* – Denotes a player who finished in the top 125 of the money list.
Bold text – Denotes a player who won in 2007.
- 1. Winners of PGA Championship or U.S. Open prior to 1970 or in the last 10 calendar years (Beginning in 1998, this is a five-year exemption.)
- Jim Furyk* (2011) – moves to cat 9 in 2009
- Phil Mickelson* (2011) – moves to cat 3 in 2011
- Geoff Ogilvy* (2011)
- Vijay Singh* (2011) – moves to cat 9 in 2010
- Tiger Woods* (2011)
- Retief Goosen* (2010) – moves to cat 9 in 2010
- Ernie Els* (2009) – moves to cat 9 in 2008
- Davis Love III* (2009) – moves to cat 2 in 2008
- Shaun Micheel* (2008)
- Rich Beem*
Michael Campbell declined membership. Ángel Cabrera was promoted to this category after his win and earned an exemption through 2012.
Singh, Woods, and Furyk extended their exemptions to 2012. Mickelson did the same; he would fall to cat 2 in 2011.
- 2. Winners of the THE PLAYERS Championship in the last 10 calendar years. (Beginning In 1998, this is a five-year exemption.)
- Stephen Ames* (2011)
- Fred Funk* (2010)
- Adam Scott* (2010) – moves to cat 9 in 2010
- Steve Elkington*
- Craig Perks
Funk extended his exemption to 2011, in which year he would fall to cat 9. Ames extended his to 2012, in which year he would fall to cat 9. Scott extended his to 2011.
Perks finished outside the top 150 and fell to past champion status in 2008 (for good).
- 3. Winners of the Masters Tournament in the last 10 calendar years. (Beginning in 1998, this is a five-year exemption.)
- Mike Weir* (2009) – moves to cat 9 in 2009
Zach Johnson was promoted to this category after his win and earned an exemption through 2012. Weir extended his exemption to 2010.
- 4. Winners of the British Open in the last 10 calendar years (1990-present). (Beginning In 1998, this is a five-year exemption.)
- Ben Curtis (2010) – moves to cat 9 in 2009
- Justin Leonard* (2010) – moves to cat 9 in 2008
- Todd Hamilton (2009)
Pádraig Harrington was promoted to this category after his win and earned an exemption through 2012. Leonard extended his exemption to 2011.
- 5. Winners of the NEC World Series of Golf in the last 10 calendar years. (Beginning in 1998, this is a three-year exemption.)
Norman played in no events in 2007 and used a top 50 career money exemption in 2008.
- 6. THE TOUR Championship winners in the last three years, beginning with the 1998 winner
- Bart Bryant* (2008)
- 7. Winners of World Golf Championship events, beginning in 1999 (a three-year exemption)
Henrik Stenson was promoted to this category after his win and received an exemption through 2010.
- 8. The leader in PGA TOUR official earnings in each of the last five calendar years
- 9. Winners of PGA TOUR cosponsored or approved events (except team events) within the last two calendar years, or during the current year; winners receive an additional year of exemption for each additional win, up to five years.
- David Toms* (2011)
- Stuart Appleby* (2009)
- Kenny Perry* (2009)
- Eric Axley (2008)
- Aaron Baddeley* (2008)
- Chad Campbell* (2008)
- K. J. Choi* (2008)
- Chris Couch (2008)
- Luke Donald* (2008)
- Joe Durant (2008)
- Sergio García* (2008)
- Pádraig Harrington* (2008)
- J. J. Henry* (2008)
- Tim Herron* (2008)
- J. B. Holmes* (2008)
- Trevor Immelman* (2008)
- Will MacKenzie* (2008)
- Jeff Maggert* (2008)
- Troy Matteson* (2008)
- Arron Oberholser* (2008)
- Rod Pampling* (2008)
- Corey Pavin (2008)
- Carl Pettersson* (2008)
- John Rollins* (2008)
- Rory Sabbatini* (2008)
- John Senden* (2008)
- D. J. Trahan* (2008)
- Kirk Triplett (2008)
- Brett Wetterich* (2008)
- Dean Wilson* (2008)
- Jason Bohn
- Olin Browne
- Mark Calcavecchia*
- Ben Crane
- Fred Couples
- Brad Faxon
- Robert Gamez
- Lucas Glover*
- Jason Gore*
- Peter Lonard*
- Sean O'Hair*
- Tim Petrovic*
- Ted Purdy
- Wes Short Jr.
- Heath Slocum*
- Vaughn Taylor*
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Mar 11 | Mark Calcavecchia | PODS Championship |
Seventeen players moved into this category during the season. K. J. Choi and Steve Flesch earned exemptions through 2010 with multiple wins.
Bohn, Browne, Crane, and Short received medical extensions. Couples and Faxon used top 25 career money exemptions. Gamez and Purdy finished in the 126–150 range, fell short at Q School, and settled for conditional status in 2008.
- 10a. Members of the last-named U.S. Presidents Cup team
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Apr 29 | [[Scott Verplank] | EDS Byron Nelson Championship |
- 10b. Members of the last-named International Presidents Cup team
- 11a. Career money exemptions – top 50
Tway finished outside the top 150 and fell to past champion status for 2008.
- 11a. Career money exemptions – top 25
Duval received a medical extension for 2008.
- 19. Life members
Watson focused on the senior tour.
- 20. Top 125 from money list
- Brett Quigley
- Zach Johnson*
- Tom Pernice Jr.*
- José María Olazábal*
- Steve Stricker*
- Camilo Villegas*
- Jerry Kelly*
- Nathan Green*
- Tom Lehman*
- Frank Lickliter
- Justin Rose*
- Richard S. Johnson
- Ian Poulter*
- Charles Howell III*
- Daniel Chopra*
- Robert Allenby*
- Steve Flesch*
- Jonathan Byrd*
- Bo Van Pelt*
- Billy Mayfair*
- Bob Estes*
- Greg Owen
- Jesper Parnevik*
- Jeff Sluman
- Nick Watney*
- Woody Austin*
- Shigeki Maruyama*
- Steve Lowery
- Ryan Moore*
- Charley Hoffman*
- Hunter Mahan*
- Ryan Palmer
- Mathew Goggin*
- Joe Ogilvie*
- Billy Andrade
- Brian Gay*
- Bubba Watson*
- Charles Warren*
- Ryuji Imada*
- Craig Barlow
- Daisuke Maruyama
- David Howell
- Paul Goydos*
- Harrison Frazar
- Bill Haas*
- Kent Jones
- Briny Baird*
- Joey Sindelar
- Brandt Jobe
- Jeff Gove
- Freddie Jacobson*
- Dudley Hart
- Brian Davis*
- Kevin Sutherland*
- Stephen Leaney*
- Pat Perez*
- David Branshaw
- Paul Azinger
- J. P. Hayes*
- Shane Bertsch
- Mathias Grönberg*
- Darren Clarke
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Jan 14 | Paul Goydos | Sony Open |
Jan 21 | Charley Hoffman | Bob Hope Chrysler Classic |
Feb 18 | Charles Howell III | Nissan Open |
Apr 8 | Zach Johnson | Masters Tournament |
Apr 22 | Nick Watney | Zurich Classic |
May 20 | Zach Johnson (2) | AT&T Classic |
Jun 10 | Woody Austin | Stanford St. Jude Championship |
Jun 24 | Hunter Mahan | Travelers Championship |
Jul 15 | Jonathan Byrd | John Deere Classic |
Jul 22 | Joe Ogilvie | U.S. Bank Championship |
Aug 5 | Steve Flesch | Reno–Tahoe Open |
Aug 26 | Steve Stricker | The Barclays |
Sep 23 | Steve Flesch (2) | Turning Stone Resort Championship |
Oct 28 | Daniel Chopra | Ginn sur Mer Classic |
Quigley, Frazar, Jones, Lickliter, Gove, Palmer, Lowery, Daisuke Maruyama, and Andrade finished in the 126–150 range. Quigley received a major medical extension, and Lowery a minor; Jones and Lickliter made it through Q School. Frazar, Gove, Palmer, Daisuke Maruyama, and Andrade fell to the conditional category for 2008.
Owen, Richard S. Johnson, Branshaw, Sindelar, Hart, Sluman, David Howell, Azinger, Barlow, Clarke, Bertsch, and Jobe finished outside the top 150. Sluman used a top 25 career money exemption for 2008. Hart, Azinger, Barlow, Bertsch, and Jobe received major medical extensions; Richard S. Johnson made it through Q School. Clarke forfeited his membership for 2008, despite being a past champion. Sindelar fell to past champion status (for good), while Owen, Branshaw, and David Howell became non-members (only Owen would regain membership).
- 21. Non-member top 125
- Ángel Cabrera*
- Henrik Stenson* (first-time member)
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Feb 25 | Henrik Stenson | WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship |
Jun 17 | Ángel Cabrera | U.S. Open |
- 22. Major Medical Extension
- Scott Hoch (27)
- Chris Perry (18)
- Scott McCarron (13)
- Joey Snyder III (25)
- J. L. Lewis (14)
- Kevin Na* (21)
- Phil Tataurangi (2)
- David Berganio Jr. (9)
- Hank Kuehne (21)
Na met his terms in June. Tataurangi's extension expired in February and he fell to past champion status (for good). Hoch elected to use a top 25 career money exemption rather than a carry-over. Perry, McCarron, Snyder, Lewis, Berganio, and Kuehne received carry-overs.
Rocco Mediate moved to this category after meeting his terms in March; he finished in the top 125.
- 23. Nationwide Tour leading money-winner
- Medical extension
- Patrick Moore (12)
Moore received a carry-over.
- 25. Q School top 30, Nationwide Tour 2-20
- George McNeill* (rookie)
- Johnson Wagner* (rookie)
- Robert Garrigus*
- Cliff Kresge*
- Rich Barcelo
- Craig Bowden
- Anders Hansen (rookie)
- Tripp Isenhour
- John Merrick (rookie)
- Jeff Quinney* (rookie)
- Cameron Beckman*
- Boo Weekley*
- Steve Wheatcroft (rookie)
- Jason Dufner
- Steve Marino* (rookie)
- Brandt Snedeker* (rookie)
- Paul Stankowski
- Matt Kuchar*
- Tom Johnson (rookie)
- Craig Kanada
- Bob Heintz
- Kevin Stadler*
- Paul Gow
- Andrew Buckle (rookie)
- Ryan Armour* (rookie)
- Jim Rutledge (rookie)
- John Mallinger* (rookie)
- Doug LaBelle II (rookie)
- Anthony Kim* (rookie)
- Gavin Coles
- Chris Stroud (rookie)
- Michael Putnam (rookie)
- Charlie Wi*
- Jarrod Lyle (rookie)
- Craig Lile (rookie)
- Michael Sim (rookie)
- Parker McLachlin (rookie)
- Paul Sheehan (rookie)
- Glen Day
- Darron Stiles
- Bryce Molder (first-time member)
- Marco Dawson
- Alex Čejka*
- Scott Gutschewski
- Michael Allen*
- Brendon de Jonge (rookie)
- Chris Tidland
- Michael Boyd (rookie)
- Jaco van Zyl (rookie)
- D. J. Brigman
- Jonathan Kaye
- Bob May
- Dicky Pride
- Michael Bradley
- Stephen Allan
- Jason Schultz
- Kyle Reifers (rookie)
- Matt Hendrix (rookie)
- Mark Wilson*
- Brian Bateman*
Date | Player | Tournament |
---|---|---|
Mar 4 | Mark Wilson | Honda Classic |
Apr 15 | Boo Weekley | Verizon Heritage |
Jul 1 | Brian Bateman | Buick Open |
Aug 19 | Brandt Snedeker | Wyndham Championship |
Oct 14 | George McNeill | Frys.com Open |
Those who finished in the 126–150 range were Kanada, Stroud, Merrick, Heintz, McLachlin, LaBelle, Dufner, Allan, Dawson, Buckle, and Coles. Allan and Buckle received minor medical extensions. Stroud, Merrick, and McLachlin were successful at Q School; Kanada, Heintz, LaBelle, Dufner, Dawson, and Coles had to settle for conditional status.
Isenhour, Hansen, de Jonge, Putnam, Pride, Sim, Day, Lyle, Tidland, Barcelo, Bowden, Stankowski, Reifers, Brigman, Gow, Molder, Lile, Gutschewski, May, Stiles, Johnson, Schultz, Wheatcroft, Boyd, Hendrix, Rutledge, van Zyl, Bradley, Sheehan, and Kaye finished outside the top 150. Sim, Bradley, and Kaye received major medical extensions, and Stankowski and May minors. None of the remaining players were successful in Q School. Pride and Day settled for past champion status. The other 23 became non-members; Isenhour, Hansen, Gow, Lile, Johnson, Schultz, Boyd, Hendrix, Rutledge, van Zyl, and Sheehan have not reached the PGA Tour again.
- Reshuffle medical
- Carl Paulson (15)
- Tom Byrum (17)
Byrum's extension expired in September and he fell to past champion status (for good). Paulson received a carry-over.
- 26. Three-time Nationwide Tour winners in the current year
One player achieved this:
- 27. Minor Medical Extension
- Rocco Mediate* (10)
- Thomas Levet (?)
- Danny Ellis (2)
- Bill Glasson (3)
- Vance Veazey (8)
- B. J. Staten (7)
- Steven Bowditch (5)
Mediate met his terms in March and was promoted to the major medical category, going on to finish in the top 125. The media guide reported that Levet had three starts, but he made five without his extension expiring; he did not receive a carry-over. Ellis's extension expired in April and Veazey's, Staten's, and Bowditch's in July; all became non-members, and Ellis and Staten have not reached the PGA Tour again. Glasson's expired in October and he fell to past champion status (for good).
- 28. 126–150 from money list
Three players finished inside the top 125. The remaining players all finished outside the top 150. Cox received a medical extension. Waldorf and Ridings made it through Q School; Uresti finished in the top 25 of the Nationwide Tour money list. Cook, Westwood, Geiberger, Janzen, and Riley fell to past champion status in 2008 (for good, in Cook and Geiberger's cases). Dickerson, Smith, Brehaut, and Atwal became non-members; only Atwal would ever regained status.
- 29. Non-exempt medical extension
Magee received a carry-over.
- Notable past champions
The following past champions finished in the top 200 of the money list:
One past champion finished in the top 125. Carlos Franco and Jim McGovern made it through Q School; Tom Scherrer finished in the top 25 of the Nationwide Tour money list. Forsman and Delsing would never regain better status.
- Notable non-members
The following non-members finished the equivalent of top 200 on the money list, including earnings in WGCs (^ denotes those eligible for full PGA Tour membership in 2008):
Casey, Williamson, and Romero accepted membership for 2008; Fasth declined. Williamson accepted STM in June, Karlsson in July, and Green in August.
None of those listed competed in Q School.
- Other notes
Twenty-eight players not listed made it from the Nationwide Tour to the PGA Tour for 2008 (23 via the money list, 5 via Q School). Eleven players with no PGA Tour or Nationwide Tour status in 2006 made it through Q School (including European Tour winners Brett Rumford, Yang Yong-eun, Kenneth Ferrie, and Alejandro Cañizares).