Why the Aon Swing 5 Is Becoming the PGA Tour’s Quick‑Track to Signature Events
The final round of the WM Phoenix Open turned into a qualification showdown for the Aon Swing 5 race. The top‑five non‑exempt players in FedExCup points earned coveted spots in the next two Signature Events – the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro‑Am and The Genesis Invitational.
Who Secured the Five Slots?
| Rank | Golfer | FedExCup Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pierceson Coody | 376.5 |
| 2 | Ryo Hisatsune | 287.125 |
| 3 | Jake Knapp | 257.5 |
| 4 | Matt McCarty | 235.25 |
| 5 | Patrick Rodgers | 234.492 |
Emerging Talent Takes Center Stage
Pierceson Coody turned a 177‑yard tee shot into a five‑foot birdie on No. 12 at the Phoenix Open and rode that momentum into a top‑10 finish. After a rough 2024 rookie season that saw him miss his first five cuts, Coody rebounded on the Korn Ferry Tour and now boasts three straight top‑20 finishes, including a runner‑up at the Farmers Insurance Open where he shot 16‑under at Torrey Pines.
Ryo Hisatsune matched Coody with a T10 finish in Phoenix and a runner‑up at Torrey Pines, securing second place in the Aon Swing 5 standings. The 23‑year‑old Japanese player retained his PGA Tour card last fall and, in his third full season, played the final group with idol Hideki Matsuyama. Until now, Hisatsune had only one Signature Event appearance (the 2025 RBC Heritage).
Jake Knapp clinched third with a solo eighth‑place finish in Scottsdale. Already in the Pebble Beach field via his FedExCup Fall status (ranked 63rd), Knapp’s performance removes any doubt about his Riviera invitation.
Matt McCarty and Patrick Rodgers secured the final two spots through steady play – McCarty’s runner‑up at The American Express and Rodgers’ third‑place finish at the Sony Open combined with three made cuts this season.
Substantial Names Just Missed the Cut‑off
Sahith Theegala fell just outside the top five after a closing bogey, but his consistent finishes (T31, T8, T7, T17) earned him a sponsor exemption to Pebble Beach. Michael Thorbjornsen and Nicolai Højgaard flirted with the top five, needing near‑runner‑up finishes to break in. Thorbjornsen led after an eagle on the 15th but stumbled on 16 and 17, ending T3. Højgaard missed a long birdie putt on the 72nd hole that would have vaulted him into the playoff.
Future Trends Shaped by the Aon Swing 5 Model
The Aon Swing 5 qualification format is already influencing how players approach the early season. Below are three trends that are likely to intensify.
1. Early‑Season FedExCup Points Develop into a Career Accelerator
Because the top‑five non‑exempt players earn direct entry into high‑profile Signature Events, accumulating FedExCup points in the first few tournaments is now a strategic priority. Players who can string together top‑10 finishes – like Coody and Hisatsune – can fast‑track their way into elite fields without waiting for season‑long points totals.
2. The “Swing” Pathway Boosts Non‑Exempt Players
Historically, many emerging golfers relied on sponsor exemptions or Monday qualifiers. The Aon Swing 5 (and its companion Aon Next 10) give a clear, points‑based route to Signature Events. This transparency is encouraging more players to target specific swing windows, shaping their tournament schedules around the points race.
3. Sponsor Exemptions Remain a Safety Net
Even when a player drops out of the top‑five, strong recent finishes can still attract sponsor exemptions, as seen with Theegala’s Pebble Beach entry. Tournament sponsors are likely to keep rewarding consistent performers, ensuring that a single bad round doesn’t erase a season’s momentum.
What This Means for the Rest of the Season
With the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro‑Am and The Genesis Invitational now within reach, the five qualifiers will test whether early‑season momentum can translate into deeper runs against the world’s best. Their performance will also signal how effective the Swing 5 model is as a talent‑development tool for the PGA Tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Aon Swing 5?
- It is a points‑based race that awards the top five non‑exempt players in FedExCup points earned during a specific early‑season window a spot in the next two Signature Events.
- How many players earned spots from the WM Phoenix Open?
- Pierceson Coody, Ryo Hisatsune, Jake Knapp, Matt McCarty and Patrick Rodgers secured the five slots.
- Can a player still receive into a Signature Event after missing the Swing 5?
- Yes. Strong recent finishes can lead to sponsor exemptions, as demonstrated by Sahith Theegala’s Pebble Beach invitation.
- Why does early‑season performance matter now?
- Because the Swing 5 rewards points earned in the opening stretch, a strong start can bypass the need for a full‑season points accumulation.
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