All-Exempt TOUR Priority Rankings

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Nov. 5, 2009

RESHUFFLE: The Nationwide Tour and q-school graduates were reshuffled on March 2, 2009. Click here to see the new order.

Each PGA TOUR player has earned a position on the priority ranking system that will be used to select tournament fields. The complete ranking system, in order of priority, is as follows:

1. Winner of PGA Championship or U.S. Open prior to 1970 or in the last 10 calendar years:
Jack Burke, Jr. Retief Goosen Arnold Palmer
Angel Cabrera Lucas Glover Padraig Harrington
Gary Player Billy Casper Don January
Dow Finsterwald Gene Littler Vijay Singh
Jack Fleck Phil Mickelson Lee Trevino
Ray Floyd Bobby Nichols Ken Venturi
Doug Ford Jack Nicklaus Tiger Woods
Al Geiberger Geoff Ogilvy Y.E. Yang
NOTE: Beginning in 1998, this is a five-year exemption.
2. Winner of THE PLAYERS Championship in the last 10 calendar years:
Stephen Ames Sergio Garcia
Fred Funk Adam Scott
NOTE: Beginning in 1998, this is a five-year exemption.
3. Winners of the Masters Tournament in the last 10 calendar years:
Trevor Immelman Zach Johnson
NOTE: Beginning in 1998, this is a five-year exemption.
4. Winners of the British Open in the last 10 calendar years:
Todd Hamilton Stewart Cink
NOTE: Beginning in 1998, this is a five-year exemption.
5. Winners of THE TOUR Championship, beginning in 2005
Camilo Villegas
NOTE: A three-year exemption
6. Winners of World Golf Championships events, beginning in 2005:
NOTE: A three-year exemption
7. The winner of the FedExCup in each of the last five calendar years.
8. The leader in PGA TOUR official earnings in each of the last five calendar years:
9. Winners of PGA TOUR co-sponsored or approved events (except team events) within the last two calendar years, or during the current year; winners receive an additional year of exemption for each additional win, up to five years:
Stuart Appleby Charley Hoffman Kenny Perry
Woody Austin J.B. Holmes Pat Perez
Aaron Baddeley Charles Howell III Carl Pettersson
Brian Bateman Ryuji Imada Chez Reavie
Cameron Beckman Dustin Johnson Andres Romero
Michael Bradley Richard S. Johnson Rory Sabbatini
Jonathan Byrd Jerry Kelly Brandt Snedeker
Mark Calcavecchia Anthony Kim Steve Stricker
Chad Campbell Greg Kraft David Toms
Paul Casey Justin Leonard D.J. Trahan
K.J. Choi Davis Love III Marc Turnesa
Daniel Chopra Steve Lowery Scott Verplank
Will MacKenzie Johnson Wagner Ryan Palmer
Ben Curtis Hunter Mahan Nick Watney
Ernie Els Parker McLachlin Boo Weekley
Steve Flesch George McNeill Mike Weir
Jim Furyk Sean O'Hair Mark Wilson
Brian Gay Joe Ogilvie John Rollins
Paul Goydos Bo Van Pelt Nathan Green
Ryan Moore Heath Slocum Matt Kuchar
Martin Laird Troy Matteson  
10a. Players among the top 50 in career earnings as of the end of the preceding calendar year may elect to use a one-time, one-year exemption for the next year:
Jeff Sluman Bob Estes
Jeff Maggert David Duval
Loren Roberts
10b. Players among the Top 25 in career earnings as of the end of the preceding calendar year may elect to use this special exemption for a second year, provided that the player remains among the Top 25 on the career money list.
Chris DiMarco Brad Faxon Tom Lehman
11. Sponsor exemptions (a maximum of eight, which may include amateurs with handicaps of 0 or less), on the following basis:
A. Not less than two sponsor invitees shall be PGA TOUR members not otherwise exempt.
B. Not less than two of the top 25 finishers and ties from the last Qualifying Tournament, as well as 2-25 from the 2008 Nationwide Tour money list, if not all of them can otherwise be accommodated. (Note: PGA TOUR members may receive an unlimited number of sponsor invitations. Non-TOUR members may receive a maximum of seven per year.)
12. Two international players designated by the Commissioner.
13. The current PGA Club Professional Champion for a maximum of 6 open events (3 must be opposite British Open and World Golf Championships events), in addition to any sponsor selections.
Scott Hebert
14. PGA Section Champion or Player of the Year of the Section in which the tournament is played.
15. Four low scorers at Open Qualifying which shall normally be held on Monday of tournament week.
16. Past champions of the particular event being contested that week, if cosponsored by the PGA TOUR and the same tournament sponsor (except for Team events), as follows:
A. Winners prior to July 28, 1970: unlimited exemptions for such events.
B. Winners after July 28, 1970 and prior to Jan. 1, 2000: 10 years of exemptions for such events.
C. Winners after Jan. 1, 2000: five years of exemptions for such events.
17. Life Members (who have been active members of the PGA TOUR for 15 years and have won at least 20 co-sponsored events).
Greg Norman Tom Watson
18. Top 30 on the previous years FedExCup points list.
Kevin Sutherland Billy Mayfair
Dudley Hart Tim Clark
Robert Allenby Briny Baird
Ken Duke Bubba Watson
19. Top 125 on previous year's Official Money List: If not exempt under "Special Exemptions," the top 125 PGA TOUR members on the previous years Official Money List, in order of their position:
Steve Marino Kevin Streelman Bill Haas
Jeff Quinney Dean Wilson Lucas Glover
Mathew Goggin Tom Pernice, Jr. Michael Allen
Nicholas Thompson John Merrick Tim Petrovic
Bart Bryant Steve Elkington Scott McCarron
Rod Pampling John Senden Fred Couples
Fredrik Jacobson J.J. Henry Nick O'Hern
Charlie Wi Justin Rose Corey Pavin
Tommy Armour II John Mallinger Brad Adamonis
Tim Wilkinson Kevin Na Ben Crane
Michael Letzig Eric Axley Ian Poulter
Tim Herron Alex Cejka Peter Lonard
Brian Davis Jeff Overton Luke Donald
Cliff Kresge Brett Quigley Vaughn Taylor
Jason Bohn Rocco Mediate  
20. Players who finished in the Top 125 on the 2007 PGA TOUR Money List as non-members:
21. Major Medical Extension: If granted by the Commissioner, if not otherwise eligible, and if needed to fill the field, Special Medical Extension.
Chris Perry Hank Kuehne Wes Short Jr.
Brett Wetterich Jose Maria Olazabal Jose Coceres
Arron Oberholser Kirk Triplett Paul Azinger
Joey Snyder II Chris Couch
22. Leading Money Winner from 2007 Nationwide Tour.
Matt Bettencourt Patrick Moore (Medical)
23. Top 10 and ties among professionals from the previous open tournament whose victory has official status are exempt into the next open tournament whose victory has official status.
24. Top 25 and ties from the previous years PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament, in order of their finish, and players 2-25 on the 2007 Nationwide Tour money list.
Harrison Frazar Notah Begay II Scott Gutschewski
Brendon de Jonge Rick Price Chris Riley
James Nitties Matthew Borchert Spencer Levin
Jeff Klauk Kris Blanks Ted Purdy
Derek Fathauer Gary Woodland Bryce Molder
Jarrod Lyle David Mathis Mathias Gronberg
Chris Stroud Jason Dufner Matt Weibring
Bill Lunde Casey Wittenberg David Berganio, Jr.
John Huston Troy Kelly Ricky Barnes
Colt Knost D.A. Points Aaron Watkins
Robert Garrigus Jimmy Walker Kent Jones
Darron Stiles Arjun Atwal Bob Heintz
Greg Chalmers Tyler Aldridge Jay Williamson
Webb Simpson Aron Price Brian Vranesh
Scott Piercy Wil Collins Duffy Waldorf (medical)
James Oh Marc Leishman Roland Thatcher (medical)
Greg Owen Leif Olson Carl Paulson (medical)
Glen Day Brendon Todd Peter Tomasulo
25. Nationwide Tour 3-Win Promotion to any player winning 3 times during the current season, in priority determined by the date in which they win their third event.
Michael Sim
26. Minor Medical Extension.
27. Next 25 members after the Top 125 members from previous years Official Money List. If needed to fill the field, the next 25 PGA TOUR members after the top 125 PGA TOUR members from the previous years Official Money List, in order of their position on the list.
Shane Bertsch Matt Jones Scott Sterling
Patrick Sheehan Jason Day Kevin Stadler
Joe Durant Steve Allan Tag Ridings
Charles Warren Rich Beem Tommy Gainey
Bob Tway James Driscoll Frank Lickliter II
Jason Gore Jesper Parnevik*
*Had the option of taking a one-time Top 50 in PGA TOUR Career Earnings exemption by the end of 2008.
28. Non-Exempt, Major Medical Extension
29. Past Champions, Team Tournament Winners and Veteran Members Beyond 150 on Money List: If not otherwise eligible and as needed to fill the field, Past Champion members, Team Tournament Winners and Veteran members beyond 150th place on the previous years Money List, in order of their combined official PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour earnings in the previous year.
30. Past Champion Members: If not otherwise eligible and if needed to fill the field, Past Champion members, in order of the total number of cosponsored or approved events won, excluding Team events. If two or more players are tied, the player who is higher on the PGA TOUR Career Money List shall be eligible.
31. Special Temporary: If during the course of a PGA TOUR season, a nonmember of the PGA TOUR wins an amount of official money (e.g., by playing in PGA TOUR events through sponsor exemptions, Open Qualifying, etc.) equal to the amount won in the preceding year by the 150th finisher on the official money list, he will be eligible for the remainder of the year.
Ross Fisher Graeme McDowell Jeev M. Singh
32. Team Tournament Winners: If not otherwise eligible and if needed to fill the field, winners of co-sponsored team championships, in order of the total number of team championship tournaments won. If two or more players are tied based on the number of such tournaments won, the player who is higher on the official PGA TOUR Career Money List shall be eligible.
33. Veteran Members: If not otherwise eligible and if needed to fill the field, Veteran members (players who have made a minimum of 150 cuts during their career), in order of their standing on the PGA TOUR Career Money List.
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