One PGA TOUR Player is Clearly Benefiting from Jon Rahm Leaving

In football and other team sports, there is what’s called a “next man up” philosophy. That means if a player—no matter how important he or she is—is injured or otherwise away from the team, life must go on and another player gets an opportunity.

This is becoming prevalent on the PGA Tour thanks to players leaving to join the LIV Golf circuit.

After Jon Rahm made the jump last week, he was officially suspended from the PGA Tour.

That means his 18th-place finish in the FedExCup standings is vacated, and everyone below him in the standings moves up a spot.

That’s great news for Mackenzie Hughes, who benefits the most from Rahm’s departure.

Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes has moved from No. 51 to No. 50 on the FedEx Cup eligibility points list and is now eligible for all seven of the PGA TOUR’s $20 million signature events in 2024.https://t.co/y60oJXZApE

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) December 12, 2023

The domino effect moves the Canadian from 51st in last season’s standings to 50th.

Due to the new PGA Tour rules for 2024, Hughes is now eligible for all of the big-money Signature Events on the schedule, which total 12 in all and starts with The Sentry in early January.

That event is exclusively for winners during the 2022-23 season and also the top-50 in points.

The PGA Tour just sent this to their members. Announcing that Jon Rahm is officially suspended and everyone would move up one spot. Moving Mackenzie Hughes into the top 50.

And also announced the points for 2024 after “extensive modeling”. pic.twitter.com/COTQC0WmfW

— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) December 11, 2023

There were some others who moved up into key positions in the standings thanks to Rahm’s removal:

• Alex Smalley up to No. 60, which qualifies him for the first two Signature Events after The Sentry.
• Carl Yuan up to No. 125, making him fully exempt for the 2024 PGA Tour season.
• Paul Haley II up to No. 150, earning him conditional status on the tour. 

Cover Photo via X