The PGA Tour has announced it will cut its membership by 20 percent in 2026, with changes to field sizes and the FedEx Cup also on the way.

The tour announced on Monday that exempt status will reduce from 125 to 100 players in 2026, meaning only players finishing in the top 100 of the FedEx Cup will secure full playing rights for the following season. It is the first time since the tour became all exempt in the 1980s that there has been a reduction in membership.

Maximum field sizes for tournaments played on a single course have also been reduced from 156 to 144 players. The tour says this is to mitigate the risk of play being suspended due to fading light. The Players will run with a field of 120 from 2026, down from 144.

The number of PGA Tour cards available to the top players in the Korn Ferry Tour’s order of merit will reduce from 30 to 20, but the 10 cards for the top players on the DP World Tour who do not already have an exemption will remain in place.

Changes have also been made to the FedEx Cup points system, bringing a “slight increase” in points for second-place finishers in majors and The Players. There will be a “slight decrease” in points for players who finish in 11th or below in those events, while the points for finishing seventh or worse in signature events will also go down. These changes come into effect in 2025.

The changes were proposed by the tour’s Player Advisory Council (PAC) and they were approved by the policy board. The tour’s commissioner, Jay Monahan, said: “Today’s announced changes build on the competitive and schedule enhancements incorporated over the last six years in seeking the best version of the PGA Tour for our fans, players, tournaments and partners.

Adam Scott welcomed the changes

Adam Scott welcomed the changes ( 

Image:

Photo by James Gilbert/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

“This was a true collaborative effort, and I’m extremely proud of the PAC for the time and effort they put into evaluating how we build a stronger PGA Tour.”

Former Masters champion Adam Scott, a player director on the policy board and a member of the PAC’s competitions subcommittee, added: “The PAC discussions were based on a number of guiding principles, including our belief that PGA TOUR membership is the pinnacle of achievement in men’s professional golf.

“The player representatives of the PGA TOUR recognize the need to be continually improving its offerings to enhance the golf fan experience. The changes approved today will provide equitable playing opportunities for new young talent to be showcased, and positively refine the playing experience for our members.”

The changes come against the backdrop of ongoing peace talks between the PGA Tour and the breakaway LIV Golf circuit, which launched in 2022 and created huge divisions in the game.

Since the Saudi Arabia-funded league’s inception, the world’s best players have only competed against each other at the majors, but it is hoped a deal between the rival tours will allow greater cross-pollination. The reduction in the PGA Tour’s membership could make that more practical.