2025 PGA Tour Major & Signature Event Qualifiers: Everything You Need to Know
As the 2025 PGA Tour season unfolds, the race to qualify for golf’s most prestigious tournaments intensifies. From the four major championships to the elite Signature Events and THE PLAYERS Championship, understanding the qualification criteria is essential for players and fans alike.
Major Championships Qualification Criteria
The Masters Tournament
Scheduled for April 10–13 at Augusta National Golf Club, the Masters invites players based on several criteria:
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Past Masters champions (lifetime exemption).
Winners of the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship (past five years).
Winners of THE PLAYERS Championship (past three years).
Top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) at the end of the previous calendar year and the week prior to the tournament.
Winners of PGA Tour events awarding full FedExCup points between the previous and current Masters.
Top finishers in the previous year’s majors and select amateur championships.
U.S. Open
The 2025 U.S. Open will take place June 12–15 at Oakmont Country Club. Qualification avenues include:
- Top 60 in the OWGR as of June 9, 2025.
- Final qualifying tournaments held at nine U.S. sites on June 2.
- Special exemptions granted by the USGA.
The Open Championship
Set for July 17–20 at Royal Troon Golf Club, The Open’s entry paths encompass:
- Top 50 in the OWGR.
- Leading players from the Open Qualifying Series events.
- Top finishers in select global tournaments and final qualifying events.
PGA Championship
The 2025 PGA Championship is slated for May 15–18 at Quail Hollow Club. Qualification methods include:
- Winners of PGA Tour events awarding full FedExCup points.
- Top 100 in the OWGR.
- Special invitations extended by the PGA of America.
THE PLAYERS Championship Qualification
THE PLAYERS Championship, often dubbed the “fifth major,” will be held March 13–16 at TPC Sawgrass. Players can qualify through:
- Top 125 from the previous season’s FedExCup standings.
- Winners of PGA Tour events awarding full FedExCup points since the last PLAYERS Championship.
- Top 50 in the OWGR.
- Special exemptions and sponsor invitations.
2025 Signature Events Overview
The PGA Tour’s Signature Events are limited-field tournaments featuring increased prize money and FedExCup points. The eight Signature Events for 2025 are:
- The Sentry (January 2–5)
- AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (January 30–February 2)
- The Genesis Invitational (February 13–16)
- Arnold Palmer Invitational (March 6–9)
- RBC Heritage (April 17–20)
- Truist Championship (May 8–11)
- The Memorial Tournament (May 29–June 1)
- Travelers Championship (June 19–22)
- Qualification Criteria for Signature Events
Players can earn spots in these elite tournaments through:
Top 50 from the previous season’s FedExCup standings. - Current-year tournament winners.
- Top 30 in the OWGR.
- Aon Next 10: Top 10 players in the current FedExCup standings not already qualified.
- Aon Swing 5: Top 5 players earning the most FedExCup points in the swing leading up to each Signature Event.
- Sponsor exemptions (four per event, with additional spots for select tournaments).
Notably, the Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, and The Memorial Tournament include a 36-hole cut to the top 50 and ties, plus any player within 10 strokes of the lead. The remaining Signature Events do not feature a cut.
