Hayden Springer Secures PGA Tour Card One Month After Personal Tragedy

Outliving your children has to be up there with life’s cruelest tricks.

An absolute tear-jerker story comes from final qualifying today that I think has to be shared, with a tragic start and a magical ending.

Trisomy 18 struck Hayden Springer’s three-year-old daughter, Sage with a prenatal diagnosis. The disease is also known as Edward’s Syndrome – and affects 1 in 6,000 babies. They rarely survive more than a year when born with the illness, for which there is no cure. Sage wasn’t expected to make it out of the hospital, but lived for three years.

Springer, a Nashville native, is still only 26. Despite barely hitting a shot due to his grief-stricken November, secured his PGA Tour card today; only one month after his daughter’s tragic death.

Hayden Springer can earn a PGA Tour card on Sunday as he’s T-5 heading into the final round of Q-school. Top 5 and ties earn a card.

He lost his 3 year old girl, Sage who was diagnosed w/ Trisomy 18, a month ago.

Let’s have a Sunday, Hayden! pic.twitter.com/zPWpvpDN5V

— Mark Harris (@itismarkharris) December 16, 2023

Hayden will receive $500,000 as part of the new Pathway to the PGA Tour program, and will tee it up alongside the world’s best next season. All fully exempt players who compete in 15 tournaments will be guaranteed the money upfront – through the creation of the Earnings Assurance Program.

Springer entered the week with full Korn Ferry Tour status but had this to say earlier in the week:

“It’s life-changing. I’ve spent most of my life dreaming of playing on the PGA Tour. It’s a special opportunity to be here and have a chance.”

Springer carded three bogeys on his final round back nine and danced with the devil after finding water with his tee shot on the 17^th hole. He managed to save bogey, which proved vital.

Springer finished fourth overall, with the top five guys locking up guaranteed cards for 2024. The spirit of Sage Springer calmed Hayden’s nerves down the 18^th – carding a par. Daughter Annie and wife Emma were waiting in the wings, white-knuckling the wild ride that is final qualifying. At one point, a dropped shot on 18 for Springer would’ve meant PGA Tour cards for three other guys. It’s really that close.

“She’s special,” Springer said when asked about Sage. “She’s very special. She’s so special, and we’re going to miss her forever. There’s no way around that, but she was strong. She was a fighter. We always said she had strength in heart, and that will stay with us forever.”

As always, Ryan French at Monday Q Info did a great job in taking us through the ebbs and flows of final qualifying. Hayden Springer lost his daughter on November 13^th and secured his card for the PGA Tour and half a million dollars guaranteed before Christmas. He’ll probably gain half a million extra fans once his story becomes known. With wife Emma and one year old Annie still going strong in his corner, he might just have the story of the season.

Cover Image via ESPN