By admin 
The band-aid had to be ripped off at some point, and with the PGA Tour proposing sweeping changes to field size and eligibility, all set to take effect in 2026, the transition won’t come without this painful reality:
The Korn Ferry Tour and Q-School graduates face an unprecedented task to retain their cards in 2025.
In preparation for 2026, only the top 100 players on the final 2025 FedExCup points list will retain fully exempt status, while other ’26 changes include reducing field sizes across the board, reducing or eliminating Monday qualifying spots and reducing the number of KFT graduates. from 30 to 20 players.
Here’s a deeper look at the recent changes proposed by the PGA Tour and what they all mean.
These proposed changes will be voted on by the Tour’s policy council on November 18, the week of the RSM Classic, although they are expected to be adopted.
The challenges of last season for those coming from the KFT and Q-School included the difficulty of getting to full fields, especially at the beginning of the calendar and before the early April rescheduling, and at the events for which they qualified, playing in front of significantly fewer players. FedExCup points.
Now, these realignment category players will operate in the same environment in 2025, but instead of aiming for the top 125 in FedExCup points, they’ll have to finish in the top 100 next fall. For reference, through last week’s Zozo Championship, only five KFT/Q-School graduates (excluding the fully exempt Ben Kohles) were in the top 100 in points:
48. Max Greyserman
61. Jake Knapp
85. Rico Hoey
86. Patrick Visburn
98. Mac Meissner
Entering mid-fall bye week, Rafa Campos, who started the year as the 30th KFT student, has competed in 22 events, with winners receiving a total of 9,900 FedExCup points. By comparison, Mac Hughes, No. 50 on last year’s FedExCup list, has competed in 24 events for a total of 16,100 points, and Carl Yuan, No. 125 in points in 2023, has logged 25 starts for a total of 11,850 points.
“I don’t feel part of the PGA Tour, I really don’t, and that’s really depressing,” Campos said in February.
From 2026, such feelings must be suppressed.
Once the changes take place, it is widely believed that the new order players, who will appear just behind Nos. 71-100 on the priority list, will be able to compete in all open events, with possibly the only exception W. M. Phoenix. Open, where the field is reduced to 120 players.
The PGA Tour unveiled sweeping changes to future field sizes and eligibility on Tuesday.
This, combined with the slight reduction in the number of points awarded to ranking finishers at majors and signature events (top 11 or worse at majors; top 7 or worse at signature events) will provide graduates with a more level playing field with the fully exempt members. and top-50 guys.
But again, that doesn’t help the ’25 guys.
On Wednesday, the PGA Tour’s rookies gathered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, for orientation. The previous freshmen meet took place in Hawaii, the weekend before this year’s Sony Open, where about half of the KFT and Q-School boys ultimately did not participate. Already a clear improvement.
The rookies reached by Golf Channel on Tuesday evening were just beginning to analyze the changes, although the overall sentiment was positive.
“Probably a smart move for the most part,” one texted. “I’m not a fan of canceling many Monday qualifications, but I understand it.”
There was also the glass half full that, yes, it will be difficult to keep your card in 2025, but if the changes were implemented a year earlier, Nos. 21-30 on the KFT points list wouldn’t even have their cards .
Then there’s the thought that fewer cards available through the KFT will push more players to the DP World Tour. The second phase of the DPWT Q-School starts on Thursday and more than twenty recent American university students are participating, including internationals Mats Ege, Herman Wibe Sekne, Adam Wallin, Bastian Amat, Julian Perico and current standout Tiger Christensen from Arizona, plus the American Canon Claycomb, Ryggs Johnston, Palmer Jackson and Spencer Cross.
But at least one of those players rejected that belief:
“I don’t think these changes make Europe more attractive. I just think more people will quit and try to find a more stable, real job. People say it’s cheaper to come here, but I’m already in the 7,000 gap. …It’s insanely hard to get on one of these tours, and now they’ve made it even harder.
For those sitting in a ballroom Wednesday preparing for their debut season on the PGA Tour, they’ve already arrived at the big show. Their challenge now is to stay out there.
That task will be tougher than ever next year, but they have what many don’t: and that is opportunity.
Another rookie texted, “Time to get moving.”