Qualifiers for all 2026 Signature Events, THE PLAYERS and majors
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Tom McKibbin earned exemptions into the Masters and The Open Championship. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Written by Rob Bolton
While the PGA TOUR took its last week off of the FedExCup, the Open Qualifying Series roared on in impressive and historic fashion at the Hong Kong Open.
With respective rounds of 60, 65, 65 and 63, Tom McKibbin prevailed by seven strokes at 27-under 253. Not only did he go wire-to-wire to win, but he also established the tournament’s scoring record. Save three recent years when the tournament wasn’t held, it’s been an annual stop on the DP World Tour or Asian Tour since 1959.
In what was his Asian Tour debut, the 22-year-old McKibbin converted an eagle and 28 birdies while squaring only three bogeys at Hong Kong Golf Club, a par 70. Peter Uihlein finished alone in second.
This is the first time that the winner of the tournament has been granted automatic entry into the Masters where the native of Northern Ireland will compete for the first time and beside mentor Rory McIlroy, who will be defending his first title next April. McKibbin also earned an exemption into The Open Championship for the third time.
This week’s World Wide Technology Championship will be the only action affecting this page in the next update. In two weeks, the DP World Tour Championship will be sending its top eligible member in the Race to Dubai ranking into THE PLAYERS and all of the top 25 into The Open. The next stop of the OQS is the Australian Open scheduled to conclude on Dec. 7. Refer to REMAINING QUALIFYING CRITERIA below the alphabetical list of all qualifiers for all details.
SE = All Signature Events
TPC = THE PLAYERS Championship
MAS = Masters
PGA = PGA Championship
US = U.S. Open
OPEN = The Open Championship
Recent additions
SE -- none
TPC -- none
MAS -- Tom McKibbin
PGA -- none
US -- none
OPEN -- Tom McKibbin
NOTE: Golfers are omitted if they haven’t competed recently in majors for which they are eligible (e.g., The Open Championship = David Duval, Paul Lawrie).
| Golfer | Qualified |
| Ludvig Åberg | SE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN |
| Rich Beem | PGA |
| Daniel Berger | SE, TPC |
| Akshay Bhatia | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Keegan Bradley | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Michael Brennan | TPC, PGA |
| Jacob Bridgeman | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Sam Burns | SE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN |
| Ángel Cabrera | MAS, PGA |
| Brian Campbell | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Patrick Cantlay | SE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN |
| Bud Cauley | SE, TPC |
| Stewart Cink | OPEN |
| Wyndham Clark | TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Darren Clarke | OPEN |
| Hamilton Coleman | US (must remain an amateur to compete) |
| Corey Conners | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Fred Couples | MAS |
| John Daly | PGA, OPEN |
| Cam Davis | TPC |
| Jason Day | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Bryson DeChambeau | MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Thomas Detry | SE, TPC |
| Jason Dufner | PGA |
| Nico Echavarria | TPC |
| Ernie Els | OPEN |
| Harris English | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Ethan Fang | MAS, US (must remain an amateur to compete in both) |
| Tony Finau | TPC |
| Steven Fisk | TPC, PGA |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Tommy Fleetwood | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Rickie Fowler | SE, TPC |
| Ryan Fox | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, OPEN |
| Sergio Garcia | MAS |
| Ryan Gerard | SE, TPC, PGA |
| Lucas Glover | SE, TPC |
| Chris Gotterup | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Max Greyserman | TPC |
| Ben Griffin | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Emiliano Grillo | TPC |
| Harry Hall | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Brian Harman | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Padraig Harrington | PGA, US, OPEN |
| Tyrrell Hatton | MAS, *PGA, US |
| Russell Henley | SE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN |
| Jackson Herrington | MAS, US (must remain an amateur to compete in both) |
| Garrick Higgo | TPC |
| Joe Highsmith | TPC, PGA |
| Tom Hoge | SE, TPC |
| Rasmus Højgaard | *PGA |
| Brandon Holtz | MAS, US (must remain an amateur to compete in both) |
| Max Homa | MAS |
| Billy Horschel | OPEN |
| Viktor Hovland | SE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN |
| Mason Howell | MAS, US, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in the Masters and The Open Championship) |
| Mackenzie Hughes | TPC |
| Sungjae Im | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Stephan Jaeger | TPC |
| Miguel Angel Jiménez | TPC |
| Dustin Johnson | MAS, US |
| Zach Johnson | MAS, OPEN |
| Naoyuki Kataoka | MAS, OPEN |
| Martin Kaymer | PGA |
| Johnny Keefer | TPC, US |
| Michael Kim | SE, TPC |
| Si Woo Kim | SE, TPC, PGA |
| Chris Kirk | TPC |
| Kurt Kitayama | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Jake Knapp | TPC |
| Brooks Koepka | MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Jackson Koivun | US, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in both) |
| Michael La Sasso | MAS (must remain an amateur to compete) |
| Fifa Laopakdee | MAS, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in both) |
| Min Woo Lee | TPC |
| Justin Leonard | OPEN |
| Haotong Li | MAS, OPEN |
| Shane Lowry | SE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN |
| Robert MacIntyre | SE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN |
| Hideki Matsuyama | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Denny McCarthy | SE, TPC, PGA |
| Rory McIlroy | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Tom McKibbin | MAS, OPEN |
| Maverick McNealy | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Shaun Micheel | PGA |
| Phil Mickelson | MAS, PGA, OPEN |
| Francesco Molinari | OPEN |
| Collin Morikawa | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| William Mouw | TPC, PGA |
| Joaquin Niemann | PGA |
| Alex Noren | US, OPEN |
| Andrew Novak | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| José Maria Olazábal | MAS |
| Louis Oosthuizen | OPEN |
| Carlos Ortiz | MAS, US |
| Taylor Pendrith | SE, TPC, PGA |
| Marco Penge | MAS, OPEN |
| J.T. Poston | SE, TPC, PGA |
| Aldrich Potgieter | TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Jon Rahm | MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Aaron Rai | TPC |
| Patrick Reed | MAS |
| Davis Riley | TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Patrick Rodgers | TPC |
| Justin Rose | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Xander Schauffele | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Scottie Scheffler | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Matti Schmid | TPC |
| Charl Schwartzel | MAS |
| Adam Scott | MAS |
| Vijay Singh | MAS |
| Cameron Smith | MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| J.J. Spaun | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Jordan Spieth | TPC, MAS, OPEN |
| Henrik Stenson | OPEN |
| Sam Stevens | SE, TPC |
| Sepp Straka | SE, TPC, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN |
| Nick Taylor | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Justin Thomas | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Erik van Rooyen | TPC |
| Jhonattan Vegas | SE, TPC, PGA |
| Jimmy Walker | PGA |
| Bubba Watson | MAS |
| Mike Weir | MAS |
| Danny Willett | MAS |
| Gary Woodland | US |
| Tiger Woods | MAS, PGA, OPEN |
| Y.E. Yang | PGA |
| Cameron Young | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Kevin Yu | TPC |
REMAINING QUALIFYING CRITERIA
Criteria are listed in chronological order where possible. Best estimates are given but all are subject to change.
Signature Events
- AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Feb. 12-15)
- The Genesis Invitational (Feb. 19-22)
- Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 5-8)
- RBC Heritage (April 16-19)
- Miami Championship (April 30-May 3)
- Truist Championship (May 7-10)
- Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 4-7)
- Travelers Championship (June 25-28)
THE PLAYERS Championship (TPC) at TPC Sawgrass (Stadium) – March 12-15
- Winners of PGA TOUR events through the final week before THE PLAYERS..
- Leader of the Race to Dubai ranking to earn a PGA TOUR card at the conclusion of the DP World Tour Championship (Nov. 16).
- Top 100 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of The RSM Classic (Nov. 23).
- Top 10 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the Cognizant Classic (March 1).
- Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (March 2).
- If necessary to complete the field of 120, golfers outside the Top 10 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the Cognizant on March 1 will gain entry in order of position.
Masters (MAS) at Augusta National Golf Club – April 9-12
- Winners of PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation for the TOUR Championship.
- Winner of the Australian Open (Dec. 7).
- Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (Dec. 31).
- Winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (Jan. 18).
- Winner of the South African Open (March 1).
- Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (March 30).
- Special invitations to international players per Masters Tournament Committee as its discretion.
PGA Championship (PGA) at Aronimink Golf Club – May 14-17
- Winners of PGA TOUR events through the final week before the 2026 PGA Championship.
- Top 3 from International Federation Ranking List (TBD).
- Top 3 from Asian Swing ranking on the DP World Tour (TBD).
- Top 20 from PGA Professional Championship (April 29).
- Top 70 from special money list (i.e., "PGA Championship Points") on PGA TOUR from 2025 Charles Schwab Challenge through the Miami Championship (May 3).
- *All 2025 Ryder Cup members inside Top 100 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 4).
- Special exemptions per PGA of America. (This likely will include all golfers from Top 100 of Official World Golf Ranking on May 4.)
- If necessary to complete the field of 156, golfers outside Top 70 from special money list (three lines above) will gain entry in order of position.
U.S. Open (US) at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club – June 18-21
- Winners of multiple PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation since the 2025 U.S. Open.
- Winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (Jan. 18).
- Winner of THE PLAYERS Championship (March 15).
- Winner of the Masters (April 12).
- Winner of the PGA Championship (May 17).
- Top 5, not otherwise exempt, in the FedExCup at the conclusion of a PGA TOUR event TBD in 2026 (TBD).
- Top 2, not otherwise exempt, in the 2025 Race to Dubai at the conclusion of an event TBD in 2026 (TBD).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, in the 2026 Race to Dubai (TBD).
- Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the Top 3 of the LIV Golf Individual Standings (May 18).
- Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (1 of 2) (TBD).
- Final qualifying (TBD).
- Winner of the NCAA Division 1 individual championship, if still an amateur (June 1).
- Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (2 of 2) (TBD).
- Special exemptions per the USGA.
The Open Championship (OPEN) at Royal Birkdale Golf Club -- July 16-19
- Top 25 in the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the DP World Tour Championship (Nov. 16).
- Top 3, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Australian Open (Dec. 7).
- Winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (Jan. 18).
- Winner of the African Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (Feb. 7).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the New Zealand Open (March 1).
- Top 3, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the South African Open Championship (March 1).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Argentina Open (March 1).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 8).
- Winner of THE PLAYERS Championship (March 15).
- Top 2, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at an Asian Tour event (TBD).
- Winner of the Masters (April 12).
- Winner of the PGA Championship (May 17).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the KOLON Korea Open (TBD).
- Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 25).
- Top 5 in the Federation Ranking (May 25).
- Top 3, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Mizuno Open (May 31).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 7).
- Top 3, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the RBC Canadian Open (June 14).
- Winner of the British Amateur, if still an amateur (June 20).
- Winner of the U.S. Open (June 21).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Italian Open (June 28).
- Top 5, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the Travelers Championship (June 28).
- Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the LIV Golf Individual Standings at the conclusion of LIV Golf Louisiana (June 28).
- Winner of the European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 27).
- Leader in World Amateur Golf Ranking points accumulated at the St. Andrews Links Trophy (June 7), British Amateur (June 20) and European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 27).
- Final Qualifying. Top 4 at each of four sites (TBD).
- Top 5, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the BMW International Open (July 5).
- Top 3, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open (July 12).
- Winner of the Last-Chance Qualifier (July 13).
