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Golf’s Q-School Explained

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Q-School PGA TOURIn professional golf, the term “qualifying school”, or “Q-School” represents annual qualifying tournaments for the world’s leading golf tours such as the PGA, LPGA, and European Tours.  Here players have the opportunity to win membership for the TOUR for the following season, otherwise known as obtaining your “tour card”.

The players who earn their card at Q-School will join the “in the money” players from the previous years who have received exempt status for their play in the current year.  For example, Ian Poulter finished in the top 125 this year in the number 45 spot, therefore he has automatically earned his TOUR card for next year and is exempt from further qualification.   A player can finish outside the 125 and still be exempt under certain conditions such as winning specific tournaments like majors or the Tour Championship.

Q-School dates back to 1965. The 2012 edition involves four stages:

  • Pre-Qualifying Stage: Five tournaments are held in September in warm-weather locations in the United States. All of these tournaments are played over three rounds. In each tournament, roughly 35 to 40 players, plus ties, advance to the next stage.
  • First Stage: Thirteen tournaments held in October all in the United States and each are played over four rounds. The participants are a mixture of Pre-Qualifying Stage winners and players who were exempted from Pre-Qualifying.  Approximately the top 25 players plus the players that tie in each tournament will advance to the Second Stage.
  • Second Stage: Six tournaments which are held in November and played over four rounds. Like the First Stage, certain players can receive exemptions to this stage. The top 20 plus tied players in each tournament will advance.
  • Final Stage: One tournament played over six rounds in late November-early December. The field consists of Second Stage winners and players who received exemptions into the Final Stage. In this stage, the top 25 players, plus ties, earn PGA TOUR cards for the following year.

There are other ways to earn exemptions, for example, Bubba Watson won the 2012 Masters, and so he automatically retains a TOUR card for 5 years.  No matter how it’s achieved, earning one’s TOUR card is never an easy endeavor.  The process ultimately ensures that only the world’s top players are permitted to compete on TOUR.  Either way it certainly has us thinking… wouldn’t it be nice to earn a PGA TOUR card and quit your 9-5?  For now, we can only dream.


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