Qualifiers for all 2025 Signature Events, THE PLAYERS and majors
3 Min Read
Written by Rob Bolton
If it feels like you’re going to need a minute to process what happened on Sunday at the Valspar Championship, it’s understandable. The internal conflict consists of a battle of disbelief between how Viktor Hovland had been falling well short of success for far too long and his ability to overcome rapidly and completely to win the tournament.
Even if you wanted to sidle over to the reasoning that some tournaments are won by the golfers who make the fewest mistakes – Hovland ranked T2 in bogey avoidance for the week – it still doesn’t compute that the 27-year-old from Norway would be the guy who checked that box on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort. Not yet. Not now.
Yet here we are digesting his one-stroke victory over Justin Thomas. It’s Hovland’s seventh career title on the PGA TOUR and first since he won the last two legs of the FedExCup Playoffs in 2023.
As it concerns exemptions covered on this page, your sensibility for his slump is tested, so you might be surprised to learn that he’s already exempt for all Signature Events this season because he finished inside the top 50 of the FedExCup in 2024 (at T12) – also quite amazing given his well-documented struggles dating back to early last season – and he’s exempt into all four majors, three of which for advancing to the TOUR Championship in 2024 and the PGA Championship via his top-15 showing (solo third) in the 2024 edition of that major.
What Hovland does add is a return to Kapalua to compete in The Sentry in 2026. He’s also exempt as a member on the PGA TOUR via the winners category through his age-32 season of 2029. (The Valspar triumph tacks on one year beyond the multi-year exemption with which he opened 2025.)
Earlier on Sunday, the Open Qualifying Series determined three entrants for The Open Championship. For finishing a respective first, second and third at the International Series Macau on the Asian Tour, Carlos Ortiz, Patrick Reed and Jason Kokrak have punched their tickets for Royal Portrush this summer.
With a missed cut in his only appearance in the major in 2021, Ortiz is the least experienced of the trio. Reed has cashed six times in nine appearances, including a career-best solo 10th at Royal Portrush in 2019, while Kokrak is 3-for-4 without a top 25.
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
MAS = Masters
PGA = PGA Championship
US = U.S. Open
OPEN = The Open Championship
Recent additions
SE -- none
MAS -- none
PGA -- none
US -- none
OPEN -- Jason Kokrak; Carlos Ortiz; Patrick Reed
NOTE: Golfers are omitted if they recently haven’t competed in majors for which they are eligible (e.g., The Open Championship = David Duval, Paul Lawrie).
| Golfer | Qualified |
| Byeong Hun An | SE, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Ludvig Åberg | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| José Luis Ballester | MAS, US, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in the Masters and The Open Championship) |
| Evan Beck | MAS, US (must remain an amateur to compete in both) |
| Rich Beem | PGA |
| Christiaan Bezuidenhout | SE, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Akshay Bhatia | SE, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Richard Bland | PGA, US |
| Keegan Bradley | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Daniel Brown | OPEN |
| Dean Burmester | PGA |
| Sam Burns | SE, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN |
| Ángel Cabrera | MAS |
| Brian Campbell | SE, MAS, PGA |
| Rafael Campos | MAS, PGA |
| Laurie Canter | OPEN |
| Patrick Cantlay | SE, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN |
| K.J. Choi | OPEN |
| Stewart Cink | OPEN |
| Luke Clanton | US, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in both) |
| Wyndham Clark | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Darren Clarke | OPEN |
| Eric Cole | SE |
| Corey Conners | SE, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Fred Couples | MAS |
| John Daly | PGA, OPEN |
| Cam Davis | SE, MAS, PGA |
| Jason Day | SE, MAS, PGA |
| Bryson DeChambeau | MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Thomas Detry | SE, MAS, PGA |
| Jason Dufner | PGA |
| Nick Dunlap | SE, MAS, PGA |
| Nico Echavarria | MAS, PGA |
| Austin Eckroat | SE, MAS, PGA |
| Ernie Els | OPEN |
| Harris English | SE, MAS, PGA |
| Darren Fichardt | OPEN |
| Tony Finau | SE, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Tommy Fleetwood | SE, MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN |
| Rickie Fowler | *PGA |
| Ryan Fox | OPEN |
| Sergio Garcia | MAS, PGA |
| Lucas Glover | MAS |
| Max Greyserman | SE, MAS |
| Julien Guerrier | OPEN |
| Trevor Gutschewski | US (must remain an amateur to compete) |
| Adam Hadwin | SE |
| Harry Hall | PGA |
| Todd Hamilton | OPEN |
| Brian Harman | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Padraig Harrington | PGA, OPEN |
| Justin Hastings | MAS, US, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in all) |
| Tyrrell Hatton | MAS, *PGA, OPEN |
| Russell Henley | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Joe Highsmith | SE, MAS, PGA |
| Lee Hodges | PGA |
| Tom Hoge | SE, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Nicolai Højgaard | MAS, *PGA |
| Rasmus Højgaard | MAS, OPEN |
| Max Homa | SE, MAS, *PGA |
| Billy Horschel | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Rikuya Hoshino | OPEN |
| Viktor Hovland | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Sungjae Im | SE, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Shugo Imahira | OPEN |
| Stephan Jaeger | SE |
| Dustin Johnson | MAS, US, OPEN |
| Zach Johnson | MAS, OPEN |
| Ryggs Johnston | OPEN |
| Matthew Jordan | OPEN |
| Martin Kaymer | PGA |
| Noah Kent | MAS, US (must remain an amateur to compete in both) |
| Si Woo Kim | SE |
| Tom Kim | MAS |
| Chris Kirk | SE, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Patton Kizzire | MAS, PGA |
| Brooks Koepka | MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Jason Kokrak | OPEN |
| Romain Langasque | OPEN |
| Bernhard Langer | MAS |
| Thriston Lawrence | MAS, OPEN |
| Min Woo Lee | MAS |
| Marc Leishman | OPEN |
| Justin Leonard | OPEN |
| Shane Lowry | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Curtis Luck | OPEN |
| Robert MacIntyre | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Matteo Manassero | OPEN |
| Hideki Matsuyama | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Denny McCarthy | SE, MAS |
| Matt McCarty | MAS, PGA, US |
| Rory McIlroy | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Tom McKibbin | OPEN |
| Maverick McNealy | MAS, PGA |
| Shaun Micheel | PGA |
| Phil Mickelson | MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Guido Migliozzi | OPEN |
| Francesco Molinari | OPEN |
| Taylor Moore | PGA |
| Collin Morikawa | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Dylan Naidoo | OPEN |
| Bryan Newman | OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete) |
| Joaquin Niemann | MAS, PGA, OPEN |
| Alex Noren | SE, PGA |
| Niklas Norgaard | OPEN |
| José Maria Olazábal | MAS |
| Thorbjørn Olesen | OPEN |
| Louis Oosthuizen | OPEN |
| Carlos Ortiz | OPEN |
| Matthieu Pavon | SE, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Ryan Peake | OPEN |
| Taylor Pendrith | SE, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Marco Penge | OPEN |
| J.T. Poston | SE, MAS, PGA |
| Jon Rahm | MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Aaron Rai | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Patrick Reed | MAS, OPEN |
| Davis Riley | MAS, PGA |
| Justin Rose | MAS, PGA, OPEN |
| Antoine Rozner | OPEN |
| Xander Schauffele | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Scottie Scheffler | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Adam Schenk | MAS |
| Charl Schwartzel | MAS |
| Adam Scott | SE, MAS, US, OPEN |
| Vijay Singh | MAS, PGA |
| Cameron Smith | MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Jordan Smith | OPEN |
| Sebastian Söderberg | OPEN |
| Jordan Spieth | MAS, *PGA, US, OPEN |
| Henrik Stenson | OPEN |
| Sepp Straka | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Justin Suh | OPEN |
| Jesper Svensson | OPEN |
| Hiroshi Tai | MAS (must remain an amateur to compete) |
| Nick Taylor | SE, MAS, PGA |
| Sahith Theegala | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Justin Thomas | SE, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN |
| Davis Thompson | SE, MAS, PGA, US |
| Jhonattan Vegas | MAS, PGA |
| Karl Vilips | PGA |
| Jimmy Walker | PGA |
| Matt Wallace | OPEN |
| Paul Waring | OPEN |
| Bubba Watson | MAS |
| Mike Weir | MAS |
| Danny Willett | MAS |
| Gary Woodland | US |
| Tiger Woods | MAS, PGA, OPEN |
| Y.E. Yang | PGA |
| Cameron Young | SE, MAS |
| Kevin Yu | MAS, PGA |
| Will Zalatoris | SE, MAS |
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 17-20)
- Truist Championship (May 8-11)
- Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (May 29-June 1)
- Travelers Championship (June 19-22)
Masters (MAS) at Augusta National Golf Club: April 10-13
- Winners of PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation for the TOUR Championship.
- Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (March 31).
- Special invitations to international players per Masters Tournament Committee as its discretion.
PGA Championship (PGA) at Quail Hollow Club: May 15-18
- Winners of PGA TOUR events through the final week before the 2025 PGA Championship.
- Top three from DP World Tour Asian Swing (April 27).
- Top three from International Federation Ranking List (April 28).
- Top 20 from PGA Professional Championship (April 30).
- Top 70 from special money list (i.e., "PGA Championship Points") on PGA TOUR from 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge thru the AT&T Byron Nelson (May 4).
- *All 2023 Ryder Cup members inside top 100 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 5).
- Special exemptions per PGA of America. (This likely will include all golfers from Top 100 of Official World Golf Ranking on May 5.)
- 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 Oakmont Country Club: June 12-15
- Winners of multiple PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation since the 2024 U.S. Open.
- Winner of the Masters (April 13).
- Winner of the PGA Championship (May 18).
- Top five, not otherwise exempt, in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the PGA Championship (May 18).
- Top two, not otherwise exempt, in the 2024 Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the 2025 PGA Championship (May 18).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, in the 2025 Race to Dubai (May 18).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, in the Top 3 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings (May 19).
- Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 19).
- Final qualifying at one site in Japan (May 19).
- Final qualifying at one site in England (May 19).
- Final qualifying at one site in Texas (May 19).
- Winner of the NCAA Division 1 individual championship, if still an amateur (May 26).
- Final qualifying at one site in Canada. (June 2).
- Final qualifying at nine sites in the United States (June 2).
- Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (June 9).
- Special exemptions per the USGA.
The Open Championship (OPEN) at Royal Portrush: July 17-20
- Winner of the Masters (April 13).
- Winner of the PGA Championship (May 18).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the KOLON Korea Open (May 25).
- Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 26).
- Top five in the Federation Ranking (May 29).
- Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Mizuno Open (June 1).
- Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 1).
- Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the RBC Canadian Open (June 8).
- Winner of the U.S. Open (June 15).
- Winner of the British Amateur, if still an amateur (June 21).
- Top five, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the Travelers Championship (June 22).
- Winner of the European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 28).
- Leader in World Amateur Golf Ranking points accumulated at the St. Andrews Links Trophy (June 8), British Amateur (June 21) and European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 28).
- Top two, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Italian Open (June 29).
- Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the Top 5 of the LIV Golf Individual Season Standings (June 30).
- Final Qualifying. Top four at each of four sites: Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports, West Lancashire (July 1).
- Top five, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the BMW International Open (July 6).
- Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open (July 13).