Life is Hard and Keeping Your Card is Harder

It’s October, meaning if you haven’t secured your 2009 playing card by now you are running out of time. Last year’s PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament was contested over six rounds at two different courses at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge. The top 25 players (and ties) all earned full playing privileges on the 2008 PGA TOUR. So, how did the 26 players who earned their PGA TOUR cards measure up in 2008?

The number one qualifier, Frank Lickliter, used the experience he gained in 362 PGA starts and two wins to kick-butt at last year’s q-school posting a whopping 29-under performance. He opened with a pair of 62s and never looked back.

However, Frank Lickliter was unable to muster any of that magic on Tour in 2008, and unless he pulls a Villegas or Singh and wins the next two Tour events, he’s going back to q-school.

Last year’s second place winner, Brett Rumford, faired even worse and is ranked 156th as of October 1, 2008. The Australian won the 2004 Irish Open as well as the 2003 St. Omer Open, and the Omega European Masters, but that was then and this is now. Brett is also headed back to q-school.

Chris Stoud, the 25-year old Texan, finished third at q-school last year. In 2007 he was close to keeping his card finishing 133rd on the Tour money list, but close isn’t good enough. However, 2008 has not been any kinder to young Chris and if nothing changes he’s going to finish 207th on the money list and that kind of play won’t pay the bills or keep your card.

Number four q-school finisher in 2007, Jin Park, would join fellow South Korean K.J. Choi on the 2008 TOUR. Showing the consistency needed to make it in the big times, Jin played bogey-free in the third and fifth rounds to secure his card. But, alas he could not carry any of the momentum over to 2008 and is presently ranked 183 on the money list, meaning that K. J. Choi may not have anyone to talk to in 2009.

Fifth place qualifier, Jason Allred, had 33 starts, made 9 cuts, and finished 74th on the 2007 Nationwide Tour. The Oregon native shot a stunning 64 in the third round of the Qualifying Tournament to move into contention for a card. He scored an incredible six eagles in the Qualifying Tournament, including an eagle on the par-4 ninth in round one. In 2008 Jason Allred is ranked 224 on the money list.

Are you starting to get the picture?

Number six qualifier, Yong-Eun Yang, is ranked 153; number seven, Tag Ridings, is ranked 152; number eight, Todd Demsey is 204; and number nine Travis Perkins is ranked 235. Of the top-ten q-school qualifiers only number ten Brad Adamonis, ranked 116, is likely to keep his card in 2009.

What a surprise. Before checking this year’s money list, I assumed that getting your card was at least half the battle, but as it turns out it’s maybe only about ten percent of the battle. I can’t imagine what it feels like to work that hard and not only make it through q-school, but finish in the top-ten, only to lose your card your first year out. It must be devastating.

There must be a lesson here, like success is a marathon not a sprint, or perhaps it is something even more obvious; the guys that keep their card year after year, the Fred Couples and Davis Love III and Vijay Singh’s of this golfing world are really, really good, and that may be an understatement.

And, by the way, this year’s q-school is December 3rd through 8th at the PGA West Stadium Course in LaQuinta, California.