392:, are assured of entry into regular tour events, and only for the first half of the season. If necessary, a playoff is used to reduce the number of fully exempt players to five. Golfers who will turn 50 during the next PGA Tour Champions season are allowed to enter Q-School, although they will not be eligible to compete on the tour until their birth date. An example of this occurred at the 2012 Q-School, with two of the top five finishers having been born on June 13, 1963. Their exemptions were temporarily taken up by the sixth- and seventh-place finishers. Players 6th-12th are conditionally exempt. Those in the top thirty plus ties are given entry into all open-qualifying tournaments.
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tournament entry is 24; this ranking enables them to enter most full-field events on the PGA Tour, but not more prestigious stops on the tour unless a substantial number of players in higher categories skip the events. For example, the top 125 players on the previous year's money list who are not otherwise eligible are at priority 19; sponsor's exemptions are priority 11; and winners of PGA Tour events in the previous two years are priority 9. The next 50 players plus ties after the top 25 earned fully exempt Korn Ferry Tour cards for the following year, and any remaining finishers receive conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour.
43:
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getting more priority in tournaments. The initial reshuffle began with the Q School medalist, then 2nd place on the Korn Ferry Tour money list (the money leader is fully exempt), second in Q School, and so on. The order would change according to season earnings after the eighth tournament of the season, the
Masters, Players Championship, U.S. Open, and British Open, again with the highest earning players receiving higher priority into tournaments.
123:. A fixed number of players in the event win membership of the tour for the following season, otherwise known as a "tour card", meaning that they can play in most of the tour's events without having to qualify. They join the leaders on the previous year's money list/order of merit and certain other exempt players as members of the tour.
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Winning enough money on multiple events on the tour as a qualifier/sponsor's invitee to meet whatever criteria the tour may lay down for promotion to full membership. Even without his 1996 tournament wins, Woods would have earned his tour card by finishing in the top 125 on the 1996 money list, since
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Regional
Qualifying Stage: Three tournaments played over four rounds and held in late October, all in warm-weather locations in the United States. Each tournament has a field of roughly 78 players, with roughly 16 to 17 advancing to the final stage. Two alternates are also chosen at each site in case
317:
The leading 30 players and ties at Final
Qualifying receive category 11 membership of the European Tour, which entitles them to entry to a substantial number of European Tour events, but not to the more prestigious stops on the tour unless a large number of players in higher exemption categories miss
429:
Winning a specified number of tournaments on the tour's official developmental tour may grant an exemption. For example, both the PGA Tour and
European Tour grant a "performance promotion" — informally known as a "battlefield promotion" — to any player who wins three events on its developmental tour
402:
and Japan Senior Tour Orders of Merit, all players not already exempt who are in the top 75 of either the current year's or all-time PGA Tour
Champions money list. Also, since 2010, golfers who have either won an event or made 150 cuts on the regular PGA Tour are exempt to this stage for their first
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The 2012 Qualifying
Tournament was the last to award PGA Tour privileges. The tour announced in March 2012 that after the end of the 2013 PGA Tour season in September of that year, the 2014 season will begin the following month, and future seasons will begin in October of the previous calendar year.
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Pre-qualifying stage: Five tournaments held in
September, all in warm-weather locations in the United States. Each is played over three rounds. This stage was introduced in 2006 with four tournaments (six in 2007, four in 2008). In each tournament, roughly 35 to 40 players, plus ties, advance to the
387:
Final Stage: One tournament played over four rounds in mid-November. The field consists of
Regional Qualifying winners and players who received exemptions into the Final Stage. The top 30 players, plus ties, earn PGA Tour Champions cards for the following year. However, for most, this only provides
159:
First stage: Thirteen tournaments held in
October (compared to 14 in 2005, before the introduction of pre-qualifying, 10 in 2006, 12 in 2007, and 11 in 2008), also in warm-weather locations in the United States. Each is played over four rounds. The participants are a mixture of pre-qualifying stage
248:
Korn Ferry Tour graduates did not count against the 25. If there were less than 25 after the Korn Ferry Tour graduates were discounted, then those in the next position were given PGA Tour cards, as in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, twenty-six golfers originally earned tour cards, which also included Korn
219:
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. The top 25 players, plus ties, earn PGA Tour cards for the following year. Their priority ranking for purposes of
325:, with the remainder of those making the 72-hole cut being granted category 7 status, and those missing the cut, category 12. Any player not making it through to the final stage is able to take up category UR1 membership, with limited opportunities to participate in tournaments during the season.
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never achieve it. There can be up to four stages to negotiate, each of them like a regular golf tournament with only a small number of players going on to the next stage. The final qualifying school may be played over up to six rounds, compared with the standard four rounds in a professional golf
285:
points list will be eligible. The top 25 on the Korn Ferry Tour money list heading into the Finals will receive PGA Tour cards, with the remaining 25 cards to be awarded based on money earned in the Finals. The Finals money list will determine the priority placing for all 50 card earners in the
244:
A number of players who earned PGA Tour privileges through a Top 25 finish on the Korn Ferry Tour also played in the final stage in attempts to improve their status and order in the reshuffle. The reshuffle alternated between Q School and Korn Ferry Tour graduates, with higher-finishing players
367:—if the top-20 cut includes more than 20 golfers, the players tied for the last position go to a sudden-death playoff to reduce the qualifiers to exactly 20 players. They alternate with the golfers who finished between 81 and 90 on the previous year's LPGA money list.
349:, held in September and October. These tournaments are scheduled so that they do not conflict, and golfers may enter one or both sectionals. The entry fee is $ 4000 for one sectional or $ 5000 for both. The top 30 players, plus ties, from each sectional advance.
194:: 41-70 on Korn Ferry Tour money list, PGA Tour members, winners of Korn Ferry Tour events over past five seasons, applicants who made the cut in a major, applicants who have made 50 or more cuts on the PGA Tour, 51-100 in OWGR, top two available players from
187:
Second stage: Six tournaments in November, also in warm-weather locations and each played over four rounds. Like the First Stage, certain players receive exemptions to this stage. Roughly the top 20 plus ties in each tournament advance.
277:
As a result, from 2013 on, the Qualifying Tournament will only award privileges on the Korn Ferry Tour. New PGA Tour cards for the 2014 season and beyond will instead be awarded at the end of a four-tournament series, known as the
1211:
1204:
360:, played over five rounds. No extra fee is charged for entry. The top 45 players, plus ties, receive Tournament Division Membership. Their priority position varies depending on their Q-School finish:
151:, but the organization also frequently refers to it as "Q-School". The system began in 1965. The 2012 edition (the final Q School that offered a direct path to the PGA Tour) involved four stages:
289:
In 2015, Korn Ferry Tour Q School was reduced to a four-round event. In 2023, Q School allowed players to earn PGA Tour cards for the first time in a decade, giving cards to top five plus ties.
273:, and finishing 28th on the money list en route to Rookie of the Year honors. Knost did well enough to keep his Tour privileges, while former PGA Tour winner Green finished outside the Top 150.
430:
in a season. Such a player is exempt from qualifying on the higher tour for at least the remainder of that season; on the PGA Tour, the exemption runs for the entirety of the following season.
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718:
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next stage. Participants in this stage are former college players and mini-tour veterans who have never played in a PGA-sanctioned event or major international tour.
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The top 20 finishers receive Category 12 membership, which entitles them to entry in most full-field events apart from the more prestigious events. Note that this
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227:
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two seasons of PGA Tour Champions eligibility, as are former PGA Tour Champions winners for the first two seasons after losing their exemption for that tour.
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Finishing near the top of the money list/order of merit on the tour's official developmental tour, such as the Korn Ferry Tour for the PGA Tour, the
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Special categories for elite golfers: Most tours offer automatic memberships to golfers with outstanding achievements such as winning a recent
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The PGA Tour Champions, the PGA Tour's circuit for golfers age 50 and older, has its own "Q-School". As of 2011, it involves two stages:
398:: Top five in the current year's Senior PGA Professional National Championship, top available player (no lower than fifth) on both the
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were also given Tour cards for 2012. Huh was the most successful of the three, winning at Mayakoba, playing in all four stages of the
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Some lower status tours are open to any registered professional who pays a membership fee so they do not have a qualifying school.
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winners and players who were exempted from pre-qualifying. Roughly the top 25 players plus ties in each tournament advance.
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tournament. However, players who are successful at qualifying school can reach the elite level of competition very quickly.
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Winning a tournament on the tour after gaining entry to it through its qualification event or as a sponsor's invitee.
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86:
64:
57:
281:, in which the top 75 money winners on the Web.com Tour and non-exempt golfers placing between 126 and 200 on the
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First Qualifying Stage: eight tournaments, held in various countries around Europe, each played over four rounds.
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Second Qualifying Stage: four tournaments, each of four rounds, at four different courses in Spain.
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Final Qualifying Tournament: A single tournament held in late November-early December at the
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Final Qualifying Stage: a single tournament played over six rounds at two courses in Spain.
511:"PGA Tour finalizes controversial makeover as Qualifying School gone after six-decade run"
8:
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coming season, including those earning cards through the Korn Ferry Tour money list.
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Getting through the qualifying school of an elite tour is very competitive and most
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For complete lists of exempt categories on various tours, see the following pages:
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167:
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Ross Biddiscombe: Golf On The Edge: Triumphs & Tragedies Of Q School (2008)
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The leading 30 players also receive category 4 membership of the second tier
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money list, those with medical extensions, top three available players from
423:
174:(OWGR) by deadline, those who played in a major over previous two seasons,
257:. As there were fewer than 25 after Castro and Anderson were not counted,
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Sectional Qualifying: Two tournaments played over four rounds, one in
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he had three other top-5 finishes as a sponsor's invitee that season.
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Ross Biddiscombe: Golf On The Edge 2: Q School Complete (2009)
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Q School Confidential : Inside Golf's Cruelest Tournament
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The PGA Tour's qualifying school was officially known as the
441:
in October 1996 as a sponsor's invitee, and went on to win
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Finishers between 21 and 45 receive Category 17 membership.
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100:
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Other methods of getting onto an elite golf tour include:
107:
is used for the annual qualifying tournaments for leading
726:
388:
entry into Monday qualifying—only the top five players,
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The European Tour has a three-stage qualifying school:
170:
over past five seasons, applicants ranked 101-200 in
561:"Jones takes medalist honors at Champions q-school"
484:"Web.com impact expanded with qualifying changes"
1236:
555:
553:
638:Tales from Q School: Inside Golf's Fifth Major
409:
384:a qualifier is unable to make the final stage.
337:operates a qualifying school with two stages:
182:, anyone who made the cut in a PGA Tour event.
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226:: 126-150 on PGA Tour's money list, 26-40 on
27:Qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours
563:(Press release). PGA Tour. December 4, 2012
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1119:European Tour Qualifying School graduates
672:An explanation of Q school and exemptions
437:secured his PGA Tour card by winning the
166:: Members of international golf tours or
87:Learn how and when to remove this message
50:This article includes a list of general
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728:PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
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536:"Q-school: Champions Tour preview"
56:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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1250:Qualification for sports events
509:Elling, Steve (July 10, 2012).
299:European Tour Qualifying School
587:"Insight Into the Champion's (
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149:PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament
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1:
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422:for the European Tour or the
30:For snooker tournaments, see
538:. PGA Tour. October 28, 2011
482:Dell, John (July 10, 2012).
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410:Other qualification methods
172:Official World Golf Ranking
142:
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486:. PGA Tour. Archived from
396:Exempt through final stage
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224:Exempt through final stage
180:World Amateur Golf Ranking
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591:) Tour Exemption Process"
192:Exempt into second stage
178:members, top 20 in the
111:such as the U.S.-based
71:more precise citations.
439:Las Vegas Invitational
358:Daytona Beach, Florida
279:Korn Ferry Tour Finals
204:PGA Tour Latinoamérica
164:Exempt into this stage
365:does not include ties
249:Ferry Tour graduates
400:European Senior Tour
208:Tour de las Américas
128:professional golfers
490:on December 6, 2012
456:or making a recent
318:those tournaments.
454:major championship
426:for the LPGA Tour.
390:not including ties
375:PGA Tour Champions
354:LPGA International
32:Q School (snooker)
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1085:
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667:978-0-9562850-0-3
657:978-0-9545199-5-7
595:BobbyClampett.com
345:and the other in
238:, top 50 in OWGR.
228:Korn Ferry Tour's
105:qualifying school
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16:(Redirected from
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1245:Golf terminology
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99:In professional
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598:. Retrieved
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565:. Retrieved
540:. Retrieved
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492:. Retrieved
488:the original
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424:Symetra Tour
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259:Nathan Green
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875:1980 (fall)
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847:1978 (fall)
837:1977 (fall)
827:1976 (fall)
817:1975 (fall)
774:1969 (fall)
759:1968 (fall)
567:February 6,
435:Tiger Woods
103:, the term
69:introducing
1239:Categories
764:1968 (APG)
515:CBS Sports
469:References
343:California
263:Colt Knost
206:(formerly
196:Asian Tour
176:Walker Cup
117:LPGA Tours
109:golf tours
52:references
458:Ryder Cup
329:LPGA Tour
283:FedEx Cup
271:FedEx Cup
138:Q-Schools
687:PGA Tour
542:July 11,
520:July 10,
494:July 11,
267:John Huh
143:PGA Tour
119:and the
77:May 2010
18:Q-School
640:(2007)
622:(1999)
347:Florida
65:improve
665:
655:
644:
626:
265:, and
210:), or
54:, but
464:team.
1224:2023
1219:2022
1213:2021
1206:2020
1200:2019
1195:2018
1190:2017
1185:2016
1180:2015
1175:2014
1170:2013
1165:2012
1160:2011
1155:2010
1150:2009
1145:2008
1140:2007
1135:2006
1130:2005
1077:2023
1064:2012
1059:2011
1054:2010
1041:2009
1036:2008
1031:2007
1026:2006
1021:2005
1016:2004
1011:2003
1006:2002
1001:2001
996:2000
983:1999
978:1998
973:1997
968:1996
963:1995
958:1994
953:1993
948:1992
943:1991
938:1990
925:1989
920:1988
915:1987
910:1986
905:1985
900:1984
895:1983
890:1982
807:1974
802:1973
797:1972
792:1971
787:1970
749:1967
744:1966
739:1965
663:ISBN
653:ISBN
642:ISBN
624:ISBN
602:2012
569:2013
544:2012
522:2012
496:2012
335:LPGA
333:The
253:and
234:and
115:and
101:golf
589:sic
460:or
356:in
113:PGA
1241::
636::
593:.
585:.
552:^
513:.
261:,
202:,
198:,
1111:e
1104:t
1097:v
720:e
713:t
706:v
648:.
630:.
604:.
571:.
546:.
524:.
498:.
214:.
90:)
84:(
79:)
75:(
61:.
34:.
20:)
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