The path to golf’s biggest stage has never been easy. But lately, it feels like the target keeps moving. Every season brings new rules for PGA Tour exemptions and signature event eligibility. With fewer spots available, many players feel the odds are no longer fair.

A prime example of this is the reduced number of PGA Tour cards awarded to Korn Ferry Tour golfers, reduced from 50 to 30, and to only 20 starting 2026. All such policy changes reduce eligibility and opportunity for new golfers to compete on the Tour. One 2x PGA Tour winner, Austin Eckroat, shares this concern.

Eckroat specifically pointed out the opportunity to win the FedEx Cup, giving his own example. In an EssentiallySports Exclusive interview, Austin Eckroat opened up about how the eligibility rules make things a little unfair for some golfers.

“There are still pathways into the signature events. There’s all these different things, but I would definitely say now there’s an elite level of the PGA Tour, and going into next season, I’m on the outside of it. When it comes to making the East Lake Cup and all sorts of stuff like that, I’m at a huge disadvantage to start the season just because of how I played last year, which, in a way, I kind of feel like is a little unfair. I mean, I’m still a PGA Tour player. I should have the equal opportunity to win the FedEx Cup, but it’s just the way it is now,” Eckroat shared.

Based on the current eligibility regulations, entry into signature events is reserved for the 50 FedExCup finishers. Besides them, current-year tournament winners, the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking, and a few slots for sponsor exemptions and merit-based “Swing 5” and “Next 10” qualifiers can get entry. Even the sponsor exemptions can sometimes be unfair to other golfers. Consider the example of Jordan Spieth.

Spieth played in five signature events during the 2025 regular season. Of the 865 total points he earned, 254 (29%) came through these exemption events. The same goes for Rickie Fowler, who received six sponsor invitations. He made 319 (48%) of his 665 points in these events. They still don’t compete in most FedEx Fall events because they have the safety net of sponsor exemptions.

The 2024 World Wide Technology Championship winner also reflected on how the reduction in PGA Tour cards awarded on the Korn Ferry Tour limits opportunities for newcomers, especially because of the changing policies.

“Well, it’ll probably change again by the time the season starts. But it’s so funny. Since I’ve turned pro, every year has been different. The year I made it through the Korn Ferry Tour finals, the last three events, that’s no longer there. We played for 25 and 25, so 50 guys total. Then, it was 30 last year. Now, it’s 20 guys this year. Less cards. I definitely think it’ll be back to somewhat more normal this year. I think last year was very difficult with so many guys playing for 100 spots. Next year, with less guys playing for less spots, it’ll kind of just be how it was,” Austin Eckroat said in the EssentiallySports Exclusive interview.

It’s not just Austin Eckroat who criticizes the signature events and their entry eligibility. Many other golfers have been vocal about the same.

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Notable concerns over PGA Tour signature events

Lucas Glover has been among the most vocal players expressing concern over the new system. He even called the signature events “terrible” and labeled the policy changes as “selfish and a money grab.” Glover also pointed out that adding even more limited-field events takes away opportunities for full-field competition, making it harder for regular Tour players to find their footing.

The PGA Tour Player Advisory Council (PAC) has justified the field reduction based on matches going into darkness. The PAC noted that 28% of the tournaments in 2024 had at least 1 round that wasn’t completed on the scheduled day because of darkness.

Erik van Rooyen has also shared his reservations. Although he himself qualified for the 2025 Truist Championship, he said that there should be more golfers playing the event, not fewer. “I hate it. I strongly believe that the strongest fields are the ones with the most players in them. The guys on the PGA Tour are so good. It’s so deep,” Rooyen said when asked about the signature events.

Austin Eckroat’s comments in the EssentiallySports Exclusive interview reflect the broader sentiment of many golfers. The consensus among many rank-and-file players is that the system is turning into a sort of members-only club. Sponsor exemptions and field caps are benefiting marketable stars and established names, rather than making the field equal for skilled professionals.