Jeevan Sihota of Victoria has played in two PGA Tour events this year, the RBC Canadian Open and 3M Open in Minnesota, through the precarious route of Monday qualifying, but hopes to make it more of a permanent situation.
The opening stage of that quest was successful with Sihota securing one of the top-18 spots and advancing out of the first PGA Tour Qualifying School round Saturday with a 5-under 279 after four rounds at the University of New Mexico Championship Course in Albuquerque. It was one of 14 opening-stage PGA Q School tournaments.
Sihota was the only Canadian of the seven entered in the New Mexico tournament — including Callum Davison of Duncan (tied for 47th) — who advanced to the second stage of the PGA Q School, which begins Dec. 1 with five tournaments at venues to be announced. That will be the middle of the three-stage process, which will conclude with the deciding Q School tournament Dec. 10-13 at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, out of which only five golfers will earn those precious PGA Tour cards for 2027. The next 40 will earn spots on the 2027 Korn Ferry Tour. There are also tour cards along the process into the 2027 PGA Tour Americas, which includes the annual Digital Commerce Group Open at Uplands Golf Club.
The gold cards are those five on offer for the 2027 PGA Tour.
“I was good for most of the week in New Mexico, I was driving well and got putts to fall, and am happy to be advancing to the second stage,” said Sihota, who birdied three of his last four holes in the final round to shoot a 67 and secure the top-18 finish.
That’s where the dream ended last year with Sihota missing going on to the third and final round by just one shot.
“It’s a hard and long road but you just stick to the processes that got you this far,” said Sihota, 22.
“I am having a good year, qualified for two PGA Tour events, and won in Quebec, so am playing well.”
Sihota didn’t make the cut at the Canadian Open or 3M but teeing off with the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Tony Finau and Viktor Hovland was a heady learning experience in itself.
The season highlight for Sihota was taking the $35,000 first-prize for winning the 2026 Canada Cup in Victoriaville, Que., in August with a tournament record 25-under.
The Gorge Vale player will be swinging for more in December.