Relegated LIV golfer contending for PGA Tour card in Q-school

Turk Pettit is making an attempt to perform one thing no participant has ever carried out: go from LIV Golf to the PGA Tour.

Pettit, who’s simply 24 years previous, performed on the Saudi-backed circuit throughout its inaugural 2022 season. He competed in all eight occasions whereas enjoying for Bubba Watson’s Niblicks GC, which has been rebranded to the Vary Goats.

The previous Clemson Tiger earned nearly $1.7 million, in line with Golf Month-to-month. His greatest end got here at LIV Golf’s Bangkok occasion in Thailand, the place he tied for twenty seventh.

But, he struggled to realize any traction on the breakaway circuit, as he was relegated to the Asian Tour, the place he spent most of his time all through 2023.

His greatest end this season got here on the St. Andrews Bay Championship, the place he completed in a tie for eighth. Pettit held the 54-hole lead by himself after firing a 10-under 62 in the course of the third spherical of play. However a disappointing 2-over 74 saved him from the winner’s circle on Sunday.

Photograph by Paul Devlin/Getty Pictures

He most not too long ago completed in a tie for 56th on the Macao Open, the place Min Woo Lee emerged victorious.

However, Pettit’s relegation from LIV to the Asian Tour has allowed him to try to earn a PGA Tour card by means of Q-school.

All LIV Golf gamers stay suspended by the PGA Tour, a movement in place since June 2022. Apparently, since Pettit doesn’t play for LIV Golf anymore, he’s now eligible to try to qualify for the tour.

Pettit performed properly on the first stage of Q-school, making it by means of to the second stage of qualifying after he completed solo eighth on the Walden on Lake Conroe Golf Membership in Montgomery, Texas.

The highest 19 gamers and ties from Montgomery, Texas certified for the second stage, which is listed in its entirety under:

• Nov. 14-17: RTJ Golf Path at Highland Oaks (Highlands/Marshwood), Dothan, Alabama
• Nov. 14-17: Tesoro Membership (Palmer), Port St. Lucie, Florida
• Nov. 14-17: The Landings Membership (Deer Creek), Savannah, Georgia
• Nov. 28-Dec. 1: Valencia Nation Membership, Valencia, California
• Nov. 28-Dec. 1: Kinderlou Forest Golf Membership, Valdosta, Georgia

Ought to Pettit make it by means of the second stage, he’ll then head to Ponta Vedra Seashore, Florida, in mid-December, the place the ultimate stage of Q-College will happen. Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass and Sawgrass Nation Membership’s East and West programs will host the finals of Q-school.

This would be the first time since 2012 that the PGA Tour is awarding tour playing cards by means of Q-school, as the highest 5 finishers plus ties will obtain playing cards for the 2024 season.

Between 2013 and 2022, the highest 40 finishers in Q-school earned Korn Ferry Tour playing cards for the following seasons.

Ought to Pettit reap the benefits of this chance, he should play properly once more at one of many 5 venues internet hosting the second stage. It stays to be seen what number of gamers will advance from the second stage to the ultimate spherical of Q-school. The place Pettit will tee it up throughout that second stage can also be unknown at this juncture.

Regardless, Pettit has the chance to do one thing slightly groundbreaking. Nonetheless, it might not be that unorthodox ought to the PGA Tour’s settlement with the Saudi Public Funding Fund undergo by Dec. 31, 2023.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. You should definitely take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.