PGA Tour Q-School is often described as golf\u2019s most unforgiving week \u2014 and this year\u2019s final stage proved exactly why. With just five PGA Tour cards available at Dye\u2019s Valley Course and Sawgrass Country Club, the margin for error was razor thin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While AJ Ewart and four others<\/a> celebrated earning full PGA Tour<\/a> status for 2026, the flip side of the story was just as striking.<\/p>\n A remarkable list of established PGA Tour winners, proven contenders and recognisable names were left empty-handed.\u00a0<\/p>\n From multiple-time Tour champions to recent winners and players still in their prime, PGA Tour Q-School once again showed that reputation counts for nothing when the pressure peaks.<\/p>\n Only five players progressed. Everyone else \u2014 no matter their past success \u2014 was sent back to the Korn Ferry Tour or left facing a season of uncertainty.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Scroll down to see which of the biggest names missed out on securing their PGA Tour cards for 2026 at the Q School final on Sunday…\u00a0<\/p>\n Camilo Villegas (T7, 10-under)<\/p>\n Villegas came agonisingly close. A late surge of four birdies wasn\u2019t enough to undo a costly double bogey on the ninth hole, which ultimately left him one shot short of the playoff for the final card. The 43-year-old five-time PGA Tour winner now faces the long road back via the Korn Ferry Tour.<\/p>\n Russell Knox (T29, 6-under)<\/p>\n The two-time PGA Tour winner from Scotland never truly threatened the top five. Knox has struggled for form in recent seasons, with his last win coming at the 2018 Irish Open. Now 40, and without a full PGA Tour season since 2023, he\u2019ll have to try again on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2026.<\/p>\n Doug Ghim (T42, 4-under)<\/p>\n Ghim entered Q-School seeking full status after finishing 113th in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. He came up well short. The former Ben Hogan Award winner still has conditional PGA Tour status, but will once again need to grind on the Korn Ferry Tour to force his way back.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Justin Lower (T42, 4-under)<\/p>\n Lower has been a familiar name on leaderboards without ever breaking through for a win. Like Ghim, he carries conditional status after finishing 120th in the FedEx Cup, but Q-School offered a chance for security \u2014 one he couldn\u2019t take. At 36, time is still on his side.<\/p>\n Luke List (T42, 4-under)<\/p>\n It\u2019s remarkable to see a two-time PGA Tour winner in this position. List\u2019s last victory came in 2022, but a difficult season left him 160th in the FedEx Cup standings. He now has no PGA Tour starts lined up for 2026 and must reset on the Korn Ferry Tour.<\/p>\n Sam Ryder (T54, 3-under)<\/p>\n Best remembered for his ace at the iconic 16th hole at the 2022 WM Phoenix Open, Ryder has often flirted with contention without sealing the deal. He retains conditional status after finishing 123rd in the FedEx Cup, but will spend much of 2026 on the Korn Ferry Tour.<\/p>\n Adam Hadwin (T62, 2-under)<\/p>\n Another eye-catching omission. Hadwin endured a miserable four days and never got going. The 2017 Valspar Championship winner finished 139th in the FedEx Cup, meaning he\u2019s lost his card entirely and faces a full season on the Korn Ferry Tour.<\/p>\n Received this via DM: Adam Hadwin learning the consequences of his actions on Friday at the Valspar Championship. pic.twitter.com\/ZiitjOdao3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Alex Gelman (@agsnetworks) March 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Taylor Moore (T62, 2-under)<\/p>\n Moore, also a former Valspar winner, saw his exemption expire after a disappointing season. He finished 121st in the FedEx Cup to earn conditional status, but Q-School was his chance to avoid a return to the Korn Ferry Tour \u2014 and he couldn\u2019t capitalise.<\/p>\n Andrew Putnam (T79, 1-under)<\/p>\n The 2018 Barracuda Championship winner has shown flashes in recent seasons, but consistency has been an issue. Putnam finished 114th in the FedEx Cup to earn conditional status, though most of his 2026 campaign will likely be spent on the Korn Ferry Tour.<\/p>\n Cameron Champ (T92, 1-over)<\/p>\n One of the biggest shocks. A three-time PGA Tour winner and once one of the longest hitters in the game, Champ\u2019s career has stalled since a wrist injury in 2021. Finishing 147th in the FedEx Cup, he now faces a complete reset on the Korn Ferry Tour. At just 30, time is on his side \u2014 but the climb back looks steep.<\/p>\n Hayden Springer (T111, 3-over)<\/p>\n Springer briefly caught the spotlight with a 59 at the 2024 John Deere Classic, but consistency has eluded him. He narrowly missed conditional status at 131st in the FedEx Cup and now heads back to the Korn Ferry Tour at just 28 years old.<\/p>\n Harry Higgs (T111, 3-over)<\/p>\n One of the Tour\u2019s biggest personalities endured a forgettable week. Higgs finished 132nd in the FedEx Cup and then failed to contend at Q-School. A three-time Korn Ferry Tour winner, he\u2019ll hope that circuit once again provides a platform to rebound.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Lanto Griffin (T120, 4-over)<\/p>\n While Ben Griffin (no relation) enjoyed a breakout season, it was the opposite story for Lanto. The 2019 Houston Open champion scraped conditional status by finishing 125th in the FedEx Cup but was unable to secure full status at Q-School. At 37, he\u2019ll be keen to make a quick return.<\/p>\n Check out all the scores at Q School here<\/a><\/p>\n Subscribe to our Newsletter