Holes 15, 16 and 17 of the Champion Course at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, aren’t hidden in plain sight – they are in plain sight – yet the dubious trio otherwise known as "The Bear Trap" just ahead of the finish line of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches still has a knack of foiling a good day at work.

This was Shane Lowry’s reality in the final round of the first stop of the PGA TOUR’s Florida Swing on Sunday. After sharing the 54-hole lead with Austin Smotherman, the Irishman played his first 15 holes in bogey-free 6-under that included a five-hole stretch spanning the turn during which he converted an eagle and three birdies. Alas, a flared tee ball at the par-4 16th and another at the par-3 17th resulted in double bogeys en route to defeat.

Nico Echavarria wasn’t in charge of setting The Bear Trap, only navigating it, which he did deftly. With a bogey-free, 5-under 66 that matched the same spotless score in his third round, the 31-year-old from Colombia emerged with the title by two strokes.

If there’s a consolation for Lowry, it’s that he’s already exempt into all Signature Events, THE PLAYERS Championship and all majors this season. Meanwhile, Echavarria’s promises were THE PLAYERS and the PGA Championship (eventually via his Official World Golf Ranking at worst), but now he’s in all Signature Events and officially the PGA Championship via the victory. He’s also in the Masters for the second time.

By rising to 34th in the OWGR, Echavarria further is in position to qualify for the other two majors at different checkpoints if he doesn’t achieve either another way sooner. His third PGA TOUR win extends his membership exemption as a winner through 2028.

While a wild finish in south Florida provided enough of a thrill for golfers and golf fans alike, this past weekend presented numerous pathways into three tournaments followed on this page.

Sticking with THE PLAYERS for the segue, the top 10 in the latest FedExCup ranking and the top 50 in the updated OWGR qualify automatically. All inside the first bubble already are exempt but Alex Noren (16th in the OWGR), Kristoffer Reitan (43rd) and Pierceson Coody (47th) now are in the field of 120 at TPC Sawgrass.

With spots reserved for the winners of this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and the Puerto Rico Open, if both need the win to gain entry, the remaining 12 slots would be filled using the current order of the FedExCup ranking. Thus, the cohort that would complete the field would range from Adam Scott at 20th through S.H. Kim at 63rd. Max Homa (64th) and Zach Bauchou (66th) would be the first and second alternates, respectively. This assumes that all automatic qualifiers commit and compete. The field for the PGA TOUR’s flagship event will be released on Friday, March 6.

Earlier on Sunday, Casey Jarvis prevailed at the South African Open Championship in what is his national open. It’s also his second straight win in as many weeks and fourth in Africa since November. It yields an exemption into the Masters, so he will be among the debutants at Augusta National Golf Club in April.

The top three at the South African Open, not otherwise exempt into The Open Championship, received exemptions into the final major of the year. So, Jarvis also collected an exemption into his first Open. The other two berths needed incumbent OWGR rankings to break the tie between three who shared runner-up honors three strokes adrift of the champ. As a result, Francesco Laporta (196th) and Frederic LaCroix (258th) qualified for The Open over the odd man out in golf’s version of musical chairs, Hennie du Plessis (283rd).

The first impactful tournament that concluded last weekend was the New Zealand Open for which the highest finisher not otherwise exempt into The Open would join the field at Royal Birkdale. Because champion Daniel Hillier already is eligible, the exemption fell to runner-up Lucas Herbert.

The same exemption applied at the Argentina Open. Alistair Docherty eked out a one-stroke victory in the Korn Ferry Tour stop, so he’ll join the others in England in July.

Looking ahead, while a spot in THE PLAYERS hangs in the balance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Signature Event at Bay Hill Club & Lodge also is a stop in the Open Qualifying Series. Therefore, the top finisher who makes the cut and isn’t already exempt into The Open will gain entry.

NOTE: Until all methods of entry are released by the governing bodies, traditional criteria are used to determine qualifiers. Refer to remaining qualifying criteria at the bottom of the page for details.

SE = All Signature Events
TPC = THE PLAYERS Championship
MAS = Masters
PGA = PGA Championship
US = U.S. Open
OPEN = The Open Championship

Recent additions

SE -- Nico Echavarria
TPC -- Pierceson Coody; Alex Noren; Kristoffer Reitan
MAS -- Nico Echavarria; Casey Jarvis
PGA -- Nico Echavarria
US -- none
OPEN -- Alistair Docherty; Lucas Herbert; Casey Jarvis; Frederic LaCroix; Francesco Laporta

NOTE: Golfers are omitted if they haven’t competed recently in majors for which they are eligible (e.g., The Open Championship = David Duval, Paul Lawrie).

REMAINING QUALIFYING CRITERIA

Criteria are listed in chronological order where possible. Best estimates are given but all are subject to change.

Signature Events

• Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 5-8)
• RBC Heritage (April 16-19)
• Cadillac Championship (April 30-May 3)
• Truist Championship (May 7-10)
• Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 4-7)
• Travelers Championship (June 25-28)

THE PLAYERS Championship (TPC) at TPC Sawgrass (Stadium) – March 12-15

• Winners of PGA TOUR events thru the final week before THE PLAYERS.
• If necessary to complete the field of 120, golfers outside the top 10 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the Cognizant on March 1 will gain entry in order of position.

Masters (MAS) at Augusta National Golf Club – April 9-12

• Winners of PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation for the TOUR Championship.
• Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (March 30).
• Special invitations to international players per Masters Tournament Committee as its discretion.

PGA Championship (PGA) at Aronimink Golf Club – May 14-17

• Winners of PGA TOUR events through the final week before the 2026 PGA Championship.
• Winner of the Senior PGA Championship (April 19).
• Top three from International Federation Ranking List (April 27).
• Top 20 from PGA Professional Championship (April 29).
• Top three from Asian Swing ranking on the DP World Tour (May 3).
• Top 70 from special money list (i.e., "PGA Championship Points") on PGA TOUR from 2025 Truist Championship and 2025 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic through the Cadillac Championship (May 3).
• Special exemptions per PGA of America. (This likely will include all golfers from top 100 of Official World Golf Ranking on May 4.)
• If necessary to complete the field of 156, golfers outside Top 70 from special money list (two lines above) will gain entry in order of position.

U.S. Open (US) at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club – June 18-21

• Winners of multiple PGA TOUR events that award full FedExCup points allocation since the 2025 U.S. Open.
• Winner of THE PLAYERS Championship (March 15).
• Winner of the Masters (April 12).
• Winner of the PGA Championship (May 17).
• Top five, not otherwise exempt, in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the PGA Championship (May 17).
• Top two, not otherwise exempt, in the 2025 Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the PGA Championship (May 17).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, in the 2026 Race to Dubai (May 17).
• Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the Top 3 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings (May 18).
• Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the Top 3 of the 2026 LIV Golf Individual Standings (May 18).
• Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 18).
• Final qualifying at one site in England (May 18).
• Final qualifying at one site in Texas (May 18).
• Final qualifying at one site in Japan (May 25).
• Winner of the NCAA Division 1 individual championship, if still an amateur (June 1).
• Final qualifying at one site in Canada (June 8).
• Final qualifying at nine sites in the United States (June 8).
• Top 60 of Official World Golf Ranking (June 15).
• Special exemptions per the USGA.

The Open Championship (OPEN) at Royal Birkdale Golf Club – July 16-19

• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (March 8).
• Winner of THE PLAYERS Championship (March 15).
• Winner of the Masters (April 12).
• Top two, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Singapore Open (April 26).
• Winner of the PGA Championship (May 17).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the KOLON Korea Open (May 24).
• Top 50 of Official World Golf Ranking (May 25).
• Top 5 in the Federation Ranking (May 25).
• Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Mizuno Open (May 31).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who makes the cut at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (June 7).
• Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the RBC Canadian Open (June 14).
• Winner of the British Amateur, if still an amateur (June 20).
• Winner of the U.S. Open (June 21).
• Winner of the European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 27).
• Leader in World Amateur Golf Ranking points accumulated at the St. Andrews Links Trophy (June 7), British Amateur (June 20) and European Amateur Championship, if still an amateur (June 27).
• Top player, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Italian Open (June 28).
• Top five, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the FedExCup at the conclusion of the Travelers Championship (June 28).
• Leader, not otherwise exempt, in the LIV Golf Individual Standings at the conclusion of LIV Golf Louisiana (June 28).
• Final Qualifying. Top 4 at each of four sites (June 30).
• Top five, not otherwise exempt, inside the top 20 in the Race to Dubai at the conclusion of the BMW International Open (July 5).
• Top three, not otherwise exempt, who make the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open (July 12).
• Winner of the Last-Chance Qualifier (July 13).