The 2025 PGA Tour season wrapped up at the RSM Classic on Sunday, leaving several players frustrated after falling short of the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings.
Players finishing between 101st and 150th will still receive varying levels of conditional status.
On the other hand, those who ended up outside the top 150 have lost their cards for the 2026 season, unless they have other exemptions to fall back on.
This year saw a significant change from the PGA Tour, with only the top 100 in the FedEx Cup standings now keeping full playing privileges for the next season.
Not everyone is happy with that decision. Justin Lower, who lost his card this year, felt there was no need to alter a system he thought was already working fine.
On the other side of it, though, Lee Hodges has backed the shift and pointed out that players should be accountable for their own careers. It is clear there are strong opinions on both sides.
The PGA Tour is now operating with a more ruthless edge, a reality a former world number nine has just discovered the hard way.
Former world number nine with five PGA Tour wins loses card after making just three cuts all season
The RSM Classic offered up plenty of storylines for fans to follow last week.
Not a single player outside the top 100 at the start of the week managed to play their way into full exempt status by the end of the tournament.
Nick Watney was among those affected and will be without a PGA Tour card next year.
Now 44, Watney finished near the bottom of the field at Sea Island, capping off a tough year when he made just three cuts and ended up 210th in the FedEx Cup standings.
The five-time PGA Tour winner has had an impressive career with several big wins, including his victories at the WGC Cadillac Championship in 2011 and The Barclays in 2012.
If he is still motivated to turn things around, he will have to start from scratch in 2026.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
