Qualifying school, also known as Q school, is a rigorous set of golfing events designed to funnel great players onto the PGA Tour while weeding out those with lesser talent. Q School was started back in 1995 and essentially acted as a minor league farm system until 2013, when the PGA decided to get a sponsor for the tournaments and change the format, which resulted in the Web.com Tour.
In 2019, this name changed to the Korn Ferry Tour, which is still used today. Many still refer to the tournaments at this stage as Q School.
Q School, before many of the major changes it underwent, produced some of the most heated battles and fierce competitions, so much so that whole books were written about the topic. Though obviously not under as much spotlight as any of the PGA Tour Events, Q School often showcases some of the grittiest performances, as the entire system is meant to test both the physical and mental aptitude of the players in the field.
Q School is traditionally broken up into three different stages — the pre-qualifying stage, first stage, second stage and final stage.
Is There More Than One Q School?
Currently, there are two paths golfers can take to make it to the pros. One is the DP World Tour, which is Europe’s path to professional status. The other option is the Korn Ferry Tour, which is the more prestigious Tour that takes place on American soil. Graduate from here and you’re on the PGA Tour.
The Different Stages of Q School
Originally, Q School offered a direct route for amateur golfers to work their way through the rankings and earn a place in the PGA Tour. This format involved four different stages.
Pre-Qualifying Stage
Just to get into Q School you first needed to qualify in the pre-qualifying stage. This involved a series of seven tournaments in September, all held in warm parts of the United States. Typically this stage would include former college players and mini-tour players seeking PGA status for the first time. The top 35 to 40 players from this stage move on.
First Stage
This stage took place in October, in the form of thirteen tournaments each played over four rounds. The competitors in this stage were those who graduated from the pre-qualifying stage and those who had been exempt from pre-qualifying. The top 25 players from the first stage advance.
Second Stage
The second stage is made up of six tournaments in November, with only the top twenty from here advancing.
Final Stage
For the final stage, players competed in one last tournament played over six rounds in November and early December. The final stage is comprised of those who worked their way up through Q School and those exempt into the final stage. As you can probably guess, this stage was made up of the very best and created some serious battles on the links.
Does Q School Still Exist?
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Q School to PGA Tour funnel was reintroduced, allowing those who finish in the top five of Q School to gain their PGA Tour cards.
How to Get Into Q School
As you saw from the format of Q School, even qualifying can be a rigorous test. In order to qualify, you’ll have to be at the top of your game. Here are some steps to get into Q School.
Refine Your Game
At the very least, you’ll be wanting to break par consistently. If you’re not, it’s likely that you’re going to get kicked from the qualifying stage quickly. Leading up to the Q School qualifiers, be sure to refine your game and make sure it’s in tip-top shape so you’re ready for the competition.
Register
You can register for Q School by going to the PGA website and selecting the qualifying event you want to participate in. From there, you’ll get a list of contact information. Reach out to the correct person and express your interest in playing in the tournament.
Pay Your Dues
Playing in Q School isn’t free. In order to enter the Korn Ferry Tour, it costs $6,500, so you’re going to want to make sure you have a legitimate shot of making it.
Do Your Research and Prepare
Once you register and pay your dues, it’s time to go all in on research. Take a look at the schedule and what courses you’ll be playing at. Make sure you have your mind and body right and prepare for the rigor ahead.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Q School.
How Much Is Q School?
The Korn Ferry Tour has recently increased in costs, requiring players to shell out $6,500 to play. The DPWT Q School has remained constant at $2,200.
What Are the Advantages of Going to Q School?
There was a lot of concern when Q School was pulled away because it offered a clear way for amateur players to achieve their dream of playing in the pros. Now that it’s back, there is some hope for amateur players, but the stakes are even higher and the room for error is minuscule.
Q School: The Bottom Line
Q School has had a long and winding history, though it always, in some way or another, has acted as a conduit for aspiring pros to achieve their dream.