2020 Qualifiers for majors, THE PLAYERS, WGCs

  • Tyler Duncan earns first PGA TOUR win at The RSM Classic

If you don’t mind a phrase taken and turned from the spring, December enters like a lamb before it ends like a lion.

Despite official tournaments over the weekend in Japan, Australia and a co-sanctioned event with the Sunshine Tour that opened the 2019-20 European Tour season in South Africa, there were no exemptions distributed for any of the events included on this page.

However, the path to field completion wasn’t entirely quiet. Because Jason Day withdrew from the Presidents Cup on Friday, Nov. 29, due to a back injury, Byeong Hun An punched tickets into The Open Championship and the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational when International captain Ernie Els selected An to replace Day. All Presidents Cuppers are exempt into both tournaments.

Activity will continue in earnest throughout the month. With the Japan Golf Tour, Asian Tour and Australasian Tour concluded their 2019 seasons in the coming weeks, long-range goals will be fulfilled by qualifiers into The Open Championship, the WGC-Mexico Championship and the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

Then, as it always does, the calendar year will conclude with exemptions into the Masters for the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Currently, 12 inside the top 50 are not yet eligible for the first major of 2020, including all slotted 46-50. At No. 21, Bernd Wiesberger is highest-ranked among the dozen. Of the first five outside the top 50, only Charles Howell III at No. 54 is exempt.

NOTE: Golfers are omitted if they recently haven’t competed in majors for which they are eligible (e.g. PGA Championship=David Toms; Open Championship=Ben Curtis, Justin Leonard).

TPC = THE PLAYERS Championship
MAS = Masters
PGA = PGA Championship
US = U.S. Open
OPEN = Open Championship
MEX = WGC-Mexico Championship
MP = WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play
SJI = WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational

Recent Additions    
TPC -- none
MAS -- none
PGA -- none
US -- none
OPEN -- Byeong Hun An
MEX -- nonc
SJI -- Byeong Hun An

  • Golfer Qualified
    Byeong Hun An TPC, OPEN, SJI
    Abraham Ancer TPC, MAS, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Kiradech Aphibarnrat TPC
    Ryan Armour TPC
    John Augenstein MAS, US (must remain an amateur to compete in each)
    Aaron Baddeley TPC
    Rich Beem PGA
    Daniel Berger TPC
    Christiaan Bezuidenhout OPEN, MEX
    Jonas Blixt TPC
    Keegan Bradley TPC, PGA
    Scott Brown TPC
    Bronson Burgoon TPC
    Sam Burns TPC
    Ángel Cabrera MAS
    Rafa Cabrera Bello TPC, OPEN
    Jorge Campillo OPEN, MEX
    Patrick Cantlay TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Paul Casey TPC, MAS, PGA*, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Bud Cauley TPC
    Ricardo Celia OPEN
    Cameron Champ TPC, MAS, PGA, SJI
    Stewart Cink OPEN
    Wyndham Clark TPC
    Darren Clarke OPEN
    Corey Conners TPC, MAS, US, OPEN, MEX
    Fred Couples MAS
    Joel Dahmen TPC
    John Daly PGA, OPEN
    Jason Day TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, SJI
    Bryson DeChambeau TPC, MAS, PGA*, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Jason Dufner TPC
    Tyler Duncan TPC, MAS, PGA, SJI
    David Duval OPEN
    Ernie Els OPEN
    Matt Every TPC
    Tony Finau TPC, MAS, PGA*, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Matthew Fitzpatrick OPEN, MEX
    Tommy Fleetwood TPC, MAS, PGA*, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Rickie Fowler TPC, MAS, PGA*, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Dylan Frittelli TPC, MAS, PGA
    Jim Furyk TPC
    Sergio Garcia TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Brice Garnett TPC
    Brian Gay TPC
    Lucas Glover TPC, MAS, US, OPEN, MEX
    Talor Gooch TPC
    Retief Goosen TPC
    Branden Grace TPC
    Lanto Griffin TPC, MAS, PGA
    Emiliano Grillo TPC
    Chesson Hadley TPC, US
    Adam Hadwin TPC, OPEN, SJI
    Todd Hamilton OPEN
    Cole Hammer US, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in each)
    Justin Harding MAS, OPEN, MEX
    Brian Harman TPC
    Padraig Harrington PGA, OPEN
    Tyrrell Hatton TPC, PGA*, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Benjamin Hebert OPEN, MEX
    Russell Henley TPC
    Jim Herman TPC, PGA
    Charley Hoffman TPC
    J.B. Holmes TPC
    Max Homa TPC, MAS
    Billy Horschel TPC
    Charles Howell III TPC, MAS, US, OPEN, MEX
    Mackenzie Hughes TPC
    Sungjae Im TPC, MAS, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Shugo Imahira SJI
    Trevor Immelman MAS
    Jazz Janewattananond PGA
    Dustin Johnson TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Zach Johnson TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Matt Jones TPC
    Sung Kang TPC, MAS, PGA
    Martin Kaymer PGA, US
    Chan Kim OPEN
    Si Woo Kim TPC, MAS
    Marcus Kinhult OPEN, MEX
    Kevin Kisner TPC, MAS, US, OPEN, MEX
    Kurt Kitayama OPEN, MEX
    Patton Kizzire TPC
    Russell Knox TPC
    Brooks Koepka TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Jason Kokrak TPC, MAS, US, OPEN, MEX
    Kelly Kraft TPC
    Matt Kuchar TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Martin Laird TPC
    Andrew Landry TPC
    Romain Langasque OPEN
    Bernhard Langer MAS, OPEN
    Nate Lashley TPC, MAS, PGA
    Paul Lawrie OPEN
    Danny Lee TPC
    K.H. Lee TPC
    Marc Leishman TPC, MAS, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Hao Tong Li OPEN, SJI
    Yuxin Lin MAS, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in each)
    Luke List TPC, PGA
    Zander Lombard MEX
    Adam Long TPC
    Mike Lorenzo-Vera OPEN, MEX
    Davis Love III PGA
    Shane Lowry TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX
    Joost Luiten OPEN
    Sandy Lyle MAS
    Robert MacIntyre OPEN, MEX
    Peter Malnati TPC
    Hideki Matsuyama TPC, MAS, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Denny McCarthy TPC
    Graeme McDowell TPC, US
    Rory McIlroy TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Troy Merritt TPC
    Shaun Micheel PGA
    Lukas Michel MAS, US (must remain an amateur to compete in each)
    Phil Mickelson TPC, MAS, PGA, OPEN
    Keith Mitchell TPC
    Larry Mize MAS
    Francesco Molinari TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Ryan Moore TPC
    Collin Morikawa TPC, PGA
    Sebastian Muñoz TPC, MAS, PGA
    Kevin Na TPC, MAS, PGA, SJI
    Joaquin Niemann TPC, MAS, PGA, OPEN, SJI
    Alex Noren PGA*
    Andy Ogletree MAS, US, OPEN (must remain an amateur to compete in the Masters and The Open Championship)
    José Maria Olazábal MAS
    Thorbjørn Olesen PGA*
    Louis Oosthuizen TPC, MAS, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Carlos Ortiz TPC
    Ryan Palmer TPC
    C.T. Pan TPC, MAS, OPEN, SJI
    Pat Perez TPC
    Victor Perez OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Scott Piercy TPC
    J.T. Poston TPC, MAS, PGA, SJI
    Ian Poulter TPC, MAS, PGA*, OPEN
    Andrew Putnam TPC
    Jon Rahm TPC, MAS, PGA*, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Chez Reavie TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX
    Patrick Reed TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Patrick Rodgers TPC
    Justin Rose TPC, MAS, PGA*, US, OPEN, MEX
    Sam Ryder TPC
    Rory Sabbatini TPC
    Xander Schauffele TPC, MAS, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Scottie Scheffler TPC
    Adam Schenk TPC
    Matthias Schwab OPEN, MEX
    Charl Schwartzel MAS
    Adam Scott TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Webb Simpson TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Vijay Singh MAS, PGA
    Roger Sloan TPC
    Cameron Smith TPC, OPEN, SJI
    Brandt Snedeker TPC, MAS, US, OPEN, MEX
    Sebastian Soderberg SJI
    J.J. Spaun TPC
    Jordan Spieth TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Scott Stallings TPC
    Kyle Stanley TPC
    Henrik Stenson TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Sepp Straka TPC
    Kevin Streelman TPC
    Steve Stricker US
    Chris Stroud TPC
    Brian Stuard TPC
    James Sugrue MAS, US (must remain an amateur to compete in each)
    Preston Summerhays US (must remain an amateur to compete)
    Ken Tanigawa PGA
    Nick Taylor TPC
    Vaughn Taylor TPC
    Justin Thomas TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Michael Thompson TPC
    Brendon Todd TPC, MAS, PGA, SJI
    Cameron Tringale TPC
    Kevin Tway TPC
    Erik van Rooyen PGA, OPEN, MEX
    Harold Varner III TPC
    Jhonattan Vegas TPC
    Jimmy Walker TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN
    Matt Wallace MAS, PGA, OPEN, MEX
    Paul Waring OPEN
    Nick Watney TPC
    Bubba Watson TPC, MAS, PGA*
    Mike Weir MAS
    Lee Westwood MAS, OPEN
    Bernd Wiesberger OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Danny Willett TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Aaron Wise TPC
    Matthew Wolff TPC, MAS, PGA
    Gary Woodland TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, MEX, SJI
    Tiger Woods TPC, MAS, PGA, US, OPEN, SJI
    Y.E. Yang PGA

    REMAINING QUALIFYING CRITERIA

    Criteria are listed in chronological order where possible. Best estimates are given but all are subject to change.    
        
    MASTERS (MAS) @ Augusta National Golf Club – April 9-12    
    • Winners of PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation for THE TOUR Championship through the week before the Masters.    
    • Top 50 from Official World Golf Ranking (Dec. 31).    
    • Winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (Jan. 19).    
    • Top 50 from Official World Golf Ranking (March 30).    
    • Special invitations to international players per Masters Tournament Committee as its discretion.    
        
    PGA CHAMPIONSHIP (PGA) @ TPC Harding Park – May 14-17    
    • Winners of PGA TOUR events thru the final week before the 2020 PGA Championship.    
    • Top 20 from PGA Professional National Championship (April 29).    
    • Top 70 from special money list (i.e. "PGA Championship Points") on PGA TOUR from 2019 AT&T Byron Nelson through 2020 Wells Fargo Championship (May 3).    
    • *All 2018 Ryder Cup members, provided they are inside Top 100 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 3).    
    • Special exemptions per PGA of America. (This will likely include all golfers inside Top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking on May 3.)    
    • If necessary to compete 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) @ Winged Foot Golf Club – June 18-21    
    • Winners of multiple PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation since the 2019 U.S. Open.    
    • Winner of THE PLAYERS (March 15).    
    • Winner of the Masters (April 12).    
    • Winner of the PGA Championship (May 17).    
    • Top 60 from Official World Golf Ranking (May 18).    
    • Sectional qualifying (late May-early June).    
    • Top 60 from Official World Golf Ranking (June 15).    
    • Special exemptions per the USGA.    
        
    OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (OPEN) @ Royal St. George's Golf Club – July 16-19
    • Top 2 on 2019 Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit (Dec. 8).
    • Top 3, not otherwise exempt, inside top 10 at the Emirates Australian Open (Dec. 8).
    • Money leader on the 2019 Asian Tour (Dec. 22).
    • Money leader on the 2019 Australasian Tour (Dec. 22).
    • Top 3, not otherwise exempt, inside top 10 at the South African Open hosted by The City of Joburg (Jan. 12).
    • Top 4, not otherwise exempt, inside top 12 at the SMBC Singapore Open (Jan. 19).
    • Money leader on the 2019-20 Sunshine Tour (Feb. 23).
    • Top 3, not otherwise exempt, inside top 10 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 8).
    • Winner of THE PLAYERS (March 15).
    • Winner of the Masters (April 12).
    • Winner of the PGA Championship (May 17).
    • Top 50 from Official World Golf Ranking (TBD).
    • Top 4, not otherwise exempt, inside top 12 at The Mizuno Open (May 31).
    • Top 4, not otherwise exempt, inside top 12 at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open (May 31).
    • Top 2, not otherwise exempt, from Order of Merit on Japan Golf Tour ending with Japan Golf Tour Championship (TBD).
    • Top finisher, not otherwise exempt, inside top 5 at the Trohpee Hassan II (June 7).
    • Top 3, not otherwise exempt, inside top 10 at the RBC Canadian Open (June 14).
    • Winner of British Amateur, if still an amateur (June 20).
    • Winner of U.S. Open (June 21).
    • Top 5 and ties, not otherwise exempt, inside Top 20 in Race to Dubai thru a European Tour event in 2020 (TBD).
    • Top 5 and ties, not otherwise exempt, inside Top 20 in FedExCup points thru a PGA TOUR event in 2020 (TBD).
    • Winner of the European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 27).
    • Top 2, not otherwise exempt, inside top 8 at the KOLON Korea Open (June 28).
    • Top 2, not otherwise exempt, inside top 8 at the Travelers Championship (June 28).
    • Local Final Qualifying. Top 3 at each of four sites: Fairmont St. Andrews, Notts, Prince's, St. Annes Old Links (June 30).
    • Top 4, not otherwise exempt, inside top 12 at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open (July 12).
    • Top finisher, not otherwise exempt, inside top 5 at the John Deere Classic (July 12).    

    WGC-MEXICO CHAMPIONSHIP (MEX) @ Club de Golf Chapultepec - February 20-23    
    • Top 2 on Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit, not otherwise exempt (Dec. 8).    
    • Top 2 on Asian Tour Order of Merit (Dec. 22).    
    • Top 2 on Australasian Tour Order of Merit, not otherwise exempt (Dec. 22).    
    • Top 10 from Race to Dubai (Feb. 10).    
    • Top 50 from Official World Golf Ranking (Feb. 10).    
    • Highest-ranked golfer from Mexico in the Official World Golf Ranking. If already eligible, the second-highest-ranked inside the Top 300 of the OWGR (Feb. 10).    
    • Top 10 in FedExCup Points (Feb. 17).    
    • Top 50 from Official World Golf Ranking (Feb. 17).    
    • If necessary to complete the field of 72, golfers outside the Top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking on Feb. 17 will gain entry in order of position.    
        
    THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP (TPC) @ TPC Sawgrass (Stadium) - March 12-15   
    • Winners of PGA TOUR events thru the final week before THE PLAYERS.    
    • Top 10 in FedExCup Points (March 2).    
    • Top 50 from Official World Golf Ranking (March 2).    
    • If necessary to complete the field of 144, golfers outside the Top 10 in FedExCup Points on March 2 will gain entry in order of position.    
        
    WGC-DELL TECHNOLOGIES MATCH PLAY (MP) @ Austin Country Club - March 25-29
    • Top 64 inside Top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking (March 16).    
        
    WGC-FEDEX ST. JUDE INVITATIONAL (SJI) @ TPC Southwind - July 2-5    
    • Winner of the Indonesian Masters (Dec. 15).    
    • Winner of Australian PGA Championship (Dec. 22).    
    • Winner of Dimension Data Pro-Am (Feb. 16).    
    • Winner of 2020 Japan Golf Tour Championship (TBD).    
    • Top 50 from Official World Golf Ranking (June 22).    
    • Top 50 from Official World Golf Ranking (June 29).    
    • Winners of official tournaments from the Federation Tours with an Official World Golf Ranking strength-of-field rating of 115 points or more.