Tag: Korn Ferry Tour

Watch: The homeless golfer who Monday qualified into this week’s Korn Ferry Tour event made a hole-in-one

What a week for Michael Sweeney.

What a week it has been for Michael Sweeney.

On Monday, he holed out for eagle from a bunker to earn a spot in a playoff for the Korn Ferry Tour’s HomeTown Lenders Championship on the 18th hole. In the playoff, he advanced with a par on the second hole, earning his first KFT start at The Ledges in Huntsville, Alabama.

A reminder: Sweeney lives out of his car and raps on Spotify. He pinches every penny to try and fight his way to the PGA Tour.

Well, his story gets even better.

Foggy conditions postponed the first round on Thursday, so his first start had to wait an extra day. On Friday, he wasted little time making his mark on the tournament. On his fourth hole, he aced the par-3 13th hole, playing at 230 yards, with his 4-iron.

Here’s hoping he carries that momentum the rest of the week. It moved him to 3 under thru 4 and tied for the lead early in the first round.

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Living out of his car in a Walmart parking lot and rapping on Spotify, this player just Monday qualified for this week’s Korn Ferry Tour event

Sweeney is doing whatever he can to pursue his dream.

(Editor’s note: This story originally ran on Aug. 2, 2022, but was updated after Sweeney qualified for a Korn Ferry Tour event on April 24.)

Playing great golf is only half the battle when trying to make it to the PGA Tour. Every tournament comes with a steep entry fee, airfare, rental cars, food, hotels, equipment and more.

If you don’t have a steady sponsor or some type of financial aid, it is very difficult to pay your way to the Tour on your own.

Michael Sweeney, an aspiring PGA Tour player, has been fighting to live out his dream. Sweeney doesn’t have a traditional background in collegiate golf, but hasn’t let that stop him from grinding to the top.

To save up for tournaments and travel expenses, Sweeney decided to not rent an apartment but live out of his car.

“I was originally parking in a little rest stop off of 95 and then I got the boot from one of the security guards,” said Sweeney. “So, I ended up sleeping in the Walmart parking lot most nights … which you know is a classy spot to be.”

Photo of Michael Sweeney
Photo of Michael Sweeney. (Michael Sweeney)

Sweeney attempted to qualify for the 2022 U.S. Open and lost his spot in a playoff in Purchase, New York.

“I ended up shooting back-to-back rounds of 69 in the 36 holes and that got me into an eight-way playoff for three spots,” said Sweeney. “Unfortunately, I went par-par in the playoff, but it was an awesome day.”

He finally broke through this week, and will get a start in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Huntsville Open. We go to well-respected scribe Monday Q to pick up the story.

This week Sweeney again spent most of his savings to pay the $500 entry fee for Korn Ferry Monday at the Huntsville Open. He drove up from Florida with another pro. This was Sweeney’s 12th Monday qualifier between the PGA and KFT tours, but he had never made it through. He came to the par-4 18th hole at Huntsville Country Club at 5 under par and thought he needed at least a birdie. Most players lay up on the 366-yard dogleg-right, but Sweeney figured he needed to be aggressive, so he hit a big slice around the corner. His ball ended up in the front bunker about 35 yards short of the green. Thinking he had to get up and down, Sweeney did one better, holing the shot for an eagle. Come to find out, he needed to make that deuce.

The 65 earned him a spot in the playoff, and he advanced with a par on the second hole. On Thursday, Sweeney will tee it up in his first event on any of the tours under the PGA Tour umbrella.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that money for the rest of the week is tight. Sweeney has almost reached the $800 limit on his credit card, so he can’t book a rental car. As of Monday night he still wasn’t sure how he was going to get around for the week. His dad paid for his hotel room, which has the kind of amenities you’d expect for a place with a weekly rate of $500. The Google reviews are littered with complaints of bed bugs, customers being charged for nights they didn’t stay there and drug dealers and sex workers frequenting the parking lot.

In addition to his love for golf, Sweeney raps in his free time. He doesn’t advertise it, but his beats and rap lines are almost as impressive as his golf game. You can find him on Spotify here.

Listen to a full interview with Sweeney and Averee here.

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PGA Tour Americas merges Latinoamerica and Canada tours, aims to create a more efficient, competitive pathway for players

Beginning in February 2024, the two third-level tours will merge under one umbrella.

Goodbye PGA Tour Latinoamerica and PGA Tour Canada, hello PGA Tour Americas.

Beginning in February 2024, the two third-level tours will merge under one umbrella as the PGA Tour continues to grow and develop its product. The restructure will aim to create a more efficient and competitive pathway for players looking to take the next step in their professional golf careers.

PGA Tour Americas will hold 16 events across Latin America, Canada and the United States from February-September, with up to 15 Korn Ferry Tour cards available, as well as numerous exemptions to various stages of PGA Tour Q-School.

“As we build on the rich golf history across Latin America and Canada, we are thrilled about PGA Tour Americas and the role this tour will play in preparing players for the next step in their professional golf journey,” said Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin.

So how will it all work?

Schedule

The full 2024 PGA Tour Americas schedule will be announced in September. Finalized details regarding eligibility, priority ranking, purses and points distribution will be announced closer to the inaugural event in February 2024. Here’s an outline:

  • The season begins in February with the Latin America Swing, which wraps in May.
  • Following that the PGA Tour Americas will host a mid-season Qualifying School and introduce a handful of PGA Tour University graduates.
  • The season will then continue with the North America Swing, where players will compete across Canada and the U.S. from June-September.

Eligibility for the Latin America Swing

Fields for the Latin America Swing (February-May 2024) will consist of 144 players. Those eligible to compete will include the top 60 players from the PGA Tour Latinoamerica points list from 2022-23 as well as the top 60 players on the PGA Tour Canada points list from 2023. Players can also qualify via the following routes (priority ranking to be announced):

  • 2023 PGA Tour Q-School
  • Latinoamerica Dev Series
  • Highest finisher on the 2023 APGA season-long points list who is a member of the APGA Player Development program

Eligibility for the North America Swing

The top 60 players from the Latin America Swing will continue on to compete in the North America Swing (June-September 2024), where the field will increase to 156 players. The top 50 from the PGA Tour Americas Q-School as well as Nos. 6-20 from PGA Tour University will also be eligible. Players can also qualify via the following routes (priority ranking to be announced):

  • Open qualifying and sponsor exemptions
  • Korn Ferry Tour
  • Additional finishers Latin America Swing / PGA Tour Americas Q-School

Performance benefits

The top 10 finishers on the season-long PGA Tour Americas points list will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership. Five conditional Korn Ferry Tour cards are available to the top two finishers in the Latin America Swing and the top three finishers from the North America Swing.

The top 10 finishers on the PGA Tour Americas points list, the top two from the Latin America Swing and the top three from in the North America Swing will all earn exemptions to the Final Stage of PGA Tour Q-School.

The following players will all earn exemptions to the Second Stage of PGA Tour Q-School:

  • Nos. 11–25 on the PGA Tour Americas points list
  • Nos. 3–10 from the Latin America Swing
  • Nos. 4–10 from the North America Swing.

All remaining PGA Tour Americas members will earn exemptions to the First Stage of Q-School.

Why it makes sense

The Latinoamerica and Canada tours were essentially doing the same thing on a different schedule from two tours it was supposed to be feeding, the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour.

Aside from streamlining a confusing pathway to the Tour, the merge will also put all three levels – PGA Tour Americas, Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour – on the same operating schedule in a January–September/October window. From October–December, most PGA Tour players will compete in the fall series. Everyone else will enter Q-School to play for status and exemptions.

More benefits for solid play and an easier to understand system are improvements for both fans and the players. Time will only tell if this was the right move for the Tour, but in theory, it checks out.

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Mac Meissner eagles final hole, cards a 59 at Korn Ferry Tour’s Lecom Suncoast Classic

“I mean, definitely a little bit shocked right now.”

Heading into Friday’s second round at the Lecom Suncoast Classic, Mac Meissner was facing a missed cut.

Eighteen holes later, he’s in the record books.

Meissner carded a 12-under 59 during the second round at Lakewood National’s Commander Course in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, the eighth sub-60 round in Korn Ferry Tour history. He vaulted more than 100 spots up the leaderboard and was only four shots behind leader Kevin Daugherty after the morning wave.

“Based on how yesterday went, I didn’t expect today to go as it did,” Meissner said. “Didn’t hit it great, did not putt very well. I was hoping I could just sneak in the cut and ended up shooting 59. I mean, definitely a little bit shocked right now. That’s my first one ever, and to do it in competition is pretty insane.”

The 24-year-old from Charleston, South Carolina, lost in a playoff against Sam Saunders and Pierceson Coody in Panama earlier this year, and his best round of the season coming in was a 67.

In fact, Saunders was the last person to shoot in the 50s on the Korn Ferry Tour, coming in 2017 at the Tour Championship.

His day started on the back nine, where he birdied two of his first three holes and then three of his last four to turn in 5-under 30. Meissner started the back nine with a pair of pars before birdieing four straight. After a par on 16, he went birdie-eagle to card a 7-under 29 on the back and signed for a 59.

“I’ve had a few 61s, a 60, so been around there, but actually never had a putt for 59,” Meissner said. “That was cool to have one on 18, or on 9. It was kind of a tough putt and I just made a good-sized one on 8 and I was like, ‘Why not?’ It rolled in right in the middle, that was pretty crazy.”

Meissner sits tied for third at 12 under par with Chris Gotterup after the morning wave.

Heading into Saturday, Meissner hopes he can continue the momentum.

“Yesterday I made two birdies, didn’t hit — hit it to a bunch of fringes, just felt like I was close, couldn’t really get the ball on the right side of the hole,” he said. “I just kind of shot a really average even par round out here. That just goes to show you that every day’s different. You wake up, you never know what can happen. I’m just super fortunate to be able to do this in a tournament.”

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After Monday qualifying, Parker Coody joins twin Pierceson Coody in field at 2023 Honda Classic

In a 5-for-3 playoff, Parker hit the stick with his approach and had a tap-in birdie to advance.

It took until Tuesday morning, but Parker Coody earned his way in the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic field thanks to a Monday qualifier. In a 5-for-3 playoff, Coody hit the stick with his approach and had a tap-in birdie to advance.

Now, Coody gets to join his twin, Pierceson, teeing it up at PGA National Resort’s Champion course.

“It’s a lot better than staying at home or watching him this week,” Parker said.

Pierceson, who won the Korn Ferry Tour’s Panama Championship earlier this month, is in the field on a sponsor exemption. The brothers helped Texas claim the 2022 NCAA title last spring, and now, they’ll make their professional debuts on Tour together.

“It’s really cool for our parents,” Pierceson said. “Dad is caddying for Parker this week. Mom is flying in. It’s turned into a good week, and it’s turned into a really special week that hopefully we make the most of.”

For Pierceson, who has two wins on the KFT, it’s his third Tour start as a pro. He previously missed the cut at the AT&T Byron Nelson and the U.S. Open in 2021. Parker is making his second start as a pro; he missed the cut in 2020 at the Shriners Children’s Open.

Parker and Pierceson are the grandsons of Charles Coody, the winner of the 1971 Masters. Charles is close friends with Jack Nicklaus, one of the hosts of the Honda Classic. The brothers say they’ve gotten plenty of advice from grandpa.

“He has referenced Jack, he has referenced Arnie, all those great players that he played with,” Pierceson said. “To see the Bear logo around this week and kind of think about some of the little tidbits he has given us about Jack is really cool.”

Parker earned his first professional victory last summer on PGA Tour Canada. He has conditional status on the KFT and has missed the cut in both his starts. In November, he won the TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational.

The Honda Classic’s field is wedged between a pair of designated events, meaning plenty of names could look to get their big break this week. Parker and Pierceson are hoping to do just that, just don’t get them confused.

“We said this a decent amount, but the goal is to play the Tour together.” Parker said. “This is obviously a great step in that direction, and hopefully in five, 10 years we’re still doing this. But yeah, to be able to both make our Tour starts as professionals together, I think it’s something we’ll always remember.”

They’re not grouped together during the first two rounds but they are in consecutive groups, with Parker playing alongside Kyle Westmoreland and Scott Harrington off the first tee Thursday, just in front of the Harry Higgs-Brandon Matthews-Pierceson Coody trio.

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Ben Silverman blows five-shot lead but wins in playoff at Korn Ferry Tour’s Bahamas Great Abaco Classic

Ben Silverman is a 35-year-old journeyman who was in the field on a sponsor exemption.

Ben Silverman, a 35-year-old journeyman in the field on a sponsor exemption, had a five-shot lead with eight holes to go in the final round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s Bahamas Great Abaco Classic on Wednesday.

He bogeyed the 11th to give one back, then parred Nos. 12 through 17 before making a double-bogey 7 on the par-5 18th hole. Meanwhile, Cody Blick birdied the 12th and 14th holes to cut into the lead. He bogeyed the 17th but made a clutch birdie on the 18th to post a 66 and track down Silverman, who shot a 70, and force a playoff.

The duo played the 18th again in the playoff and this time it was Blick making a double-bogey 7. Silverman made par to claim the win, his first anywhere in nearly six years.

“I’m really proud of myself. I’m very happy. Honestly, even if I didn’t win, I would have come in second, it still would have been a phenomenal week. The trophy is just that much sweeter,” Silverman said. “I’m just going to wait to celebrate with my wife, my family, when I get home, my coaches, support staff, everybody. It’s very special.”

Also special: an honorary membership at the Abaco Club for winning.

“I had no idea, but that’s unbelievable, honorary member out here,” he said. “You can guarantee I’m going to bring my wife, friends, sponsors, we’re definitely coming back for a vacation, for sure.”

The Canadian last won at the 2017 Price Cutter Charity Championship on the KFT.

Shad Tuten, Matt McCarty, Fabian Gomez and Tom Whitney shot 12 under to tie for third. Chandler Phillips, who won the season opener a week ago, finished T-12.

Scott Brown, who made the 36-hole cut Monday, got a call that he was in the field for the PGA Tour’s Farmers Insurance Open as an alternate after John Huh withdrew, so Brown withdrew in the Bahamas to fly to San Diego.

The Korn Ferry Tour opened its 2023 season with back-to-back events in the Bahamas. The next two tournaments will be in Panama and Colombia the next two weeks before the tour takes a five-week break. The first U.S. event this year will be March 23-26 at the Club Car Championship in Savannah, Georgia.

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Chandler Phillips fights off nerves for first Korn Ferry Tour win at 2023 season opener in the Bahamas

The tour will stay in paradise for a second week with the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club next week.

Chandler Phillips was pretty calm all day, aside from his final two putts of the day. The nerves tend to grow when you’re playing for your first professional win.

The former stamdout at Texas A&M shot a 4-under 68 in the final round to secure his first Korn Ferry Tour win Wednesday at the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay. Phillips knew where he stood in the tournament thanks to a scoreboard behind the 18th green, but was able to roll in his par putt on the final hole to preserve a two-shot lead at 14 under as the final group teed off on No. 18.

Cody Blick and Peter Knade finished T-2 at 12 under, with Brett Drewitt, Wil Bateman, Daniel Miernicki, Shad Tuten and Akshay Bhatia all T-4 at 11 under. After missing the cut in his previous two starts in the Bahamas, Tuten held the 54-hole lead for the first time in his career, while Bhatia was aiming to be just the second player to defend a KFT title.

The boys will stay in paradise for another week as the KFT hosts its Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club on Winding Bay next week, Jan. 22-25, which also follows a Sunday-to-Wednesday format.

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Akshay Bhatia tied for lead after two days at Korn Ferry Tour’s Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay

Akshay Bhatia won for the first time on the Korn Ferry Tour this time last year.

Akshay Bhatia won for the first time on the Korn Ferry Tour this time last year. Nearing the halfway mark of the 2023 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, he’s closing in on win No. 2.

Bhatia was 19 and making his first KFT start one year ago when he won. Here in 2023, he opened with a 67 Sunday – the KFT season opening tournament is a Sunday-through-Wednesday affair – and posted a 69 on Monday. He had four bogeys (and two birdies) on the front but closed with four birdies over his last eight holes, including Nos. 15, 16 and 17. Monday’s 67 came despite a double bogey. He is at 8 under. Play Monday was suspended due to darkness with 14 golfers still on the course.

Shad Tuten is also at 8 under after rounds of 69-67. Three golfers – Daniel Miernicki, Chandler Phillips and Cody Blick – are a shot back tied for third, although Blick is only through 15 holes.

Other notables in the field include Chase Seiffert (T-10), Grayson Murray (T-13), Camilo Villegas (T-48) and Willie Mack III (T-93).

First-round leader Jeremy Paul followed up his 65 with a 79 in the second round.

The purse this week is $1 million, with $152,272 going to the winner.

 

Here are 5 things to know about the Korn Ferry Tour ahead of the 2023 season, which starts Sunday

Expect big things from the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023.

The Korn Ferry Tour’s 33rd season gets going Sunday in the Bahamas. You read that right, the first event of the 2023 season starts on Sunday.

With the news season comes bigger purses, new tournaments, plenty of fresh faces and a chance at a PGA Tour card.

The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay features a new wave of golfers will look to earn their cards for the 2023-24 season.

“The ultimate proving ground, the Korn Ferry Tour continues to identify, prepare and transition golf’s next stars to compete on the PGA Tour,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a release.

Here’s a look at things to know ahead of the Korn Ferry Tour’s 2023 season.

Here are the golfers who won the Korn Ferry Tour’s 2022 Player and Rookie of the Year awards

Justin Suh secured Player of the Year over Carl Yuan and Taylor Montgomery.

The future of the PGA Tour is bright.

Look no further than Justin Suh, who Wednesday was tabbed the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year. Suh won the Korn Ferry Tour Championship for his first professional victory, and he also had 10 top-10 finishes in 24 starts last season.

In a vote by fellow Korn Ferry players, Suh secured the Player of the Year distinction over Carl Yuan and Taylor Montgomery, who were fellow finalists. Suh finished No. 1 on both the Korn Ferry’s season-long and Finals Eligibility Points Lists, joining Scottie Scheffler (2019) and Chesson Hadley (2017) as the only players in history to win both points lists.

He finished inside the top 20 in 16 of his final 20 starts.

By sweeping the No. 1 spots on both Eligibility Points Lists, Suh has fully exempt status for the 2022-23 Tour season, an exemption for the 2023 Players Championship and, for the first time in history, an exemption for the 2023 U.S. Open.

S.H. Kim was named Rookie of the Year, and he had a strong season, finishing in the top three thrice in his first seven starts. In 22 starts, he recorded nine top 25s.

Kim earned membership by playing his way through the 2021 Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament, ultimately finishing T-39 during final stage qualifying to earn guaranteed starts.

On the PGA Tour this season, Suh’s best finish is T-29 at the CJ Cup in South Carolina, and Kim tallied a fourth-place finish at the Shriners Children’s Open.

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