• Reduction and Split-up of Top Money Winner Category
Categories O-2, O-3, O-13 and O-15 in the "Other Exemptions" portion of this web-page.
The current Top 125 Money Winner category was put into effect in 1983, replacing the older Top 60 category. It has
been long been felt that, perhaps, too many players were being made exempt each year. As a result, the playing
opportunities for graduates of the annual PGA Tour Qualifying School as well as the Nationwide Tour were severely
limited.
This author determined that a reduction and split-up of the Top 125 Money Winner category was warranted. Under
his suggested revisions, only the Top 90 Money Winners would be granted full exempt status each year. The Top
90 Money Winners would be split up among two categories, as follows --
»» Top 20 Money Winners (Category O-2). Players receive a two-year exemption. They would be unconditionally
exempt the first year, and conditionally exempt (based on first year performance) the second year.
»» Top 90 Money Winners (Category O-3)
Because of the reduction of the Top Money Winner Category from 125 to 90 players, the current category dealing
with players among Money List positions 126 to 150 would be changed to players among positions 91 to 120.
Also, the current category dealing with players beyond the Top 150 Money Leaders would be changed to players
beyond the Top 120 ("Other Exemption" Categories O-13 and O-15 respectively).
See Presentation Box V, "Author's Comments on Hypothetical 2010 Schedule" about suggested changes to the
current methods of tournament prize money distribution.
• Increased Opportunities for Nationwide Tour and Qualifying School players
Categories S-11 and S-14 in the "Special Exemptions" portion of this web-page.
Categories O-2, O-3, O-5, O-8, O-9, O-11, O-13 and O-15 in the "Other Exemptions" portion of this web-page.
»» Changing the Top 125 Money Winner Category to the Top 90 would remove up to 35 positions in the priority
selection order.
»» An additional reserved spot for Nationwide Tour/Q-School players would be added under Sponsor Invitations
(Category S-11).
»» Six positions, rather than four, would be offered in the Open Qualifying category (S-14).
»» Rather than the actual practice of placing them in a lower priority category, winners of at least three
Nationwide Tour events during the current year would be granted the same exempt status as 3-time
Nationwide Tour winners of the previous year (Category O-5).
»» Joining 3-time Nationwide Tour winners in Suggested Revision Category O-5 ....
»»---- The Nationwide Tour Leading Money Winner.
»»---- The Nationwide Tour Championship Winner.
»»---- The Medalist at the PGA Tour Qualifying School.
»» A new category ("Other Exemption" O-8) would allow any two of the Nationwide Tour players as well as
any two of the Q-School graduates better chances of getting into tournaments. However, in order to stay
in Category O-8, players have to perform consistently. If not, then other Nationwide/Q-School players who
may perform better would be moved up to Category O-8.
Category O-8 would also provide similar opportunities for -- any two players among positions 91 to 120 on the
previous year's Official Money List (O-13); any two players beyond the 135th position, same list (O-15)
»» The current category granting professionals among the Top 10 and ties in an open event exemptions into the
next such event on the current year's schedule would be revised to allow the Top 15 and ties the same such
exemption ("Other Exemption" O-9).
• Non-Member and Special Temporary Member Qualifiers
Categories O-7 and O-17 in the "Other Exemptions" portion of this web-page.
The current PGA Tour exemption categories for Non-Member Top 125 Eanings Equivalency and Special Temporary
Membership only have minimum money threshold requirements.
The proposed Top 90 (O-7) Non-Member Earnings Equivalency category, as well as the proposed Special Temporary
Member (O-17) category would all inherit an additional requirement of minimum competitive rounds played. The
rounds requirement itself would call for a minimum number of overall rounds plus a minimum number of regular
event rounds.