Skip to content
    • Tour Homepage
    • PGA Tour
    • LIV Golf
    • DP World Tour
    • LPGA
    • LET
    • The Masters
    • The Open
    • The Players
    • US Open
    • PGA Championship
    • Ryder Cup
    • Solheim Cup
    • WITB
    • Betting
    • News
    • Features
    • Equipment Homepage
    • Reviews
    • Drivers
    • Fairway Woods
    • Hybrids
    • Irons
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Golf Balls
    • DMDs
    • Apparel
    • Shoes
    • Trolleys
    • Features
    • News
  • Buying Advice
    • Rules
    • WHS
    • Features
    • News
    • Instruction Homepage
    • Driving Tips
    • Long Game
    • Iron Play
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Learn from the pros
    • Course Management
    • Fitness
    • Mental Game
    • Nutrition
  • Giveaways
    • Top 100 Rankings
    • Travel
    • Top 100s Tour
    • Society Guide
    • NCG Golf Podcast
    • NCG Top 100s Podcast
    • Your Golf Podcast by NCG
  • Magazine
    • Why walking is how golf is meant to be played
    • Why walking is the only way to truly appreciate a golf course
National Club GolferNational Club Golfer Logo
  • TourHas submenu items

    Tour Homepage

    • PGA Tour
    • LIV Golf
    • DP World Tour
    • LPGA
    • LET
    • The Masters
    • The Open
    • The Players
    • US Open
    • PGA Championship
    • Ryder Cup
    • Solheim Cup
    • WITB
    • Betting
    • News
    • Features
  • EquipmentHas submenu items

    Equipment Homepage

    • Reviews
    • Drivers
    • Fairway Woods
    • Hybrids
    • Irons
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Golf Balls
    • DMDs
    • Apparel
    • Shoes
    • Trolleys
    • Features
    • News
  • Buying Advice
  • ClubHas submenu items
    • Rules
    • WHS
    • Features
    • News
  • InstructionHas submenu items

    Instruction Homepage

    • Driving Tips
    • Long Game
    • Iron Play
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Learn from the pros
    • Course Management
    • Fitness
    • Mental Game
    • Nutrition
  • Giveaways
  • CoursesHas submenu items
    • Top 100 Rankings
    • Travel
    • Top 100s Tour
    • Society Guide
  • PodcastsHas submenu items
    • NCG Golf Podcast
    • NCG Top 100s Podcast
    • Your Golf Podcast by NCG
  • Magazine
  • The Joy of WalkingHas submenu items
    • Why walking is how golf is meant to be played
    • Why walking is the only way to truly appreciate a golf course

Sign up here for our newsletter and you'll never slice a drive again. Promise.

Newsletter sign up

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
National Club Golfer Logo

© 2026 National Club Golfer | 2 Arena Park, Tam Lane, LS17 9BF

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Editorial Policy
  • Meet the NCG Team
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
Country: gb Page generated at: Tuesday, 16 June 2026 at 3:54:03 British Summer Time
tour
The Players
How do you qualify for The Players Championship?

published: Jan 29, 2025

How do you qualify for The Players Championship?

Matt ChiversLink

FacebookXInstagramYouTubePodcast0 comments

How do you earn a spot at golf’s fifth major championship?

How to qualify for The Players Championship

Table of Contents

Jump to:

  • How do you qualify for the players championship?

It is a field every player wants to be part of.

There are few venues in the game with household status, such as Augusta National, the Old Course, and TPC Sawgrass.

144 players will descend upon Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, in mid-March, arguably the season’s kickoff period.

Despite the size of the field, it isn’t quite cut and dry earning a spot at the Stadium Course.

Winners of PGA Tour events and major championships, your FedEx Cup points standing. Many factors come into deciding the field for the feature event in Jacksonville.

Below is the full list of criteria used in 2024. If any of the bullet points change for 2025, this list will be updated.

Here are the criteria for the qualifications for The Players Championship in 2025:

How to qualify for The Players Championship

ALSO: The Players Championship Preview 2025

ALSO: What are the perks of winning The Players Championship?

ALSO: Players Championship field: Who is playing at TPC Sawgrass in 2025?

How do you qualify for The Players Championship?

PGA Tour tournament winner

If you win any event on the PGA Tour since the 2024 Players Championship, you will earn a spot to compete at The Players.

Top 125 in the previous season’s FedEx Cup through the FedEx Cup Fall

If you finished in the top 125 of the previous season’s FedEx Cup Fall standings, you’ll earn a spot at The Players.

Top 125 (medical extensions)

If players have been granted a medical extension in this category, such as Maverick McNealy and C.T Pan in 2024, they are also eligible.

Win the Masters

If you win the Masters, you earn a five-year exemption to compete at The Players.

Win The Players Championship

If you win The Players, you earn a five-year exemption to compete at The Players.

Win the PGA Championship

If you win the PGA Championship, you earn a five-year exemption to compete at The Players.

Win the US Open

If you win the US Open, you earn a five-year exemption to compete at The Players.

Win The Open

If you win The Open, you earn a five-year exemption to compete at The Players.

Advertisement

Win the FedEx Cup

If you win the FedEx Cup, you will earn a five-year exemption at The Players.

Win the WGC Match Play

Recent winners of the WGC Match Play earn a three-year exemption into The Players.

Win the Arnold Palmer Invitational

If you win the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour, you earn a three-year exemption to compete at The Players.

Win the Genesis Invitational

If you win the Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour, you earn a three-year exemption to compete at The Players.

Win Memorial

If you win the Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour, you earn a three-year exemption to compete at The Players.

Be in the top 50 of the world rankings

If you are in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings from the designated cut-off tournament, you will earn a spot at The Players.

The top 10 in the FedEx Cup

The top 10 of the FedEx Cup standings, by a designated cut-off point closer to the tournament date, will qualify for the Players.

Win the Kaulig Companies Championship

If you win the Kaulig Companies Championship on the PGA Tour Champions, you’ll qualify for The Players.

Race to Dubai

The leading player from the previous year’s Race to Dubai who earned a PGA Tour card will earn a spot.

Become the Korn Ferry Tour champion

If you win the Korn Ferry Tour Points list, you will gain entry to The Players.

FedEx Cup standings

The remaining positions and alternates are filled from the current FedEx Cup standings after a designated cut-off point.

NOW READ: Here is every player to have won The Players…

NOW READ: What is the prize money at The Players Championship?

NOW READ: Rattlesnakes and accidental island greens: The fascinating tale of how Sawgrass was built

How do you qualify for the Players Championship? Well, now you know! Follow NCG on X/Twitter!

About the author

Matt Chivers
Matt Chivers

Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as the Masters, The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to many of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cleveland HiBore XL Driver driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, Benross BR-Pro irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.

Twitter

Comments (0)

Leave a Comment

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

What's Popular

foursomes Golfers at a green | Source: Adobe Stock

What does ‘equity’ mean in the World Handicap System?

By Steve Carroll | May 21, 2026

Read full article What does ‘equity’ mean in the World Handicap System?
Major champion Aaron Rai | Source: Getty Images

Who is PGA Champion Aaron Rai?

By Matt Coles | Jul 1, 2024

Read full article Who is PGA Champion Aaron Rai?
Three golfers on the tee | Source: Adobe Stock

WHS allows you to play from different tees in competitions – so why do some golf clubs still ignore this?

By Max Mcvittie | May 28, 2026

Read full article WHS allows you to play from different tees in competitions – so why do some golf clubs still ignore this?
Best Golf Balls 2026 | Source: NCG

Best Golf Balls 2026: The Ultimate Guide for Every Swing Speed and Handicap!

By Max Mcvittie | May 27, 2026

Read full article Best Golf Balls 2026: The Ultimate Guide for Every Swing Speed and Handicap!

Discover the Best Golf Gloves 2026 for Maximum Grip and Comfort

By Max Mcvittie | May 24, 2026

Read full article Discover the Best Golf Gloves 2026 for Maximum Grip and Comfort
richest golfers of all time

Who are the richest golfers of all time?

By Matt Chivers | Oct 1, 2025

Read full article Who are the richest golfers of all time?
ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - JULY 17: Cameron Smith of Australia celebrates after putting on the 18th green during Day Four of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 17, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

At £190, has The Open Championship crossed the line and become too expensive?

By Matt Chivers | Jun 4, 2026

Read full article At £190, has The Open Championship crossed the line and become too expensive?
Bryson DeChambeau at LIV Golf Korea | Source: LIV Golf

Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?

By Matt Chivers | Jun 10, 2026

Read full article Show me the money! How much has each LIV player made since signing up?
Blank golf cards on the tournament table | Source: Adobe Stock World Handicap System

Should competition scores be the only ones that count for handicap?

By Steve Carroll | Jun 11, 2026

Read full article Should competition scores be the only ones that count for handicap?
Dustin Johnson. Peter Uihlein and Branden Grace | Source: LIV Golf

How much has each LIV golfer made compared to their PGA Tour earnings?

By Matt Chivers | Jun 10, 2026

Read full article How much has each LIV golfer made compared to their PGA Tour earnings?

Best Budget Irons 2026

By | Mar 5, 2026

Read full article Best Budget Irons 2026

Best Golf Balls for Seniors 2026: Distance and feel for those with slower swing speeds

By Max Mcvittie | May 22, 2026

Read full article Best Golf Balls for Seniors 2026: Distance and feel for those with slower swing speeds