Waialae, Hawaii – Vijay Singh, 62, surprised the golf world by not only competing at the Sony Open in Hawaii last week, but by potentially securing another PGA Tour season through a little-known eligibility rule.
A Veteran’s Return and a Tour Loophole
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The 34-time PGA Tour winner’s performance at the Sony Open could extend his playing privileges for 2027.
- Singh leveraged a career money-list exemption to play the Sony Open.
- His scoring average at the tournament met the criteria for maintaining lifetime membership.
- This could allow him to compete on the PGA Tour again in 2027, even without further wins.
- The PGA Tour’s new CEO, Brian Rolapp, may need to address this eligibility quirk.
Singh’s appearance at Waialae Country Club sparked interest, initially due to how he gained entry—utilizing a career money-list exemption—and then because of how well he played, finishing tied for 40th and outperforming two-thirds of the field. It was a testament to his enduring skill and dedication.
The All-Access Pass
Any player ranked within the top 50 on the all-time PGA Tour money list is granted a one-time, one-season all-access card for a season of their choosing. Singh, currently eighth on that list (sixth if excluding players on LIV Golf), used his exemption for 2026. The Sony Open also served as preparation for this week’s PGA Tour Champions opener at Hualalai.
The tournament held added significance as Sony’s sponsorship is ending this year, casting an uncertain future on the Hawaiian swing of the PGA Tour. Singh acknowledged he likely won’t play many more events this year, stating in an interview with Sports Illustrated, “Maybe if I’m fit enough to walk the Masters because that’s a hilly golf course, I may play San Antonio a week before that and Phoenix is a pretty flat golf course, so I could play that.”
He emphasized his competitive spirit, saying, “I went in there to play well, to compete,” dismissing the notion he was simply making up the numbers. He also noted, “It’s the first time I walked 18 [holes] in a long time,” a benefit of competing on the Champions tour.
Life Member Status: The Key to 2027?
However, it was Singh’s comment, “I got the lifetime exemption … [and] I should get my exemption back for next year, so if I wanted to play next year, I could,” that raised eyebrows.
To remain eligible for Life Member access, a player must meet two criteria: play at least one PGA Tour event in the previous year and maintain a scoring average within three strokes of the field average. Singh’s four-day average of 68.75 at the Sony Open was actually better than the field average of 69.26, meeting both requirements. This means, even if he doesn’t play another event this year, he could be eligible as a Life Member for 2027.
A Rare Benefit
This situation is uncommon. Only 34 golfers have ever achieved 20 PGA Tour wins, earning Life Member status, and just 15 are still alive. Of those, only six are actively playing on any tour, with two—Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson—competing on LIV Golf. No one utilized the Life Member category in 2025.
Currently, four players could be affected: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Davis Love III, and Singh. Woods has a special exemption due to his 80 wins. McIlroy’s current eligibility stems from being the reigning Masters champion. Love III participates in both the PGA Tour Champions and occasional PGA Tour events.
A Quirky Rule with Implications
This eligibility quirk allows for a quick return to playing status. For example, Love III could have regained Life Member eligibility for 2026 with a slightly different score at the RSM Classic last fall. A minor improvement on his second nine on Friday would have been enough.
A more plausible scenario involves Phil Mickelson. Should he return to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf, a few strong performances at major championships could reinstate his eligibility through Life Member status.
Even a far-fetched idea—70-year-old Greg Norman qualifying for the Open Championship and playing near the cut line—could theoretically allow him to compete full-time on the PGA Tour again.
As the PGA Tour redesigns its future, these “side-doors” to eligibility will require attention. It may be a challenge for Brian Rolapp, the Tour’s new CEO, to reconcile this with his stated principles of parity, scarcity, and simplicity.
While the Tour aims for greater efficiency and splash, some intriguing subplots, like Singh’s ability to compete at his leisure and outperform younger players, may be lost.
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