How To Qualify For PGA Tour Signature Events
The PGA Tour has eight Signature Events which offer increased prize money and FedEx Cup points, but how do players make it into the limited-field tournaments?


Since arriving onto the scene in 2024 following a year of Designated Events, PGA Tour Signature Events have offered smaller fields the chance to earn more prize money and FedEx Cup points than a regular tournament on the top US circuit.
The group of eight tournaments - which do not include the four Major championships, FedEx Cup Playoff events or The Players Championship - features a minimum of 72 players in all but one and $20 million prize money purses in each.
As far as the all-important FedEx Cup points go, Signature Event winners collect 700 as opposed to the 500 which a regular PGA Tour event puts up.
Five of the eight weeks do not feature a cut and therefore offer guaranteed money, with $3.6 million to the winner - much like the LIV Golf League - while three Signature Events say goodbye to those not inside the top-50 or within 10 strokes of the leader and give out $4 million to the champion.
The three with a cut are hosted by three legends of the game - Jack Nicklaus (the Memorial Tournament), Arnold Palmer (Arnold Palmer Invitational) and Tiger Woods (the Genesis Invitational).
Signature Event hosts, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus
In terms of qualification, there are six over-arching routes for players to take to ensure they play in a Signature Event. The first way is to finish inside the top-50 of the FedEx Cup standings at the culmination of the Tour Championship.
Only the top-50 make it through to the penultimate event of the regular season anyway - the BMW Championship - so teeing it up there effectively means a player has booked their spot in each of the big-money tournament the following year.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Although not the easiest way of qualifying for the Signature Events, another path players can take is by winning a PGA Tour event with a full compliment of FedEx Cup points (i.e. not opposite-field events). Should they do so, a player would be eligible for all remaining Signature Events that season plus The Sentry at the start of the following term.
Another simple qualification process involves being inside the top-30 of the Official World Golf Ranking at the end of the tournament which precedes the relevant Signature Event. This is quite rare, but should a pro not qualify via any of the other categories, they would earn a spot in a Signature Event this way.
The Sentry is the first Signature Event of the season
For those not in the upper echelons of the PGA Tour rankings, it is possible to qualify for Signature Events on a one-off basis through consistently good play over a short period.
The Aon Swing 5 offers the leading five pros with the most FedEx Cup points at events in between the cash-rich competitions, who are not exempt otherwise, a tee time. From there, a player's aim is to finish as high up as possible and secure their place at the next Signature Event via a different category.
On a similar note, the Aon Next 10 rewards the leading group of 10 golfers in the current FedEx Cup standings who are not eligible via another category and did not finish inside the top-50 at the end of the previous campaign with a Signature Event start.
This category does not apply until the third Signature Event of the year, with golfers who finished between 51st and 60th in the FedEx Cup standings at the culmination of the Fall series winning spots at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational. The Sentry field is made up purely of PGA Tour event winners from the year before as well as the FedEx Cup top-50 from the season prior.
The final way to qualify for a start in a Signature Event is via a sponsor's exemption. Each tournament offers four exemption spots to players, with the three player-hosted competitions allowing an extra place.
Plus, since the start of the 2025 season, the PGA Tour announced Tiger Woods had been awarded an exemption into all eight Signature Events based on his 82-win career on the top US circuit.
SIGNATURE EVENT QUALIFICATION ROUTES
- Finish inside the FedEx Cup top-50 the season prior
- Win a PGA Tour event with full FedEx Cup points on offer
- Sit inside the OWGR top-30 on the Monday before a Signature Event
- Aon Swing 5
- Aon Next 10
- Sponsor exemption
PGA TOUR SIGNATURE EVENTS
- The Sentry
- AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Genesis Invitational
- Arnold Palmer Invitational
- RBC Heritage
- Truist Championship
- The Memorial Tournament
- Travelers Championship
Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
Seve's 'Lost' Bunker Lesson: Master Slopes & Transform Your Short Game Today
Unlock the forgotten bunker secrets of Seve Ballesteros! Learn how to conquer tricky uphill and downhill lies and immediately transform your short game...
By Barry Plummer Published
-
Should Some Men Use Women’s Golf Clubs?
Could a swap to women’s golf clubs help some men’s games? Is it a realistic option to make the switch? We spoke to a PGA pro to get the answer
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
Houston Open Tee Times 2025: Rounds One And Two
Rory McIlroy is in the early-late wave this week in Houston, while Scottie Scheffler is on the opposite side of the draw
By Elliott Heath Published
-
‘You Don’t Want 10-Year-Old Kids Punting Their Putters Across The Green Every Time They Miss A Putt’ - Rory McIlroy Says Tour Pros Have ‘Responsibility’ To Set Good Example After Recent Viral Clips Showcasing Players’ Frustrations
Speaking at the Texas Children's Houston Open, McIlroy explained how displaying emotion on the course shows the pros 'are human', but there's also a 'responsibility to set an example'
By Matt Cradock Published
-
'The Loss Of A Few Trees Is Definitely Noticeable' - Rory McIlroy On What He Learned From Augusta National Practice Round Ahead Of 2025 Masters
The four-time Major winner made a trip to Augusta National earlier this week in preparation for The Masters
By Elliott Heath Published
-
‘It’s The Craziest Thing In The History Of Sport What Tiger Woods Did’ - Brandel Chamblee Questions 15-Time Major Winner’s Swing Changes During Peak Of Career
Speaking on the Dan on Golf podcast, Chamblee claimed that Woods' move to coach, Hank Haney, in 2004 was one of the 'craziest things in the history of sport'
By Matt Cradock Published
-
‘Give The Lad A Break. He’s A Very Good Caddie. Harry, Don’t Read The S****’ - Billy Foster On Critics Of Rory McIlroy’s Caddie
The experienced looper has spoken out and defended McIlroy's caddie, Harry Diamond, with Foster claiming the 'criticism is not fair at all'
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Why Billy Horschel's TGL Performance Has Convinced Me He Should Be At The Ryder Cup
The eight-time PGA Tour winner has only ever been present in a Presidents Cup team but, following his performance in the final of the TGL, I believe Horschel must be on the US side for Bethpage Black
By Matt Cradock Published
-
‘I Lost My Cool And It’s Unacceptable’ - Patton Kizzire Sorry For Valspar Championship Putter Kick
The three-time PGA Tour winner has apologized for his actions at the Valspar Championship, with Kizzire claiming 'I'm looking forward to being a better version of myself'
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Texas Children's Houston Open Payout 2025
There's a big prize money payout on offer at this week's Houston Open, with seven-figure checks going to the top two finishers at Memorial Park
By Elliott Heath Published