Here’s how the final FedEx Cup standings affect a player’s PGA Tour status

The PGA Tour regular season has come to a close, and the final FedEx Cup standings before the three-week-long playoffs are finally set in stone. That’s good news for many players, and not-so-good news for others.

Since 2013, the final FedEx Cup standings after the regular season finale have been used to determine exemption status for the following year on the PGA Tour rather than the season-long money list. So needless to say that where you fall in the FedEx Cup standings has a huge impact on being able to maintain your Tour card.

Along with qualifying for the FedEx Cup Playoffs, players who finish in the top 125 of the FedEx Cup standings after the Wyndham Championship are fully exempt for the PGA Tour the following season.

Falling outside of the top 125 is where things get a bit more complicated. First and foremost, a sub-125 finish in the standings does not qualify one for the FedEx Cup Playoffs. But if you’ve won a PGA Tour event, World Golf Championship, FedEx Cup, or major title and still have exempt seasons left from the win, you can still keep your card and remain on Tour.

If you’re in the top-25 or top-50 in all-time earnings on the PGA Tour, you’ll also remain fully exempt. Those distinctions can be used only once to get an exemption. Anyone who has won at least 20 times on the PGA Tour has a lifetime exemption.

If none of the above applies to you, then conditional status on Tour is available to you the following season. If you finish between 126th and 150th in the standings, you are guaranteed limited status. But that doesn’t mean you can’t win back that oh-so-desired Tour card.

If you finish between 126th and 200th in the FedEx Cup standings, you’re qualified for the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. It’s a three-tournament event that combines those 75 players with the top 75 earners on the Korn Ferry Tour money list during the regular season.

There are 25 cards are up for grabs, as 25 cards have already been given to those who finished in the top 25 on the Korn Ferry Tour money list during the regular season. If you finish in the top 25 in earnings during the Finals, then you get your PGA Tour card back and are fully exempt.

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