Qualifiers for all 2026 Signature Events, THE PLAYERS and majors
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Akshay Bhatia pars first playoff hole to win Arnold Palmer
Written by Rob Bolton
Pressure is a pleasure. If you don’t think so, just ask Akshay Bhatia.
For the third time in as many chances, the lefty emerged with a PGA TOUR victory in a playoff, this time at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard on Sunday.
Daniel Berger was poised to go wire-to-wire but Bhatia chased him down with a ridiculous inward nine at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Fueled by four straight birdies after the turn – the wildest of which from almost 58 feet at the par-4 11th hole – and an eagle from just 42 inches at No. 16, Bhatia forced overtime when the pair completed regulation at 15-under 273. And just as he defeated Patrick Rodgers at the 2023 Barracuda Championship and Denny McCarthy at the 2024 Valero Texas Open, Bhatia needed only one extra hole to outlast Berger. With a par at the 18th hole in the playoff, Bhatia claimed his third PGA TOUR title.
It was the first playoff at Bay Hill since 1999 and Bhatia is the first left-hander to win a Signature Event since the introduction of the series in 2024. This win extends his membership exemption through 2029. He’s also now exempt into THE PLAYERS Championship through 2028. And although he eventually was going to qualify for the PGA Championship via his Official World Golf Ranking at worst, he’s now officially exempt into that major via this victory. After entering the Arnold Palmer Invitational at 39th, he’ll rise into the top 20. He never had been higher than 21st.
Berger was gunning for his fifth TOUR win and in wire-to-wire style, but his first in 62 months since the 2021 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. His career was derailed with a persistent back injury that limited him to 12 starts in 2021-22 and prevented him from pegging it at all in 2023-23. While he settles for his third playoff loss in four tries, he was the highest finisher not already exempt into The Open Championship, so he can make travel plans for Royal Birkdale in July. The tournament was a stop on the Open Qualifying Series awarding one spot into the last major of the year.
Within a couple of hours prior to Bhatia’s triumph, Ricky Castillo broke through for his first PGA TOUR victory at the Puerto Rico Open. The second-year member opened the final round with a one-stroke lead, closed with a bogey-free, 5-under 67 at Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, and won by one at 17-under 271.
Castillo opened 2026 with conditional status, but he’s now exempt into the PGA Championship for the first time and his membership exemption as a winner extends through his age-27 season of 2028. While wins in Additional Events don’t yield exemptions into the Masters or remaining Signature Events, he can qualify for the RBC Heritage via the Aon Next 10 (for which he’s now seventh) or the Aon Swing 5 (that he’d lead if he wasn’t in the Aon Next 10).
The last two spots in THE PLAYERS were reserved for the winners of both tournaments on Sunday, but because both Bhatia and Castillo had qualified, the spots will fall to the first two alternates in order, Patton Kizzire and Seamus Power. They will gain entry if Brooks Koepka doesn’t withdraw before noon Eastern Daylight Time on Monday.
Because the field for THE PLAYERS will expand with Koepka, and because 2025 Kaulig Companies Championship winner Miguel Angel Jiménez has elected not to compete, 16 golfers in order of the FedExCup standing at the conclusion of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches gained entry at the commitment deadline on Friday. Those who filled the field ranged from Adam Scott at 20th in the FedExCup through Matthieu Pavon at 75th. Should Kizzire (76th) and Power (78th) climb in as expected, then David Ford (80th) will be the first alternate. (Ranked 52nd at the time, Casillo was the eighth man in through that conduit.)
NOTE: Until all methods of entry are released by the governing bodies, traditional criteria are used to determine qualifiers. Refer to remaining qualifying criteria at the bottom of the page for 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 -- Zach Bauchou; Ricky Castillo; Joel Dahmen; Zecheng Dou; A.J. Ewart; Max Homa; S.H. Kim; Haotong Li; Taylor Moore; Matthieu Pavon; Andrew Putnam; Adam Scott; Jordan Smith; Austin Smotherman; Sahith Theegala; Sudarshan Yellamaraju
MAS -- none
PGA -- Akshay Bhatia; Ricky Castillo
US -- none
OPEN -- Daniel Berger
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 |
| Angel Ayora | OPEN |
| Ludvig Åberg | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Zach Bauchou | TPC |
| Rich Beem | PGA |
| Daniel Berger | SE, TPC, OPEN |
| Christiaan Bezuidenhout | TPC |
| Akshay Bhatia | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Keegan Bradley | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Michael Brennan | TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Jacob Bridgeman | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Daniel Brown | OPEN |
| Jack Buchanan | OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete) |
| Sam Burns | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Ángel Cabrera | MAS, PGA |
| Brian Campbell | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Laurie Canter | OPEN |
| Patrick Cantlay | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Ricky Castillo | TPC, PGA |
| Bud Cauley | SE, TPC |
| Stewart Cink | OPEN |
| Wyndham Clark | TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Darren Clarke | OPEN |
| Eric Cole | TPC |
| Hamilton Coleman | US (must remain an amateur to compete) |
| Corey Conners | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Pierceson Coody | TPC |
| Fred Couples | MAS |
| Martin Couvra | OPEN |
| Joel Dahmen | TPC |
| John Daly | PGA, OPEN |
| Cam Davis | TPC |
| Jason Day | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Bryson DeChambeau | MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Alistair Docherty | OPEN |
| Zecheng Dou | TPC |
| Jason Dufner | PGA |
| Nico Echavarria | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Ernie Els | OPEN |
| Harris English | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| A.J. Ewart | TPC |
| 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, MAS, PGA |
| Lucas Glover | SE, TPC |
| Chris Gotterup | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Max Greyserman | TPC, MAS |
| 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, OPEN |
| Russell Henley | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Lucas Herbert | OPEN |
| Jackson Herrington | MAS, US (must remain an amateur to compete in both) |
| Garrick Higgo | TPC |
| Joe Highsmith | TPC, PGA |
| Daniel Hillier | OPEN |
| Ryo Hisatsune | TPC |
| Lee Hodges | TPC |
| Rico Hoey | TPC |
| Tom Hoge | SE, TPC |
| Nicolai Højgaard | TPC, OPEN |
| Rasmus Højgaard | TPC, MAS, PGA, OPEN |
| Michael Hollick | OPEN |
| Brandon Holtz | MAS, US (must remain an amateur to compete in both) |
| Max Homa | TPC, 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) |
| Mark Hubbard | TPC |
| Mackenzie Hughes | TPC |
| Sungjae Im | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Stephan Jaeger | TPC |
| Casey Jarvis | MAS, OPEN |
| Miguel Angel Jiménez | TPC (will not compete) |
| Dustin Johnson | MAS, US |
| Zach Johnson | MAS, OPEN |
| Takumi Kanaya | TPC |
| Naoyuki Kataoka | MAS, OPEN |
| Martin Kaymer | PGA |
| Johnny Keefer | TPC, MAS, US |
| Michael Kim | SE, TPC, MAS |
| S.H. Kim | TPC |
| Si Woo Kim | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, OPEN |
| Chris Kirk | TPC |
| Kurt Kitayama | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Jake Knapp | TPC |
| Brooks Koepka | TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Jackson Koivun | US, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in both) |
| Frederic LaCroix | OPEN |
| Joakim Lagergren | OPEN |
| Fifa Laopakdee | MAS, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in both) |
| Francesco Laporta | OPEN |
| Min Woo Lee | TPC, MAS |
| Justin Leonard | OPEN |
| Haotong Li | TPC, 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 |
| Matt McCarty | TPC |
| Max McGreevy | TPC |
| Rory McIlroy | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Tom McKibbin | MAS, OPEN |
| Maverick McNealy | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Mac Meissner | TPC |
| Shaun Micheel | PGA |
| Phil Mickelson | MAS, PGA, OPEN |
| Keith Mitchell | TPC |
| Francesco Molinari | OPEN |
| Taylor Moore | TPC |
| Collin Morikawa | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| William Mouw | TPC, PGA |
| Keita Nakajima | OPEN |
| Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen | MAS, OPEN |
| Joaquin Niemann | PGA |
| Alex Noren | TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Andrew Novak | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| José Maria Olazábal | MAS |
| Thorbjørn Olesen | TPC |
| Louis Oosthuizen | OPEN |
| Carlos Ortiz | MAS, US |
| John Parry | OPEN |
| Matthieu Pavon | TPC |
| Taylor Pendrith | SE, TPC, PGA |
| Marco Penge | TPC, MAS, OPEN |
| Chandler Phillips | TPC |
| J.T. Poston | SE, TPC, PGA |
| Aldrich Potgieter | TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Mateo Pulcini | MAS, US, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in all) |
| Andrew Putnam | TPC |
| Jon Rahm | MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Aaron Rai | TPC, MAS, OPEN |
| Chad Ramey | TPC |
| Patrick Reed | MAS |
| Kristoffer Reitan | TPC, MAS, OPEN |
| Davis Riley | TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Patrick Rodgers | TPC |
| Justin Rose | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Kevin Roy | TPC |
| Adrien Saddier | OPEN |
| Xander Schauffele | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Scottie Scheffler | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Adam Schenk | TPC, PGA |
| Matti Schmid | TPC |
| Charl Schwartzel | MAS |
| Adam Scott | TPC, MAS, OPEN |
| Vijay Singh | MAS |
| Alex Smalley | TPC |
| Cameron Smith | MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Jordan Smith | TPC, OPEN |
| Austin Smotherman | TPC |
| Elvis Smylie | OPEN |
| J.J. Spaun | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Jordan Spieth | TPC, MAS, OPEN |
| Henrik Stenson | OPEN |
| Sam Stevens | SE, TPC, MAS |
| Sepp Straka | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Nick Taylor | SE, TPC, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Sahith Theegala | TPC |
| Justin Thomas | SE, TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Davis Thompson | TPC |
| Michael Thorbjornsen | TPC |
| Sami Valimaki | TPC, MAS, PGA |
| Erik van Rooyen | TPC |
| Jhonattan Vegas | SE, TPC, PGA |
| Karl Vilips | TPC |
| Danny Walker | TPC |
| Jimmy Walker | PGA |
| Bubba Watson | MAS |
| Mike Weir | MAS |
| Vince Whaley | TPC |
| Danny Willett | MAS |
| Gary Woodland | TPC, US |
| Tiger Woods | MAS, PGA, OPEN |
| Y.E. Yang | PGA |
| Sudarshan Yellamaraju | TPC |
| 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
- RBC Heritage (April 16-19)
- Cadillac 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
- Field will be complete at noon ET on Monday, March 9.
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.
- 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.
- Winner of the Senior PGA Championship (April 19).
- Top three from International Federation Ranking List (April 27).
- Top 20 from PGA Professional Championship (April 29).
- Top three from Asian Swing ranking on the DP World Tour (May 3).
- Top 70 from special money list (i.e., "PGA Championship Points") on PGA TOUR from 2025 Truist Championship and 2025 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic thru the Cadillac Championship (May 3).
- 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 (two 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 PLAYERS Championship (March 15).
- Winner of the Masters (April 12).
- Winner of the PGA Championship (May 17).
- Top five, not otherwise exempt, in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the PGA Championship (May 17).
- Top two, not otherwise exempt, in the 2025 Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the PGA Championship (May 17).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, in the 2026 Race to Dubai (May 17).
- Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the Top 3 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings (May 18).
- Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the Top 3 of the 2026 LIV Golf Individual Standings (May 18).
- Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 18).
- Final qualifying at one site in England (May 18).
- Final qualifying at one site in Texas (May 18).
- Final qualifying at one site in Japan (May 25).
- Winner of the NCAA Division 1 individual championship, if still an amateur (June 1).
- Final qualifying at one site in Canada (June 8).
- Final qualifying at nine sites in the United States (June 8).
- Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (June 15).
- Special exemptions per the USGA.
The Open Championship (OPEN) at Royal Birkdale Golf Club – July 16-19
- Winner of THE PLAYERS Championship (March 15).
- Winner of the Masters (April 12).
- Top two, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Singapore Open (April 26).
- Winner of the PGA Championship (May 17).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the KOLON Korea Open (May 24).
- Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 25).
- Top 5 in the Federation Ranking (May 25).
- Top three, 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 three, 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).
- 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).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Italian Open (June 28).
- Top five, 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).
- Final Qualifying. Top 4 at each of four sites (June 30).
- Top five, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the BMW International Open (July 5).
- Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open (July 12).
- Winner of the Last-Chance Qualifier (July 13).
