New Pressure on PGA Players

NAPA, Calif. – While the Ryder Cup excitement has everyone talking, there’s another storyline on the PGA Tour that players at Silverado Resort can’t ignore.

Starting next season, the number of players who keep full Tour status through FedExCup points is dropping from 125 to just 100. That means this fall stretch is extra important for anyone hovering near that cutoff line.

Peter Malnati, safe for next year thanks to his win at the 2024 Valspar Championship, summed it up well: “We all know there are fewer spots and what we’re playing for. It’s a smaller number than it used to be.”

To put it in perspective, the gap between No. 125 and No. 100 on the points list is about 114 points — basically a top-five finish at a regular Tour event.

Lanto Griffin knows the pressure too. Last year he clawed his way back through Q-School, and this fall he’s chasing the top-100 line with a packed schedule. As he explained, finishing just outside the top 100 could mean an uncertain future: “With everything going smaller it feels like the walls are a lot tighter… some guys will finish 105 or 110 and still have had a solid season.”

Bottom line: this year’s fall season isn’t just about trophies — it’s about survival. Every shot matters a little more when your status for next year is on the line, putting new pressure on PGA players.