Konperitour Players "What Shall We Do?"

1Bu Tour Players' Qualifications Extended Until Next Year: "Only Top 10 in 2Bu Tour Enter Regular Tour" Complaints

[Asia Economy Reporter Nowrae] The threshold for the U.S. Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour has become higher.

This is the complaint from Korn Ferry Tour (2nd tier) players caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The PGA Tour recently decided to extend the eligibility of 1st tier tour players until next year. While this is welcome news for lower-ranked players barely holding onto their tour cards, it is a thunderbolt for Korn Ferry Tour players. On the 3rd (Korean time), Golf Channel USA expressed concern, saying, "The gateway to the PGA Tour has been narrowed further," and "It will be difficult to inject young players for the time being."

Every year, the top 25 players on the Korn Ferry Tour are promoted to the PGA Tour. Players ranked 26th to 75th compete in the Final Series for another chance to enter the big stage. Through this process, 50 players each year realize their dream of advancing to the PGA Tour. However, this year, only 10 players can obtain 1st tier cards. Because the eligibility of existing players was extended by one year and the player roster is already full, the number of players promoted from the Korn Ferry Tour was minimized.

Next year, there will be no opportunity for new faces to shake up the field. Korn Ferry Tour players are in a somewhat better situation. The Korn Ferry Tour also decided not to hold the Qualifying (Q) School this year to protect the players currently competing. This is a blow to college players who have been honing their skills with the intention of turning professional. They are in a difficult position where they must either play another year as amateurs or try to gain opportunities through sponsor exemptions or Monday qualifiers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.