The six days that encompass the PGA Tour’s Q-School are among the most difficult and grueling in golf. This year four Canadians are trying for their cards — former tour winner Ian Leggatt, Guelph’s Brian Decorso, Manotick’s Brad Fritsch, and Kemptville’s Lee Curry.
Of the group it was Decorso who looked like he had the best shot, but he struggled in the fifth round, falling into the pack and making a year on the Nationwide a likelihood. Fritsch is also likely too far back, and will spend the year on the Nationwide. Curry has never really been a factor.
Leggatt has struggled, and frankly I’m surprised he even made it to the final round after failing to play practically any decent golf for the past two years. The same had largely been true of the final round of Q-School, accept he fired a 64 in round five. Likely too little too late.
The Top 25 get PGA Tour cards, while the next 50 get status on the Nationwide. The remaining group get conditional status on the Nationwide Tour.
While it would appear no Canadian will play his way onto the PGA Tour, there will be a bumper crop at the Nationwide level. The four from Q-School will join David Morland, David Hearn, and Chris Baryla.
Among the more intriguing storylines is the emergence of Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey, a former contestant on the Golf Channel’s Big Break, who appears poised to get his PGA Tour card. I guess Big Break really is American Idol for golfers…
For a good breakdown of the day-by-day action, check out Golf Digest’s daily coverage here.
Wow, I can’t wait to see CBS’s swing tracker show us the slo-mo version of Tommy Two-Gloves’ crazy hack.