprising name this far down the list, Hadwin missed 12 cuts and ended the season just inside the top 140. The 2017 Valspar champion attempted a late-season push in Bermuda, but a poor weekend saw him fall short. The Canadian is now almost certain to miss the 2027 International Presidents Cup team, having previously competed in 2017 and 2019.<\/p>\n

Zach Johnson \u2013 141<\/p>\n

Two-time major champion Johnson endured a difficult campaign, missing nine cuts in 17 starts. A superb T8 at the Masters was the lone highlight. Johnson is expected to rely on his career-money exemption for 2026. Turning 50 in February 2026, he will also become eligible for the PGA Tour Champions\u2014potentially joining Tiger Woods if he chooses to enter the senior circuit.<\/p>\n

\"Which Cameron Champ \u2013 147<\/p>\n

Once seen as one of the game\u2019s rising stars with three early-career victories, Champ continued to struggle badly in 2025. A single top-10 at the RBC Canadian Open could not outweigh a long run of missed cuts. He finishes 147th and loses full status.<\/p>\n

Camilo Villegas \u2013 155<\/p>\n

Villegas ended a nine-year drought with victory in 2023, but he was unable to carry that momentum forward in 2025. The 43-year-old posted two top-10s this season but missed the cut at the RSM Classic to end a disappointing year.<\/p>\n

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Thriston Lawrence \u2013 163<\/p>\n

Perhaps the biggest surprise among this year\u2019s casualties. Lawrence, who earned his PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour Rankings and nearly won The Open in 2024, could not replicate his European form in the United States. Despite claiming his fifth DP World Tour win earlier this year at the Omega European Masters, pipping Wallace to the title, he struggled all season on American soil. The South African also failed to finish inside the required DP World Tour Rankings spots to retain his PGA Tour card for 2026. He will now return to the DP World Tour full-time, and he’ll probably shine.<\/p>\n

Danny Willett \u2013 169<\/p>\n

The former Masters champion retained his card in 2025 via a major medical extension, but that protection is unlikely to carry over into next season.<\/p>\n

Francesco Molinari \u2013 185<\/p>\n

Former Open champion Molinari also lost his card after a difficult year. But with the 2027 Ryder Cup captaincy expected to be awarded in the coming weeks\u2014likely to either Molinari or Luke Donald\u2014this may prove a blessing in disguise. Donald, should he be selected again, would have the chance to become the first captain in Ryder Cup history to win three straight matches.<\/p>\n

\"Molinari <\/p>\n

Molinari is in contention to become Ryder Cup captain<\/p>\n

Check out the final 2025 PGA Tour FedEx Cup Fall standings here<\/a><\/p>\n

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