How Pavon made his breakthrough thanks to PGA TOUR’s AON Swing Five and Aon Next Ten

While all roads may lead to Rome, those leading to the pinnacle of world golf are much more selective, and Matthieu Pavon seems to have found the right path.

By qualifying via the PGA TOUR’s new initiatives, which offer a chance to those who have not previously qualified into the world’s biggest tournament fields, the Bordeaux native’s on-course decision-making has paid off in a major way.

The Signature Events represent the holy grail of the PGA TOUR. In these tournaments, the prize money is the highest, the most points are distributed, and the field size is limited.

The best players in the world rankings are guaranteed participation due to their standing. In addition to the top 50 players, the PGA TOUR and Aon created two new qualification pathways that offer players who have not yet qualified the opportunity to compete – and win – against the world’s best.

In partnership with Aon, two qualification paths for Signature Events were created. The Aon Next 10 rewards the top-10 players in the current season’s FedEx Cup standings, not otherwise exempt, with a spot in the field. The Aon Swing 5 rewards the top-5 performing players, in the events directly leading up to the Signature Event, with the same opportunity.

Pavon’s performance at both the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (T3) and the Farmers Insurance Open (win) solidified his spot within the Aon Next 10 for the entire season, allowing Pavon to play in 6 Signature Events and all four Major Championships.

Not only did Pavon seize his opportunity, but he also had a strong showing in the third Major of the season, even leading for a few holes on the final day. The French golfer recently expressed his gratitude for the new pathways: “Their help was enormous. By winning these events, I earned points and was propelled into the biggest tournaments in the world, the ones I most dreamed of playing. Also, the ones where there are the most points at stake and the most prize money. It’s an incredible opportunity for me.”

The Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5 have thus influenced many players decisions on scheduling. “The Signature Events are really the tournaments you don’t want to miss because they are the most beautiful courses and the most prestigious,” Pavon continues. “So we have to structure our season around these tournaments and the Majors.”

The Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5 not only help players climb the world rankings and participate in Signature Events, but also provide an elevated platform for players who may still be relatively unknown to the public. For instance, by winning the Mexico Open, rookie Jake Knapp earned the right to compete in four Signature Events while moving up 16 places in the Aon Next 10.

Tyler Dennis, PGA TOUR Vice President and Chief of Operations, is delighted with the success of the new pathways. He said: “We see the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5 as opportunities to innovate further in organizing our calendar. These qualification paths offer the world’s best players even more chances to compete, while also taking fans on new journeys.”

In 2024, 48 players participated in the seven Signature Events (excluding The Sentry) through the Aon Next 10 and Aon Swing 5, collectively earning more than $22 million and cementing their status on the PGA TOUR. In 2025, the two Aon-sponsored programs will once again provide players the opportunity to compete in the TOUR’s top events, with qualification for the first 2025 Signature Event beginning during the FedEx Cup Fall.