Vijay Singh is ready to return to the PGA Tour, committing to the Sony Open.
Next week, the 2026 PGA Tour season begins with the Sony Open, and the 62-year-old is set to compete at Waiʻalae Country Club.
Singh has 34 career wins on the PGA Tour, including three major championships.
He won The Masters in 2000 and captured two PGA Championship titles in 1998 and 2004.
Fan backlash grows over Vijay Singh’s PGA Tour exemption
Singh’s decision to activate his career money list exemption for the 2026 season has not gone over well with many fans, who feel he is taking opportunities away from younger players.
One fan posted on X: “This is ridiculous. Vijay Singh is using the career money list exemption to get full status on the PGA Tour this year as a soon-to-be 63-year-old.
“Guys out here grinding for starts and Vijay is going to take up spots as a 63-year-old dude? It just seems beyond ridiculous in my opinion. Change the rule. Don’t let him play.”
The same fan added: “Let’s have [Brooks] Koepka sit out for a year while we let Vijay take up spots on the PGA Tour. That seems like a great idea.”
Another posted: “Disgusting VJ… hard enough trying to qualify for the PGA tour these days and fewer spots. Give it buddy! For once in your life think about one besides yourself.”
Other fans also weighed in, saying things like, “He’s not been relevant for 15-20 years”, and “He should stick to the Champions Tour.”
Further criticism arrived from another who noted: “I think this is one of the most selfish moves I’ve ever seen in sports.”
The statement continued, as another person remarked: “Not a fan. He’s had his time on the PGA tour, make $ millions I’m sure. He’s taking a young guy’s spot.”
Where does Vijay Singh rank in the PGA Tour money list?
Since stepping away from the main tour, Singh has played on the PGA Tour Champions, where he has picked up five wins. But it was during his time on the PGA Tour that he built his fortune.
Singh currently sits eighth on the all-time earnings list, with $71,281,216 to his name. He is just ahead of Justin Thomas and Adam Scott in that top 10.
At the top of the list is Tiger Woods, no surprises there, with a career total of $120,999,166.
Rory McIlroy ($107,981,766) is the only other player to have passed nine figures in earnings, with Scottie Scheffler third at $99,453,136.
It is an odd loophole of which Singh is making use. Some argue he has earned it through his past achievements on tour.
Interestingly, unlike his veteran counterpart, Matt Kuchar has not faced similar criticism from fans. This is because Kuchar chose not to utilize the money list exemption to secure full PGA Tour status for 2026.
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