Qualifiers for all 2026 Signature Events, THE PLAYERS and majors

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club won the 126th U.S. Open, but Wyndham Clark goes into the books as its champion.

Preserving par is at the core of the USGA’s formula for how to present the stage of its annual major, so the narrative isn’t necessarily about how many but merely the how. And Clark is as worthy a winner as any you can cite.

Clark’s 4-under 276 is the means of measurement, but leading outright after every round with multiplying respective margins after each of the first three rounds of two, four and six strokes helps explain his dominance. So what if he prevailed by just one shot over Sam Burns, no one caught him.

Clark’s full-package delivery was on display at Los Angeles Country Club three years ago when he won his first U.S. Open, but it also was on tour in the weeks leading up to this one. His last win at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson secured exemptions into the last two Signature Events, even though he will go in those books as having qualified for both via the Aon Swing 5 and Aon Next 10, respectively. And he already was eligible for The Open Championship through next year by virtue of his major breakthrough three years ago. So, his perks as it concerns this page spill into future seasons.

The 32-year-old now is exempt as a member of the PGA TOUR as the U.S. Open champion through 2031. His exemption in the U.S. Open extends 10 years through 2036, while his spots in the other three majors expand back to the maximum five each. He already secured a tee time for THE PLAYERS Championship next year when he took the title at TPC Craig Ranch four weeks ago.

Clark’s bags of benefits are bursting, but he’s not the only pro to leave Long Island with some promises. Augusta National Golf Club traditionally invites the top four from each of the three majors it doesn’t host to compete in the following year’s Masters. This is valuable for Tom Kim (third) and Keith Mitchell (T4), neither of whom had yet qualified for the 2027 edition.

The USGA also invites all golfers who finished inside the top 10 back the following year. Ignoring those inside that bubble who already are on the trajectory to qualify through another conduit, Kim and Mitchell would be joined by Joaquin Niemann (T7) and Sam Stevens (T7).

The conclusion of the third major leaves only The Open on the 2026 docket. While it didn’t gain a qualifier via the U.S. Open, one spot in the field of 156 at Royal Birkdale was determined when the 131st edition of the British Amateur concluded on Saturday.

Stuart Grehan defeated Matt Moloney 1 up in the scheduled 36-hole championship at Royal Liverpool. As a result, Grehan earned the exemption into the final major of the year.

As often is the case for a title in match play, the finale was defined by multiple swings of momentum.

Moloney coasted to a 3-up advantage after 12 holes despite only one birdie among the only pars elsewhere. Four holes later, it was all square after Grehan connected for a pair of birdies and benefited once by a Moloney bogey, but Moloney led 1 up at the midpoint.

Grehan opened the second 18 with wins on the first two holes to take his first lead, but the duo would again be knotted through 25. That’s when the Irishman puts the clamps on. Sparked by an eagle at the 26th hole – the par-5 8th at Royal Liverpool – Grehan eventually widened to 3 up through 33. Moloney won the 34th and 35th before they matched pars at the last for the final tally.

Although he’s 33 years of age, Grahan arrived as Ireland’s top-rated amateur at 46th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, a spot that he occupied before turning pro in 2017. The highlight of that version of his career was a victory on the EuroPro Tour in 2022. His amateur status then was reinstated in 2024. The 20-year-old Moloney, who was 677th, will be a junior at the University of Georgia this fall. He’s a native of Davis Island, South Carolina.

In addition to his berth into The Open, Grehan also secures exemptions into the 2027 editions of the Masters and the U.S. Open. To play off this win in all three, he must remain an amateur. Given his choices over time, that shouldn’t be difficult.

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
OPEN = The Open Championship

Recent additions

SE -- none
OPEN -- Stuart Grehan

NOTE: Golfers are omitted if they haven’t competed recently 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

• Travelers Championship (June 25-28)

The Open Championship (OPEN) at Royal Birkdale Golf Club – July 16-19

• Winner of the European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 27).
• Leader in World Amateur Golf Ranking points accumulated at the St. Andrews Links Trophy (June 7), British Amateur (June 20) and European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 27).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Italian Open (June 28).
• Top five, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the Travelers Championship (June 28).
• Final Qualifying. Top four at each of four sites (June 30).
• Top five, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the BMW International Open (July 5).
• Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open (July 12).
• Winner of the Last-Chance Qualifier (July 13).