PGA Tour Q-School: 171 players prepare to fight for professional futures
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After three stages the PGA Tour Q-School has reached its ‘Final Stage’ where it’s make or break for the next wave of Tour hopefuls.
Last year was the first time since 2012 that PGA Tour cards were awarded at the Final Stage of PGA Tour Q-School and this continues in 2024, with the top five finishers and ties earning their cards for 2025.
Just the mention of Q-School is enough to bring golfers out in a cold sweat. Scottie Scheffler’s up and down on the 72nd hole in 2018 was described as the biggest par save of his career as it guaranteed him Korn Ferry Tour starts. Six years later, he has won two Masters titles and amassed over $70 million in prize money.
Unfortunately, not everyone can achieve such heights. Just ask Joe Daley. In the fourth round of the final stage in 2000, he made a triple bogey on the 17th hole to miss out on a tour card by a single stroker. He would never regain status on the PGA Tour after that.
Q-School has existed since 1965 across several different formats. Two Q-Schools were played each year between 1968-69 and 1975-81 before it was held on an annual basis. It was known as the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament between 2013-2022 and all finishers were given conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour as a minimum.
This year, all Final Stage participants are assured of membership on PGA Tour Americas at least, but they will all be gunning for a top-five finish and a place in the promised land of the PGA Tour. Players are designated a starting stage based on prior merit. Some may start off in pre-qualifying, while others are exempt directly into the Final Stage.
Last year, Harrison Endycott, Blaine Hale Jr, Trace Crowe, Hayden Springer, and Raul Pereda all secured tour cards. Who will follow in their footsteps this year?
Where is the PGA Tour Q-School Final Stage held?
TPC Sawgrass and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida are the two courses that will host the Final Stage of Q-School.
Dye’s Valley at TPC Sawgrass was opened in 1987 and is located directly adjacent to The Players Stadium Course. The par-70 course has played host to several Korn Ferry Tour events in the past while ranking as one of the finest places to play in the Sunshine State. The final three holes feature a par five and two par fours. Water comes into play down the left side of the fairway on all three holes, heightening the risk off the tee.
Sawgrass Country Club is the other course that will host the tournament, with golfers playing two rounds on the par-70 East and West course. The Players Championship was held here for five years between 1977 and 1981, with the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino claiming victory at the course. Measuring 7,054 yards, it is the longer of the two venues hosting the Final Stage of Q-School, Dye’s Valley, measuring just 6,850 yards in comparison.
Who is in the field for the PGA Tour Q-School Final Stage?
Ten years after losing his tour card, Luke Guthrie has another chance of returning to the PGA Tour.
2019 U.S. Amateur runner-up John Augenstein has also made it through to the Final Stage, along with Raul Pereda of Mexico, who won himself a tour card at Q-School last year with a T4 finish. Two-time PGA Tour winner Sangmoon Bae from South Korea also takes his place in the field.
There will be some notable absences for the Final Stage, however. Low amateur at this year’s Masters and US Open, Neal Shipley, missed out by a single stroke, along with former winners on tour such as Jim Herman and D.J. Trahan.
Julian Suri, a former winner on the DP World Tour, also missed out on a chance to claim a PGA Tour card, coming up one stroke short of making it to Florida.
The full field for the Final Stage of Q-School can be found here.
What is the format of the PGA Tour Q-School Final Stage?
The Final Stage of Q-School is a 72-hole Strokeplay event that will take place across two courses.
The field will be split between both Dye’s Valley and Sawgrass Country Club for Thursday and Friday, with each golfer playing one round on each course.
After round two, the field will be re-paired for the weekend. The top half of the field will take on Sawgrass Country Club, while the bottom half of the field will play Dye’s Valley Course. For the fourth round, each half will swap courses.
PGA Tour Q-School Final Stage: Tee times and groupings
Tee times and groupings can be found here.
About the Author
Ross Kilvington – Contributing Golf News Writer
Ross Kilvington is a freelance writer from Scotland who currently writes previews for Today’s Golfer, covering events on the DP World, PGA, and LPGA tours along with the LIV Golf Series.
Ross holds a passionate interest in golf and tries to play as often as possible, although having two daughters under the age of 6 means his quest to break 80 will have to wait a little longer.
Despite first picking up a club aged 11, highlights are few and far between on the golf course.
An Eagle on the par-4 16th at Kinghorn is one that stands out (it doesn’t matter that it was only 290 yards).
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The PGA Tour Q-School reaches its Final Stage.
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Dye's Valley along with Sawgrass Country Club host the Final Stage of Q-School.
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Harrison Endycott of Australia won Q-School in 2023.
