2020-21 Rookie Watch

Half of the 60 who competed in the Olympics are PGA TOUR members. Of those, rookies Garrick Higgo (T53) of South Africa and Rafael Campos (T57) or Puerto Rico finished in the bottom two, so while it was a memorable experience for both, their performances didn’t resonate.

The TOUR’s newest member, Mito Pereira of Chile, shared fourth place as one of the six eliminated by Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan in the playoff for the bronze medal. Since the Games is unofficial on the PGA TOUR, no FedExCup points were distributed to any of the 60 at Kasumigaseki Country Club, so Pereira remains 178th in the FedExCup in five starts. He’s scheduled to compete in this week’s Barracuda Championship, but even if he plays the Wyndham Championship the following week, he’d have to win one of the two tournaments or finish inside the top 125 in points to be classified as a rookie this season. If neither happens, he’ll be a rookie in 2021-22 because he can’t exceed seven starts this season.

Of the notable non-members included below, Thomas Detry of Belgium fared the best. At 10-under 274, he shared 22nd place and eight strokes back of gold medalist Xander Schauffele and five shot outside the playoff for third.

Higgo and Campos go their separate ways this week. Higgo will be at the World Golf Championships debut at the FedEx St. Jude Invitational. Campos is scheduled for his first appearance at the Barracuda Championship.

For the non-members in either field, the current target at 125th in the FedExCup is Rickie Fowler with 402.099 points. The super season with six majors has yielded a high threshold to meet for members to qualify for the Playoffs and for non-members to reach for Special Temporary Membership [STM] in 2021-22.

Robert MacIntyre and Victor Perez are making their final starts as non-members at TPC Southwind unless either achieves STM.

To eliminate his deficit, MacIntyre needs no worse than a two-way T63 worth 4.873 points. The field is only 66 deep and there is no cut. Should he attain the goal but not prevail, he’d be free of accepting a sponsor exemption into the Wyndham. Top 10s in WGCs are not eligible for the top-10 exemption customarily extended into opens.

Perez needs no worse than a two-way T17 worth 54 points for the same possibility.

Garrick Higgo (officially will be a rookie at the conclusion of the Wyndham Championship)
Starts = 6
Cuts Made = 3
FedExCup Points = 515.035
FedExCup Rank = 94
Last Start = T53 (Olympics)
Next = World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational

Rafael Campos (only true 2020-21 PGA TOUR rookie)
Starts = 23
Cuts Made = 6
FedExCup Points = 281.998
FedExCup Rank = 150
Last Start = T57 (Olympics)
Next = Barracuda Championship

# - In the field at the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational as of Aug. 1

+ - In the field at the Barracuda Championship as of Aug. 1.

^ - The value beside Will Zalatoris reflects where he would rank among members with his total of equivalent FedExCup points. If he's inside the top 125 at the conclusion of the Wyndham Championship, he'll earn PGA TOUR membership in 2021-22. He can become a member this season with a victory on the PGA TOUR or with two more wins on the Korn Ferry Tour.

84.200 = minimum equivalent of FedExCup points for eligibility into the Korn Ferry Tour Finals (as of the 3M Open)

Non-members: Through the Olympics

* - Because the 2019-20 season was contracted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this season's target for Special Temporary Membership is 288.035 FedExCup points. It's what Martin Kaymer totaled en route to ranking 150th in the FedExCup during the 2018-19 season. Non-members who achieve STM receive numerous benefits, three of which are primary as it concerns opportunities to compete on the PGA TOUR: 1) Unlimited sponsor exemptions; 2) Unlimited starts; 3) Position in the Beyond 150 Reshuffle. However, a non-member who achieves STM remains ineligible for the FedExCup Playoffs unless he wins a tournament.

NOTE: The Player Advisory Council and the Player Directors nominate annually a list of first-season PGA TOUR members for the PGA TOUR members for the PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year. A player’s rookie season (“Rookie Year”) is defined as the season in which he becomes a PGA TOUR member (including Special Temporary Members) and plays in 10 or more events as a member or finishes in the Top 125 on the official FedExCup points list or qualifies as a Top 125 non-member, whichever occurs first. Further, for purposes of this definition, a new member (including Special Temporary Members) shall not be eligible to be a rookie if he has previously played in more than seven official PGA TOUR money events as a professional in any prior season. PGA TOUR members who have played in at least 15 official money tournaments vote on this award. The Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and Olympic Games each count as one the 15. In their discretion, the Player Advisory Council and Player Directors may determine that circumstances (the potential lack of nominees due to the absence of 2020 graduating class from the Korn Ferry Tour) may not warrant the selection of an award recipient in the 2020-21 season.