Revealed: The dramatic changes coming to the PGA Tour in 2026

The PGA Tour will dramatically reduce field sizes for the 2025-2026 season. 

Ryan French aka MondayQInfo was the first to report at the beginning of the month the PGA Tour was closer to announcing sweeping changes that were coming at the start of the 2026 season. 

French has now obtained a copy of an email that was sent to PGA Tour players on Tuesday outlining a raft of changes that includes:

• Reducing the maximum number of entrants from 156 to 144
• Changing the fully exempt status on the FedEx Cup from 125 to 100
• Decreasing the number of PGA Tour cards coming from the Korn Ferry Tour from 30 to 20
• Reducing or eliminating Open Qualifying positions at regular season events
• Reallocating spots in the field currently used for restricted sponsor exemptions to the next eligible member
• Adjusting the FedEx Cup points distribution with a slight increase to second-place points for major championships and the Players

The letter stated the changes will be put forward to the policy board for approval in December. 

It has also been confirmed that the leading 10 players on the DP World Tour will still be able to bag a PGA Tour card. 

The number of Q-School graduates has been capped to five, though. 

French has also claimed that the PGA Tour have been in touch with the PGA of America about the elimination of Monday Qualifiers altogether.

You can see the letters below:

The news will of no doubt be of interest to Rory McIlroy. 

In September, McIlroy hinted that he was in favour of the aforementioned changes.

The Northern Irishman described how he was in favour of a more 'cut-throat' Tour. 

"[I] probably won't be very popular for saying this, but I'm all for less players and less tour cards, and the best of the best," he said. 

"I think, when all these signature events were thought of, we were thinking no cut, but if it's important enough, or if it's that important to Tiger and Jack and if Arnold were alive, if it was important enough for him, then it's their tournament, at the end of the day, and they can do whatever they want.

"I could have went either way, but if it's important enough to those guys, then we'll have a cut."

Pace of play review

The rules committee have also conducted a 'thorough review' of the pace of play policy. 

Going forward, the adjustments below have been proposed:

• Amend the definition of out of position to recognise that if a group is on a par-3 hole and the group in front is still on the teeing ground on the next hole, they are in good position
• Adjust the beginning of the timing process to provide players additional time to find a fixed reference point and pace back to their ball
• Players will no longer be subject to fines as a result of timings, bad times and excessive shots times during the majors
• Reduce the fine structure of bad times from $50,000 to $10,000
• Remove rounds from the average stroke time calculation for players who play more than nine holes in a group of two when groups of three have been scheduled. 

What do you make of the proposed changes?

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