Canadian Mackenzie Hughes has found his way into the top 50 in the latest FedExCup Playoffs list and as a result, he will be eligible to play in all eight of the PGA Tour’s signature events in 2024.
Hughes’ bump came as a result of Jon Rahm’s suspension in accordance with PGA Tour regulations for his decision to join LIV Golf.
In a memo released on Monday, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said “Jon Rahm has been notified that he is suspended and no longer eligible to participate in PGA Tour events due to his association with a series of unauthorized tournaments.”
Hughes is one of the immediate beneficiaries of the shakeup as he narrowly missed out on the top 50 originally. He kept his 51st position through the fall, which only would have guaranteed him spots in the first two $20 million events.
The tour last year distinguished between the FedEx Cup standings and a separate list related to eligibility for the post-season and for status. The distinction was so players defecting to LIV would not have a negative impact on those who stayed behind.
Now Hughes, a native of Hamilton, Ont., can count on the likes of the Wells Fargo Championship in his home residence of Charlotte, N.C., and The Sentry, PGA’s first signature event of the year, set for Jan. 1 in Hawaii.
Among others to benefit from the moves were Alex Smalley, as he’s earned starts in two Signature Events — the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational — and Carl Yuan, who now at No. 125 gets a full PGA Tour card for next year instead of going through Q-School.
The movements were allowed because the new season has not started yet. If more PGA Tour players leave for LIV before the end of the year, that could lead to more changes.
Monahan also said in the memo that the policy board and management recently met with a group of players upset that signature events will offer disproportionately more FedEx Cup points than the other events, leading to concerns it will be difficult for players outside the top 50 to fairly compete.
“We believe the model approved by the Board is the best model to achieve the goals of the 2024 Schedule Model,” the memo stated. “The Board is listening to the concerns expressed by individual members and takes those concerns seriously.”
— With files from the Associated Press.
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