{"id":345723,"date":"2025-12-13T16:50:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T16:50:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/345723\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T16:50:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T16:50:21","slug":"q-school-rule-change-could-bring-chaos-amid-packed-leaderboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/345723\/","title":{"rendered":"Q-School rule change could bring chaos amid packed leaderboard"},"content":{"rendered":"

While stars of the PGA and LPGA Tours team up in a fun offseason event at the Grant Thornton Invitational, hosts of aspiring PGA Tour pros are fighting for their careers at the Final Stage of Q-School.<\/p>\n

Q-School has always been an intense battle, with only a few PGA Tour cards going to the top finishers. But thanks to a rule change this year<\/a>, there are even fewer Tour cards up for grabs this week<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And with a crowded leaderboard halfway through the tournament, that rule change could lead to some serious chaos come Sunday.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n

Tight Q-School leaderboard invites weekend drama<\/p>\n

At the halfway point of this week\u2019s Final Stage of PGA Tour Q-School, 169 pros remain. And the stakes are enormous: PGA Tour cards for the top 5 finishers. With 36 holes remaining at host sites Dye\u2019s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass<\/a> and Sawgrass Country Club, the competition couldn\u2019t be tighter.<\/p>\n

A total of thirteen players are within one shot of the lead<\/a>.<\/p>\n


\n \"Trevor <\/a><\/p>\n

Q-School leader critiques PGA Tour card rules that could benefit him<\/a><\/p>\n

By:<\/p>\n


\n Kevin Cunningham <\/a><\/p>\n

Leading the pack are five players tied for the lead at seven under: Trevor Cone, A.J. Ewart, John Pak, Michael Feagles and Kota Kaneko.<\/p>\n

But those leaders are just one shot ahead of an eight-pack of chasers tied at six under: Chad Sewell, Camilo Villegas, Marcelo Rozo, Brett White, Adam Svensson, Ian Holt, Ben Kohles and Chan Kim.<\/p>\n

The picture doesn\u2019t get clearer as you head further down the leaderboard, with another six pros sitting two shots back at five under.<\/p>\n

All of that is to say that anything can happen over the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday. Some players\u2019 dreams will be extinguished, maybe for good. While a select few pros will punch their tickets to the PGA Tour and potential career renaissances.<\/p>\n

But because of the aforementioned rule change, that \u201cselect few\u201d is even fewer this year.<\/p>\n

Q-School playoff could decide PGA Tour card winners<\/p>\n

Ahead of the 2025 PGA Tour season, the Tour enacted a host of new rules regarding membership<\/a> and how players earn their way onto the Tour. The biggest change was a reduction in total PGA Tour cards from 125 to 100.<\/p>\n

But a less dramatic change included in the new rules could have a big impact this weekend at Q-School.<\/p>\n


\n \"Sungjae <\/a><\/p>\n

PGA Tour winner shuts down LIV rumors with 2 words<\/a><\/p>\n

By:<\/p>\n


\n Kevin Cunningham <\/a><\/p>\n

Before the new changes came about, the top-5 finishers and ties at the Final Stage of Q-School would be granted full PGA Tour cards for the next season. Under the new rules, only the top 5 players on the leaderboard will get Tour cards. Full stop. No ties included.<\/p>\n

Given that there are nearly 20 players within two shots heading into the third round, it\u2019s possible there will be ties among the top 5 on the leaderboard at tournament\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s even possible that after 72 holes none of the PGA Tour card winners are decided, should there be a six-way tie or more for first place, for example.<\/p>\n

Should that happen, the PGA Tour card recipients will be determined via playoff.<\/p>\n

In the event of ties within the top 5, a hole-by-hole playoff will be conducted immediately following the final round. In other words, several pros\u2019 PGA Tour card hopes could come down to a single hole at twilight.<\/p>\n

Stay tuned.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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