Several PGA Tour players with full exempt status, including Dylan Wu, were unable to participate in the 2026 WM Phoenix Open despite changes aimed at improving access. The field expanded for Brooks Koepka but not for others on the alternate list, sparking frustration. This highlights ongoing flaws in the Tour's exemption system.
Dylan Wu, a Scottsdale resident and PGA Tour player who earned his card via a playoff at Q-School in December, spent Thursday at TPC Scottsdale hoping for a spot in the WM Phoenix Open. His hopes dashed when Marcelo Rozo, fourth at Q-School, took the final entry after J.J. Spaun's withdrawal. Wu vented on X: “Only fully exempt player on Tour not to get in the event. I guess #playbetter,” adding, “Full field PGA Tour events don’t include players with ‘full status.’ ”
Wu was not alone. PGA Tour U graduates Luke Clanton, David Ford, and Gordon Sargent also missed out, raising questions about their exemption parity with Korn Ferry Tour grads. Lee Hodges, who completed a full major medical extension at the Sony Open, ranked behind them on the alternate list and sat out Phoenix despite securing entry to the Players Championship.
The field grew from 120 to 123 players to accommodate Koepka's return, a move not extended to other exempt players as seen in prior events like Valspar and Houston. Yet, even with the smaller size, the first round spilled into Friday due to darkness, with nine players returning and Alejandro Tosti reaching the eighth tee with two holes left. This scheduling issue, combined with reduced Monday qualifiers and field sizes, contradicts the Tour's 2026 push for better access for full members.
Conditional player Joel Dahmen, who finished top 10 at the Farmers Insurance Open, gained a sponsor exemption via a creative letter to the tournament director. Fully exempt stars like Sahith Theegala and Adam Scott, relying on 2024 FedEx Cup top-30 status, also needed special entry. Players like Ryan Moore have criticized the competitions department's decisions. Suggestions include expanding to 126 players for balance or shifting Phoenix later in the West Coast Swing for more daylight.
