Once a golden ticket to the Masters and a coveted Kapalua season opener, winning a FedEx Cup Fall event on the PGA Tour now comes with significantly diminished perks, forcing new winners and aspiring talents to seek alternative pathways to golf’s major stages.
The landscape for winners during the FedEx Cup Fall portion of the PGA Tour has dramatically shifted, stripping away two of its most appealing rewards. What once guaranteed a coveted spot in the Masters and a season-opening trip to Kapalua for The Sentry, now offers only a two-year exemption on tour. This significant change has profound implications for emerging talents and the tour’s schedule.
Masters Invitation Criteria Revised
One of the most impactful changes comes from Augusta National itself. The prestigious major championship has altered its criteria, removing the automatic spot previously granted to Fall winners. Instead, invitations will now go to winners from six designated national opens around the world. This decision means that a Fall victory, while still valuable for tour status, no longer guarantees a direct route to golf’s most iconic tournament.
This adjustment reflects a broader re-evaluation of how players qualify for the Masters, as reported by Associated Press. For many, the dream of playing at Augusta is a career-defining goal, and its removal from the Fall schedule’s perks adds pressure on players to perform in other designated events.
Kapalua’s Cancellation and Its Ripple Effect
Further compounding the diminished rewards is the absence of Kapalua as the season opener for The Sentry. The picturesque Plantation Course has been closed since September 2 due to a severe water shortage caused by drought and allegations of disrepair in a century-old water delivery system. The PGA Tour concluded that the course could not be ready in time for the traditional season opener, leading to its likely cancellation for the year.
The tour had announced a month prior that Kapalua would not host the event, and without a suitable temporary site on the West Coast or in Florida, cancellation appears imminent. This marks a significant disruption, as the Sony Open (Jan. 15-18) is now slated to open the PGA Tour calendar for the first time since the modern era began in 1969, making it the latest start to a tour year in decades.
The absence of Kapalua, alongside the Masters change, poses a question: What about players like Steven Fisk, who secured his first PGA Tour victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship? Or emerging talents such as William Mouw and Karl Vilips, who won tournaments but didn’t crack the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings? The tour is exploring options, with one likelihood being to find another $20 million signature event for them, potentially at Pebble Beach, or offering them a choice of events.
Dustin Johnson’s Expanded Schedule Beyond LIV Golf
Away from the PGA Tour’s fall calendar shifts, former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson is making headlines for his unexpectedly busy schedule. After signing with the Saudi-funded LIV Golf league in 2022, Johnson largely limited his play to LIV events, with the exception of the 2024 Saudi International.
However, the 41-year-old Johnson has diversified his play this year, participating in the Dunhill Links Championship earlier this month alongside his father-in-law, Wayne Gretzky. This week, he’s competing in the International Series on the Asian Tour in the Philippines, an event featuring 15 LIV Golf players, plus three reserves.
With a full LIV schedule and these additional appearances, Johnson is set to play 20 tournaments this year, matching his highest count since 2021. Johnson expressed his motivation in a release, stating, “What I love most about the game is that it takes me to places I might never have gone otherwise, and the Philippines is one of those places. The International Series is also a perfect fit for where I’m at in my career.” He added, “Even though the LIV Golf season is over, I still want to compete, stay sharp, and challenge myself against some of the best players out here. Playing these events keeps me fresh, keeps me hungry, and at the same time helps grow the game in parts of the world that deserve to see it up close.”
Despite his increased activity, Johnson, a former Masters and U.S. Open champion, has faced challenges in majors, missing the cut in six of his last nine dating back to his tie for 10th in the 2023 U.S. Open.
The Evolving Fall 2026 Schedule
The PGA Tour’s Fall schedule for 2026 is still taking shape, marked by both continuity and change. The tour will return to Black Desert with a new title sponsor, Bank of Utah, but with a reduced purse of $6 million, down from $7.5 million last year. This trend of smaller purses is typical across the FedEx Cup Fall events.
The overall prize money for Fall events has seen a decrease. In 2023, seven events offered a total of $56.6 million, with most purses at $8 million or more. Last year, eight tournaments had $58.3 million. For 2025, the seven scheduled tournaments will have a total prize fund of $45 million, with Las Vegas no longer on the schedule.
Upcoming additions and changes include:
- The Mississippi tournament’s sponsorship concluded this year.
- The Good Good Championship is slated for Austin, Texas, in November 2026, a new event added by the tour, as reported by Associated Press.
- Another Fall event in Asheville, North Carolina, is reportedly under consideration.
- The Mexico Open, traditionally following the West Coast swing, is expected to move to the Fall portion of the schedule.
- The extension of Procore’s sponsorship for the Napa, California event (the traditional Fall opener) remains to be determined. This event saw a boost this year with most U.S. Ryder Cup players attending, with Scottie Scheffler taking the win. It could become a key event for Presidents Cup players.
Sei Young Kim’s Emotional Home Victory
On the LPGA Tour, South Korea’s Sei Young Kim celebrated a deeply meaningful victory at the BMW Ladies Championship in her home country. This win marked the end of a five-year title drought and was her first professional win in South Korea since joining the LPGA Tour.
Kim, who burst onto the scene in 2015 as LPGA Rookie of the Year with three wins, including a major at the KPMG Women’s PGA, and reached as high as No. 2 in the world, expressed the profound significance of the moment. “It took me more than 10 years to win a victory in front of my family and friends,” Kim said after her four-shot triumph. “It means so much to me. It is a tournament that I really wanted to win, and I find that I can’t express my words to all of it. I really had good energy from all the fans, and really appreciate and thankful to that.” Kim is now preparing to represent South Korea in the International Crown, also held in her home country.
Around the Greens: Noteworthy Updates
Here’s a quick look at other happenings in the world of golf:
- Lauryn Nguyen, an NCAA champion with Northwestern, is set to make her professional LPGA debut at The Annika next month. Her selection recognizes both her golf talent and her community work, including hosting a junior event and managing the Duc Foundation, which provides scholarships to children in need.
- The PGA Professional Championship will be hosted at Superstition Mountain in Arizona in 2028, following the senior version of the tournament there two years prior.
- Maverick McNealy stands as the sole player in the Bank of Utah Championship field this year who also reached the Tour Championship.
Stat of the Week
Three prominent European Ryder Cup players are currently outside the top 70 on the Race to Dubai standings: Ludvig Aberg (75), Shane Lowry (107), and Sepp Straka (148).
Final Word on Golf’s Future
Rory McIlroy offered a thoughtful perspective on the game’s evolution: “I certainly think that golf can grow but it can grow in a way where the people that are coming into the game still respect and acknowledge that this is a little bit different than maybe other sports.” His comments resonate as the sport navigates significant changes and seeks to balance tradition with modernization.
