Twenty Professionals Secure 2027 PGA Tour Cards Ahead of 2028 Two-Track System

Twenty professionals have officially earned their 2027 PGA Tour cards following the conclusion of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour Championship, securing a critical head start ahead of the Tour’s structural changes in 2028. The season-ending event at The Federal Club in Virginia crowned Austin Hitt as the tournament champion and finalized the points list, granting these 20 players access to the top tier of professional golf for the upcoming season.

How the PGA Tour Two-Track System Restructures 2028 Eligibility

The PGA Tour is introducing a two-tier model for the 2028 season, dividing the schedule into an elite Championship Series and a Challenger Series. According to myMotherLode.com, this new framework treats the elite Championship Series tournaments with equal standing to the four majors and The Players Championship. The simplified system eliminates the previous five-year exemptions for winning majors, The Players, and the FedEx Cup, replacing them with two-year exemptions on the Championship Series and an additional two years on the Challenger Series.

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp addressed the structural shift during a conference call:

"I don’t think it’s perfect… But I think it’s a huge improvement, and I think we’ll continue to innovate as the years go on because we’ll be smarter after the ’28 season and smarter after the ’29 and we’ll continue to try to get better." — PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp

Who Are the 20 Players Earning 2027 Korn Ferry Tour Promotions

The top 20 players on the final points list earned their promotions, representing a mix of first-time cardholders, former PGA Tour members returning to the top level, and record-setting teenagers. As detailed by Golf.com, the 20 professionals who secured their 2027 memberships are:

• Ross Steelman: The former PGA Tour University graduate won the season-long points race with two victories and six top-five finishes in 2026.
• Sandy Scott: The Scottish native finished the season with four consecutive top-five results, including back-to-back wins.
• Ian Holt: Maintained his top-20 position by winning the second and third events of the season.
• Alistair Docherty: The 32-year-old advanced to the top tour after four years on the developmental circuit.
• Alvaro Ortiz: Secured his card after four full seasons, highlighted by two tournament victories.
• Austin Hitt: Punching his ticket in his third consecutive season by winning the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship.
• Cole Sherwood: Earned his card in his second full season after winning the Colonial Life Charity Classic.
• Doc Redman: The 2017 U.S. Amateur champion returns to the PGA Tour after a brief stint on the Korn Ferry Tour.
• Blades Brown: At 19 years old, he becomes the youngest PGA Tour cardholder in history.
• Tommy Morrison: The 6-foot-9-inch standout earned his membership in just 131 days, fueled by five straight top-10 finishes and a win.
• Cooper Dossey: Secured his promotion after three seasons on the Korn Ferry Tour.
• Hunter Eichhorn: Recorded a tour-leading nine top-10 finishes, including a runner-up result at the Visit Knoxville Open.
• Dylan Menante: Won the Tulum Championship at PGA Riviera Maya by six strokes over Brown.
• Michael Johnson: Relied on consistency, making 21 of 25 cuts to earn his card in his eighth season.
• Jeremy Gandon: Vaulted up the points list by winning the LECOM Suncoast Classic, adding to a victory from the previous year.
• Taylor Dickson: Returned to the PGA Tour after winning the season-opening Bahamas Golf Classic, having previously earned and lost his card.
• Ian Gilligan: Earned his card in his rookie season with nine top-10 finishes in 24 starts.
• Davis Shore: Secured the promotion in his third full season, finishing in the top five twice in the final six events.
• Carson Young: Returning to the PGA Tour, he secured his spot with a pair of top-three finishes.
• Davis Lamb: Claimed the 20th and final card after winning the Club Car Championship earlier in the year.

What the Korn Ferry Tour Championship at The Federal Club Decided

The 2026 Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by Virginia’s Richmond Region served as the 25th and final tournament of the season. According to the PGA Tour, the event took place at The Federal Club in Glen Allen, Virginia, a par-71 layout measuring 7,073 yards. The tournament offered a $1.5 million purse, with the champion receiving $270,000.

Beyond the standard 20 card allocations, the player who finished No. 1 on the final points list earned additional privileges. Ross Steelman claimed the top spot, which grants him exemptions for the 2027 Players Championship and the 2027 U.S. Open. The field of 60 players also included those ranked 43-60 on the points list, who needed a victory in the final event to secure one of the 20 available cards.

Why the 2027 Season Is a Critical Transition for New Cardholders

For these 20 professionals, the 2027 season carries weight beyond a standard rookie or sophomore campaign. Because the two-track system debuts in 2028, 2027 serves as the final opportunity for players to build the necessary resume to qualify for the elite Championship Series. The PGA Tour is also introducing alternative pathways for 2028, including a guaranteed spot for the top college senior and a fall "Last Chance Series" that will award the top three players a shot at rejoining the Championship Series.

As these 20 players prepare for 2027, they will compete not just for standard FedEx Cup points, but for the specific performance metrics required to secure their place in the inaugural Championship Series before the new eligibility rules take full effect.