How A Strong Finish At The Players Championship Will Mean This Professional May Retain His PGA Tour Card

Bud Cauley is needing to finish in, or around, the top 5 at TPC Sawgrass to keep his PGA Tour playing rights for 2025, with the American currently playing on a major medical extension

Bud Cauley hits a shot on the range while his coach stands behind him
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The 2025 Players Championship provides a mammoth $25 million purse and, with so much money up for grabs, it's a chance for players to make serious inroads in their career.

One of those with a great opportunity to cement their position on the PGA Tour is Bud Cauley who, in 2018, was involved in a serious car accident that broke five ribs, his lower left leg and a collapsed lung.

Bud Cauley lines up a putt during The Players Championship

Cauley during the final round of The Players Championship

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Despite returning later that year, he then took three years away from the game in 2021, due to the issues that came from the accident.

In February 2024, Cauley returned and, since then, has been playing on a major medical extension, with the former Korn Ferry Tour winner being given 27 tournaments to retain his PGA Tour card once he returned.

Having played 17 in 2024, The Players Championship is the fifth of 2025 and 22nd overall and, at TPC Sawgrass, he sits firmly in the top 10 going into the final day, something that is crucial for his future playing rights.

Bud Cauley poses with the Hotel Fitness Championship trophy

Cauley's one-and-only win came at the 2014 Hotel Fitness Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Essentially, if Cauley finishes inside the top 18 he will earn enough points for the rest of the season but, if he makes $1.25 million or better on Sunday, he locks up his playing rights for next season as well.

Only getting into The Players Championship on Monday, after Lee Hodges withdrew, Cauley stated: “I was out practicing at Bear’s Club, actually, and the phone rang and told me I was in. I was kind of hopeful that being one out I might get a chance, but you never know.

“It was nice that it was on Monday, also, where I didn’t have to sweat it until Wednesday afternoon or something. I was able to come out here Tuesday and Wednesday and have a normal couple days.”

Turning 35-years of age on Sunday, Cauley remained inside the top 5 throughout the front nine at TPC Sawgrass and, if you look at the payout for the tournament, a solo fourth finish will secure him a $1.25 million payday, so it's more than The Players Championship on the line for the American.

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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