User:Phinumu/PGA Tour players/2015
* – Denotes a player who finished in the top 125 of the FedEx Cup points list.
Bold text – Denotes a player who won in 2015.
- 1. Winners of PGA Championship or U.S. Open prior to 1970 or in the last 10 calendar years (Beginning in 1998, this is a five-year exemption.)
- Martin Kaymer (2019)
- Rory McIlroy* (2019)
- Justin Rose* (2019) – moves to cat 10 in 2019
- Jason Dufner* (2018)
- Webb Simpson* (2018) – moves to cat 10 in 2018
- Keegan Bradley* (2017) – moves to cat 10 in 2017
- Graeme McDowell (2016) – moves to cat 10 in 2016
Jordan Spieth and Jason Day were promoted to this category after their wins and earned exemptions through 2020 (Spieth was in cat 3 from April to June). Rose and McIlroy extended their exemptions to 2020, in which season McIlroy would fall to cat 10.
- 2. Winners of the THE PLAYERS Championship in the last 10 calendar years. (Beginning In 1998, this is a five-year exemption.)
- Matt Kuchar* (2019) – moves to cat 10 in 2018
- Tiger Woods (2018)
- K. J. Choi (2016)
- Tim Clark* (2016) – moves to cat 10 in 2016
Rickie Fowler was promoted to this category after his win and earned an exemption through 2020.
- 3. Winners of the Masters Tournament in the last 10 calendar years. (Beginning in 1998, this is a five-year exemption.)
- Adam Scott* (2019) – moves to cat 10 in 2019
- Bubba Watson* (2019)
- Phil Mickelson* (2018) – moves to cat 4 in 2016
- Charl Schwartzel* (2016)
Watson extended his exemption to 2020, in which season he would fall to cat 10.
- 4. Winners of the British Open in the last 10 calendar years (1990-present). (Beginning In 1998, this is a five-year exemption.)
- Ernie Els (2017)
- Louis Oosthuizen*
Darren Clarke declined membership. Zach Johnson was promoted to this category after his win and earned an exemption through 2020.
- 5. THE TOUR Championship winners in the last three years, beginning with the 1998 winner
- Billy Horschel* (2019) – moves to cat 8 in 2018
- Henrik Stenson* (2018) – moves to cat 8 in 2017
- Brandt Snedeker* (2017) – moves to cat 8 in 2016
- 6. Winners of World Golf Championship events, beginning in 1999 (a three-year exemption)
- Jason Day* (2017)
- Dustin Johnson* (2017)
- Hunter Mahan* (2017) – moves to cat 10 in 2016
- Patrick Reed* (2017)
- Ian Poulter*
Shane Lowry accepted membership in this category after his win and earned an exemption through 2018. Reed extended his exemption to 2018, in which season he would fall to cat 10. Johnson extended his to 2018.
- 7. Winners of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial Tournament in the last three seasons and the current season, beginning with the 2015 winners
Matt Every and David Lingmerth were promoted to this category and earned exemptions through 2018.
- 8. The winner of the FedEx Cup in each of the last five calendar years
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Apr 19 | Jim Furyk | RBC Heritage |
Haas extended his exemption to 2017, in which season he would fall to cat 10.
- 9. The leader in PGA TOUR official earnings in each of the last five calendar years
- Luke Donald* (2016)
- 10. Winners of PGA TOUR cosponsored 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.
- Zach Johnson* (2018)
- Jimmy Walker* (2018)
- Chris Kirk* (2017)
- Steve Stricker (2017)
- Steven Bowditch* (2016)
- Ángel Cabrera (2016)
- Ben Crane (2016)
- Harris English* (2016)
- Matt Every* (2016)
- Chesson Hadley* (2016)
- Brian Harman* (2016)
- Russell Henley* (2016)
- J. B. Holmes* (2016)
- Matt Jones* (2016)
- Hideki Matsuyama* (2016)
- Ryan Moore* (2016)
- Noh Seung-yul (2016)
- Geoff Ogilvy (2016)
- John Senden* (2016)
- Kevin Stadler (2016)
- Scott Stallings (2016)
- Kevin Streelman* (2016)
- Brendon Todd* (2016)
- Camilo Villegas* (2016)
- Nick Watney* (2016)
- Woody Austin
- Bae Sang-moon*
- Jonas Blixt*
- Scott Brown*
- Ken Duke*
- Derek Ernst
- Brian Gay
- Lucas Glover
- Martin Laird*
- John Merrick
- D. A. Points
- Jordan Spieth*
- Michael Thompson
- Boo Weekley*
- Mark Wilson*
- Gary Woodland*
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Oct 12 | Bae Sang-moon | Frys.com Open |
Mar 15 | Jordan Spieth | Valspar Championship |
Apr 12 | Jordan Spieth (2) | Masters Tournament |
Jun 21 | Jordan Spieth (3) | U.S. Open |
Jul 12 | Jordan Spieth (4) | John Deere Classic |
Sep 27 | Jordan Spieth (5) | Tour Championship |
Fourteen players moved into this category during the season. Walker extended his exemption to 2020; Kirk extended his to 2018.
Gay received a medical extension. Thompson and Glover finished in the 126–150 range; both made it through the Finals. Merrick, Ernst, Points, and Austin finished outside the top 150; Ernst made it through the Finals, while the rest fell to past champion status in 2016 (for good, in Merrick and Austin's cases).
- 11a. Career money exemptions – top 50
Verplank finished outside the top 150 and fell to past champion status for good in 2016.
- 11b. Career money exemptions – top 25
Perry finished outside the top 150 and fell to past champion status for 2016.
- 18. Life members
Watson focused on the senior tour.
- 19. Top 125 on the previous year’s FedExCup points list
- Rickie Fowler*
- Sergio García*
- Ryan Palmer*
- Cameron Tringale*
- Kevin Na*
- Morgan Hoffmann*
- Stuart Appleby
- Charles Howell III*
- Graham DeLaet*
- Russell Knox*
- George McNeill*
- Chris Stroud*
- Brian Stuard
- Charley Hoffman*
- Kevin Chappell*
- Daniel Summerhays*
- Marc Leishman*
- William McGirt*
- Jerry Kelly*
- Carl Pettersson*
- Erik Compton*
- Will MacKenzie
- Freddie Jacobson
- Jason Bohn*
- Robert Streb*
- Ryo Ishikawa*
- Jason Kokrak*
- David Hearn*
- Justin Hicks
- Ben Martin*
- Scott Langley
- Brendan Steele*
- Stewart Cink*
- Bo Van Pelt
- Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño
- Shawn Stefani*
- Danny Lee*
- Brendon de Jonge*
- Jeff Overton*
- Michael Putnam
- Andrew Svoboda
- Paul Casey*
- John Huh*
- Billy Hurley III
- Pat Perez*
- Robert Garrigus
- Andrés Romero
- Troy Merritt*
- Retief Goosen*
- Kevin Kisner*
- Luke Guthrie
- Lee Westwood*
- Rory Sabbatini*
- Bryce Molder*
- Brian Davis
- Martin Flores
- Ricky Barnes
- Aaron Baddeley
- Jhonattan Vegas
- David Toms
- Tim Wilkinson
- Justin Leonard
- Brice Garnett
- James Hahn*
- Robert Allenby
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Oct 19 | Ben Martin | Shriners Hospitals for Children Open |
Oct 26 | Robert Streb | McGladrey Classic |
Nov 16 | Charley Hoffman | OHL Classic |
Feb 22 | James Hahn | Northern Trust Open |
May 10 | Rickie Fowler | The Players Championship |
Jul 5 | Danny Lee | Greenbrier Classic |
Aug 2 | Troy Merritt | Quicken Loans National |
MacKenzie and Toms finished in the top 125 of the money list. Langley, Stuard, Hurley, Putnam, Garnett, Davis, and Guthrie finished in the 126–150 range. Davis made it through the Finals; the rest settled for conditional status in 2016.
Vegas, Barnes, Flores, Baddeley, Van Pelt, Romero, Fernández-Castaño, Jacobson, Svoboda, Garrigus, Leonard, Wilkinson, Allenby, Appleby, and Hicks finished outside the top 150. Jacobson, Appleby, and Hicks received major medical extensions, and Romero a minor. Van Pelt, Leonard, and Allenby used top 50 career money exemptions for 2016. Barnes, Garrigus, and Wilkinson made it through the Finals. Vegas and Baddeley fell to past champion status in 2016. Flores, Fernández-Castaño, and Svoboda became non-members; Svoboda has not reached the PGA Tour since.
- 20. Top 125 from money list
Beljan finished in the top 125 of the money list. Weir received a medical extension. Thompson finished in the 126–150 range and fell to conditional status in 2016. Renner finished outside the top 150, became a non-member in 2016, and has not reached the PGA Tour since.
- 21. Non-member top 125
- Brooks Koepka* (first-time member)
- Francesco Molinari* (first-time member)
- Jamie Donaldson (first-time member)
- Victor Dubuisson (first-time member)
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Feb 1 | Brooks Koepka | Waste Management Phoenix Open |
Donaldson finished in the top 125 of the money list. Dubuisson finished outside the top 150, became a non-member in 2016, and has not reached the PGA Tour since.
- 22. Major Medical Extension
- Anthony Kim (16)
- Arron Oberholser (10)
- Scott Piercy* (14)
- Dudley Hart (8)
- Blake Adams (16)
- Spencer Levin* (8)
- Bob Estes (24)
- Ted Potter Jr. (2)
- Troy Kelly (12)
- Briny Baird (9)
- Chez Reavie (24)
- Harrison Frazar (10)
- Chris Couch (4)
- Scott Hoch (3)
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Jul 19 | Scott Piercy | Barbasol Championship |
Levin met his terms in November and Piercy in January. Hoch used his up in October with senior tour starts. Hart used his last start in the final regular-season event; he finished outside the top 150 and fell to past champion status for good in 2016. Adams, Estes, Potter, Kelly, Baird, Reavie, Frazar, and Couch received carry-overs, while Kim and Oberholser did not (and fell to past champion status in 2016); Reavie also made it through the Finals.
- 23. Web.com Tour and Finals leading money-winners
- Adam Hadwin* (rookie)
- Derek Fathauer
- Carlos Ortiz* (rookie)
Fathauer finished outside the top 150 but made it through the Finals.
- 24. Medical extension
- 26. Web.com Tour 2-25 and Finals 2-25
- Bud Cauley
- Justin Thomas* (rookie)
- Colt Knost*
- John Peterson*
- Andrew Putnam (rookie)
- Richard Sterne (first-time member)
- Jason Gore*
- Zac Blair* (rookie)
- Tony Finau* (rookie)
- Sam Saunders (first-time member)
- Zack Sucher (rookie)
- Jim Herman*
- Blayne Barber (rookie)
- David Lingmerth*
- Alex Čejka*
- Tom Hoge (rookie)
- Steven Alker
- Greg Owen*
- Andres Gonzales*
- Tom Gillis
- Jon Curran* (rookie)
- Kim Meen-whee (rookie)
- Cameron Percy
- Scott Pinckney* (rookie)
- Daniel Berger* (rookie)
- Tyrone van Aswegen
- Jonathan Randolph (rookie)
- Sean O'Hair*
- Max Homa (first-time member)
- Heath Slocum
- Mark Hubbard (rookie)
- J. J. Henry*
- Steve Wheatcroft*
- Nick Taylor* (rookie)
- Kyle Reifers*
- Hudson Swafford*
- Ryan Armour
- Alex Prugh
- Byron Smith (rookie)
- Óscar Fraustro (rookie)
- Bill Lunde
- Park Sung-joon (rookie)
- Roger Sloan (rookie)
- Chad Collins*
- Fabián Gómez*
- Carlos Sainz Jr. (rookie)
- Eric Axley
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Nov 9 | Nick Taylor | Sanderson Farms Championship |
Mar 8 | Alex Čejka | Puerto Rico Open |
Jun 7 | David Lingmerth | Memorial Tournament |
Jun 14 | Fabián Gómez | FedEx St. Jude Classic |
Aug 9 | J. J. Henry | Barracuda Championship |
Barber and Kim finished in the top 125 of the money list. Those who finished in the 126–150 range were Hoge, Prugh, Park, Saunders, Gillis, and Percy. Hoge and Saunders made it through the Finals. Gillis received a minor medical extension. Prugh, Park, and Percy settled for conditional status.
Homa, Hubbard, Alker, Randolph, Putnam, Fraustro, Axley, van Aswegen, Armour, Lunde, Sloan, Smith, Sucher, Slocum, Sainz, Sterne, and Cauley finished outside the top 150. Cauley received a major medical extension and Sterne a minor. Hubbard and van Aswegen made it through the Finals. Axley, Lunde, and Slocum fell to past champion status in 2016 (for good). The other 10 became non-members; Fraustro, Smith, and Sainz have not reached the PGA Tour again.
- 27. Reshuffle medical
- Kris Blanks (9)
- Will Claxton (12)
- Bobby Gates (5)
- Mark Anderson (7)
- Jarrod Lyle (20)
- Lee Williams (6)
- Neal Lancaster (7)
- David Berganio Jr. (7)
- Patrick Cantlay (11)
- Benjamín Alvarado (4 + 4)
- Joe Affrunti (8)
Anderson's extension expired in July and he became a non-member. Alvarado fell to the minor medical category after his first extension expired in June; after his second extension expired in July he became a non-member, and has not reached the PGA Tour since. Blanks, Lancaster, Claxton, Lyle, Berganio, Affrunti, Gates, Williams, and Cantlay received carry-overs.
- 28. Three-time Web.com Tour winners in the current year
- 29. Minor Medical Extension
- Charlie Wi (1)
- Lee Dong-hwan (3)
- Brad Fritsch (1)
- Scott Gardiner (3)
Fritsch and Lee became non-members after their extensions expired in October and June, respectively; Lee finished in the top 25 of the Web.com Tour regular-season money list. Gardiner used his last start at the final regular-season event; he finished outside the top 150, became a non-member in 2016, and has not reached the PGA Tour since. Wi fell to the conditional category after his extension expired in October; he finished outside the top 150 and fell to past champion status for good in 2016.
Benjamín Alvarado fell to this category after his first extension expired in June; after his second extension expired in July he became a non-member, and has not reached the PGA Tour since.
- 30. 126–150 from money list
Note that this was the first season in which this category was reshuffled.
Two players finished in the top 125. The remaining players all finished outside the top 150. Lee received a medical extension; Castro and Loupe made it through the Finals. Curtis, Chalmers, Byrd, and Immelman fell to past champion status in 2016 (for good in Curtis and Immelman's cases). Teater became a non-member for 2016.
Charlie Wi fell to this category after his medical extension expired in October; he finished outside the top 150 and fell to past champion status for good in 2016.
- 31. Non-exempt medical extension
- Brandt Jobe (10)
- Tag Ridings (1)
Ridings became a non-member after his extension expired in June. Jobe did not receive a carry-over; he fell to past champion status for good in 2016.
- Notable past champions
The following past champions finished in the top 200 of the FedEx Cup points list:
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Mar 2 | Pádraig Harrington | Honda Classic |
One player won. Pampling and Dicky Pride finished in the top 25 of the Web.com Tour regular-season money list. Stanley made it through the Finals. Smith, Petrovic, and Rollins have never regained better status.
- Notable non-members
One non-member won and accepted membership:
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Aug 9 | Shane Lowry | WGC-Bridgestone Invitational |
The following non-members finished the equivalent of top 200 on the FedEx Cup points list (^ denotes those eligible for full PGA Tour membership in 2016):
Grace, Rodgers, and Smith accepted membership for 2016; Willett did not, but later accepted after winning. Willett accepted STM in May, Rodgers, Grace, and Smith in June, and Lowry in July.
Lahiri, Iwata, Grillo, and Aiken were successful in the Finals; Cook and Siem were not.
- Other notes
Twenty-eight players not mentioned above made it from the Web.com Tour to the PGA Tour for 2016 (including European Tour winner Dawie van der Walt; 23 via the regular-season money list, 5 via the Finals).