Of the many buzzwords from this new era in PGA Tour leadership, one stands out.
Scarcity.
New CEO Brian Rolapp, who came from the NFL, wants things to matter. He wants tournaments to feel relevant. He wants each round to have stakes. And, as we’ll see this week in Saint Simons Island, Ga., during the RSM Classic, he wants each tour card to feel earned.
To be fair, the dramatic shift from 125 to 100 fully exempt spots was announced months before Rolapp’s arrival, but it fits his vision. The final event on the FedEx Cup fall calendar is always a juicy watch full of storylines. This year, it’s even more tense. It will be the final chance for some relevant names to stay around next season in the new cutthroat world of professional golf.
So what should you be watching for this weekend? Let’s dive in.
What’s at stake?
Fully exempt PGA Tour status. While most of the higher-tier implications were decided and finalized in August at the end of the regular season — like top 50 making into all signature events and top 70 getting into the Players Championship and first two signatures — the golfers outside that 70 have a ton to play for in the fall.
Those cutoffs are for the big bucks and prestige. The 100 line is about survival. Only those inside the 100 mark (and others previously exempt through wins or other categories) can play in every event next season. Outside of that, players from 101 to 150 fall into varying levels of conditional status, where they can get into certain events but otherwise drop to the Korn Ferry Tour.
Players up to No. 94 are pretty much safe. The fun really begins at No. 95 (Ryo Hisatsune) through No. 152. Anyone after No. 152 would have to win the RSM to keep their card.
Who not to worry about
The tricky thing about this week is understanding which names to ignore on the points list. Some of the biggest names had tough seasons and are outside the 100, but they’ve earned fully exempt status either way.
Max Homa (No. 101) missed eight cuts in 22 starts and only finished top 20 six times, but as a six-time winner on tour, Homa remains exempt through 2028. The same goes for exciting young talent Karl Vilips, who won in Puerto Rico, and big names like Tom Kim (No. 106) and Adam Scott (No. 107). No. 98 Michael Brennan is also safe after a fall win at the Bank of Utah Championship, as is Sahith Theegala down at 145.
Even Gordon Sargent at No. 204 is exempt. The former top amateur remains exempt through 2026 as part of the PGA Tour University Accelerated program.
Key names at risk
The biggest names in danger are some fun personalities. For the second straight year, Joel Dahmen will need some heroics to keep his spot. At No. 117, he’ll need T6 or better to jump ahead.
The showman Harry Higgs (No. 132) will need a solo third or better.
Adam Hadwin, the 38-year-old Canadian, who, as of just two years ago, was an annual top-50 golfer, is down to No. 138. He’ll need T2 or better at Saint Simons.
Some established names, such as two-time major winner Zach Johnson, Camilo Villegas, Brandt Snedeker and Doug Ghim, are all 125 or worse and will need big weeks to have a chance. Villegas would need a solo second, and Johnson would need a T2. Beau Hossler is alive at No. 103, likely needing 41st or better to seal his spot.
Some interesting young talents are also hoping to hang around. Frankie Capan III needs a solo fourth. Jackson Suber needs T5. And Isaiah Salinda needs T25 or better.