What do you get for the persistently successful professional golfer who has everything? Think he’d be OK with a replicate of a trophy that he’s won before? This silly consideration sums up how Rory McIlroy celebrated St. Patrick’s Day.

McIlroy cruised to victory over J.J. Spaun in the three-hole aggregate playoff at THE PLAYERS Championship for his second title in the PGA TOUR’s flagship event (2019). This one would’ve been determined on Sunday if not for a lengthy weather delay after which only regulation could be completed before it became too dark to play. When both guys reached the clubhouse in 12-under 276, they’d extend it into a fifth day.

OK, so McIlroy also pockets 750 FedExCup points and $4.5 million, but everyone who made the cut collected their own hauls based on their overall finish. The special perks are reserved for the champion.

The only snag or tether, as it were, is that McIlroy is already exempt into all of the Signature Events and majors in 2025. Also, by winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier in the season, he’s qualified again for The Sentry (in 2026), although he’s appeared at Kapalua only once despite qualifying 14 times. The win at Pebble Beach also extended his PGA TOUR membership exemption through his age-41 season of 2030, reflective of the maximum five-season reach beyond the current.

Oh, come to think of it, Monday’s win at TPC Sawgrass does exempt him into all four majors through 2027. However, with this year’s set locked up, a lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship as a former winner and another 25 years of exemptions into The Open Championship, also as a former champion, McIlroy adds spots only in the 2026 and 2027 editions of the Masters and U.S. Open. Of course, it’s ludicrous to think that it’d be his only pathway for eligibility into both, but it’s still not nothing.

Still, when a golfer that fits his profile wins THE PLAYERS Championship, this update passes primarily as housekeeping. Indeed, what you’ll review below is thinner than the last edition pre-PLAYERS, and no new exemptions were determined.

Meanwhile, the focus on what’s next never ceases. In addition to the attention devoted to the winner of this week’s Valspar Championship in the next update, The Open Championship will identify three more of its entrants via its stop of the Open Qualifying Series on the Asian Tour. The top three not otherwise exempt who make the cut at the International Series Macau will qualify for the field of 156 at Royal Portrush in July.

NOTE: Until all methods of entry are released by the governing bodies, traditional criteria are used to determine qualifiers. Refer to remaining qualifying criteria at the bottom of the page for details.

SE = All Signature Events
MAS = Masters
PGA = PGA Championship
US = U.S. Open
OPEN = The Open Championship

Recent additions

SE -- none
MAS -- none
PGA -- none
US -- none
OPEN -- none

NOTE: Golfers are omitted if they recently haven’t competed in majors for which they are eligible (e.g., The Open Championship = David Duval, Paul Lawrie).

Remaining qualifying criteria

Criteria are listed in chronological order where possible. Best estimates are given but all are subject to change.

Signature Events

• RBC Heritage (April 17-20)
• Truist Championship (May 8-11)
• Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (May 29-June 1)
• Travelers Championship (June 19-22)

Masters (MAS) at Augusta National Golf Club: April 10-13

• Winners of PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation for the TOUR Championship.
• Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (March 31).
• Special invitations to international players per Masters Tournament Committee as its discretion.

PGA Championship (PGA) at Quail Hollow Club: May 15-18

• Winners of PGA TOUR events through the final week before the 2025 PGA Championship.
• Top three from DP World Tour Asian Swing (April 27).
• Top three from International Federation Ranking List (April 28).
• Top 20 from PGA Professional Championship (April 30).
• Top 70 from special money list (i.e., "PGA Championship Points") on PGA TOUR from 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge thru the AT&T Byron Nelson (May 4).
• *All 2023 Ryder Cup members inside top 100 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 5).
• Special exemptions per PGA of America. (This likely will include all golfers from Top 100 of Official World Golf Ranking on May 5.)
• If necessary to complete 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) at Oakmont Country Club: June 12-15

• Winners of multiple PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation since the 2024 U.S. Open.
• Winner of the Masters (April 13).
• Winner of the PGA Championship (May 18).
• Top five, not otherwise exempt, in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the PGA Championship (May 18).
• Top two, not otherwise exempt, in the 2024 Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the 2025 PGA Championship (May 18).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, in the 2025 Race to Dubai (May 18).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, in the Top 3 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings (May 19).
• Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 19).
• Final qualifying at one site in Japan (May 19).
• Final qualifying at one site in England (May 19).
• Final qualifying at one site in Texas (May 19).
• Winner of the NCAA Division 1 individual championship, if still an amateur (May 26).
• Final qualifying at one site in Canada. (June 2).
• Final qualifying at nine sites in the United States (June 2).
• Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (June 9).
• Special exemptions per the USGA.

The Open Championship (OPEN) at Royal Portrush: July 17-20

• Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the International Series Macau (March 23).
• Winner of the Masters (April 13).
• Winner of the PGA Championship (May 18).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the KOLON Korea Open (May 25).
• Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 26).
• Top five in the Federation Ranking (May 29).
• Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Mizuno Open (June 1).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 1).
• Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the RBC Canadian Open (June 8).
• Winner of the U.S. Open (June 15).
• Winner of the British Amateur, if still an amateur (June 21).
• Top five, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the Travelers Championship (June 22).
• Winner of the European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 28).
• Leader in World Amateur Golf Ranking points accumulated at the St. Andrews Links Trophy (June 8), British Amateur (June 21) and European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 28).
• Top two, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Italian Open (June 29).
• Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the Top 5 of the LIV Golf Individual Season Standings (June 30).
• Final Qualifying. Top four at each of four sites: Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports, West Lancashire (July 1).
• Top five, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the BMW International Open (July 6).
• Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open (July 13).