What Oklahoma State Golfer Preston Stout’s Latest Award Means to His Future

The Oklahoma State Cowboys star received another award and this one comes with a couple of significant perks.

Preston Stout. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Preston Stout is poised to have an incredible season for Oklahoma State golf in 2027. The award he just received wrapped up his incredible 2026.

Stout was awarded the Mark H. McCormack Medal earlier this week, which is given to the top-ranked player in the 2026 World Amateur Golf Rankings.

It’s notable for Oklahoma State as a program because Stout is just the second Cowboy to claim the medal. The other is Peter Uihlein, who won the medal in 2010.

But it’s notable for another reason. The medal is his free pass to two of golf’s most prestigious events next year.

Preston Stout’s 2027 Schedule

Preston Stout. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The medal means that his scheduled after next collegiate season is going to be a little busier. The McCormack Medal gives him exemptions to both 2027 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links and the 155th Open at St. Andrews (Old Course), in Scotland.

He already has an exemption for The Masters next April at Augusta National. In four months, Stout will play at three of the game’s most iconic courses.

Stout reached the top of the rankings during an incredible junior season in which he claimed medalist in five different tournaments, including the NCAA Division I Individual Championship, which landed him exemptions to the U.S. Open at Oakmont in June and the Masters.

Stout also won the 2026 Big 12 title, becoming the first-ever three-time champion in league history. All of that made him a first-team All-American and a finalist for the Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Fred Haskins Awards.

He even has a pathway to the PGA Tour without having to go through qualifying or the Korn Ferry Tour. Earlier this summer, the Tour announced that Stout is the No.1 ranked player in their PGA Tour University's Class of 2027.

If he finishes the collegiate season at No. 1, he gets another perk — automatic PGA Tour membership. It’s essentially a golden ticket. He can still get on the Korn Ferry Tour without going through qualifying if he finishes ranked Nos. 2-10 earn Korn Ferry Tour membership and players ranked Nos. 11-25 exempt membership on PGA Tour Americas.

This summer, Stout played several events on the PGA Tour as an amateur, most notably the John Deere Classic, where he finished in a tie for 15th place. He missed the cut at the U.S. Open and the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. He also missed the cut for match play at the U.S. Amateur earlier this month.

He will play for Team USA at the Walker Cup team, the amateur equivalent of the Ryder Cup, on Sept. 5-6 at Lahinch Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland.