Could Tony Finau lose his PGA Tour card? Six-time winner battles to keep his spot after a tough season
Fan favorite Tony Finau is heading into an important stretch as he fights to keep his PGA Tour status. Starting this Thursday, he’ll kick off the eight-event FedExCup Fall schedule ranked 98th.
Finau, who has won six times on the PGA Tour but hasn’t claimed a title since the 2023 Mexico Open, aims to finish in the top 100 during the Fall events. Doing so would secure him full status and priority on the Tour.
He begins the Fall ranked 98th with 416 points, just two spots above the key cut-off, at the first event—the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville at The Cliffs at Walnut Grove.
The eight tournaments running through the Fall will decide players’ PGA Tour status for next season, ending with The RSM Classic in Georgia from November 19-22.
By late November, the top 100 players will earn full status for 2027, meaning they won’t have to go through open qualifying for full-field PGA Tour events. Those finishing 101-125 will get conditional status, which gives them fewer chances to play in such events next year.
But Tony has a safety net: the PGA Tour’s 2026 media guide lists him under tournament winner eligibility, which gives him an exemption through 2027. So even if he falls outside the top 100 this Fall, he won’t lose his PGA Tour card for 2027.
His goal is to secure that top-100 spot to get the full status and priority that come with it, instead of relying on his exemption. How he stands after The RSM Classic will impact his playing opportunities next season, but not his membership on the Tour.
Since joining the Tour in 2015, Finau has racked up six wins and 66 top-10 finishes, earning over $47 million. His last win was at the 2023 Mexico Open. In 2026, he managed just one top-10 and four top-25 finishes in 22 starts.
He’s currently ranked 140th in the Official World Golf Ranking, his lowest since 2015, and he missed the Masters for the first time since 2017. His struggles in 2026 have been linked to a dip in his iron play, marking a career-low stretch.
With the Fall schedule starting this Thursday, the PGA Tour calls this period “career-shaping,” as results over these eight events can really shake up the rankings. A strong showing in just one tournament can turn a player’s season around and secure full status for 2027.
Besides the top-100 race, players can also earn spots in two early 2027 Signature Events—the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and Genesis Invitational—through their FedExCup Fall performance.
For Tony, the Fall schedule is a chance to build momentum and improve his status ahead of next year. For others close to him in the rankings, it could be a make-or-break moment for their Tour futures.