PGA Tour Q-School returns with pre-qualifying already underway for 2024 season

It’s back to school for many aspiring professional golfers.

It’s back to school for many aspiring professional golfers, and with the end of the PGA Tour’s wrap-around schedule comes the return of the Q School.

It was back in 2012 when then-commissioner Tim Finchem announced a series of significant changes, among them that all 50 tour cards for the 2013-14 PGA Tour season will be awarded through the then-Nationwide Tour (now the Korn Ferry Tour). Q-School didn’t go away altogether; it was merely reworked for those seeking access to the developmental tour.

Officially titled PGA Tour Q-School presented by Korn Ferry, it has returned with the action getting underway Wednesday in three different locations in California, Illinois and Kansas. There will be four more pre-qualifiers starting Sept. 20 and then one last pre-Q on Sept. 27.

There will be 13 First Stage qualifiers spread out in October and five Second Stage qualifiers in November.

The final stage, for those good enough and probably fortunate enough to survive the grind, will be Dec. 14-17 at TPC Sawgrass Dye’s Valley Course and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

The entry deadline for the pre-qualifying events was Aug. 28, but for those non-members of any of the PGA Tour affiliated tours who did apply paid a $3,000 entry fee. Go to pgatour.com for live leaderboards.

Texas Tech’s Ludvig Aberg finishes first in 2023 PGA Tour University standings, earning a PGA Tour card through the 2024 season

Ludvig Aberg made PGA Tour history on Monday evening. 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ludvig Aberg made PGA Tour history on Monday evening.

He became the first player in the Tour’s history to earn his PGA Tour membership via PGA Tour University. And it became official as soon as stroke play ended Monday at the 2023 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship.

The third PGA Tour University rankings were finalized Monday, and the top 20 golfers secured status on varying professional tours. But it was Aberg taking home the top prize, a new perk to PGA Tour U this year.

Players who finished Nos. 2-5 in the final PGA Tour U rankings earned fully exempt Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2023, as well as an exemption to final stage of 2023 PGA Tour Q-School.

Golfweek/Sagarin rankingsMen’s team | Men’s individual
NCAA LeaderboardTeam | Individual | Photos

Players who finished Nos. 6-10 earned conditional Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2023, fully exempt membership on PGA Tour Canada for 2023, as well as an exemption to second stage of 2023 PGA Tour Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

Then, Nos. 11-20 earned fully exempt membership on PGA Tour Canada for 2023, as well as an exemption to second stage of 2023 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry, and conditional status through the Latin America Swing of the 2024 PGA Tour Americas season.

The program is designed to streamline the process for college players to advance to the professional level while also rewarding those who honor their college commitments. Players must play on the NCAA Division I level and complete a minimum of four years in college to be eligible for PGA Tour U.