THURSDAY is Here . . .

Skeeta56®

Oculus Spirit [80328]

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Posts: 13170

Joined: 9/24/18

THURSDAY is Coming . . . (Continued)

Dec 13, 2023, 9:53 PM

As Posted Earlier in the Week here is a better explanation of what is at stake:

Competition format
The 168-player field will play two rounds at TPC Sawgrass’ Dye’s Valley Course and two rounds at Sawgrass Country Club. The field will be split evenly between the two courses for Thursday and Friday action, with each competitor playing one round at Dye’s Valley Course and one round at Sawgrass Country Club.

After the second round, the field will be re-paired for the third and fourth rounds. The top half of the field after 36 holes will play the third round at Sawgrass Country Club and the fourth round at Dye’s Valley Course. The bottom half of the field after 36 holes will play the third round at Dye’s Valley Course and the fourth round at Sawgrass Country Club.

There will be no cut; all competitors will play 72 holes. Players will compete in the same groupings for Rounds 1 and 2. Players will compete in the same groupings for Rounds 3 and 4.

All players who tee it up at Final Stage will secure conditional Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR Americas status at minimum for 2024. After the five (and ties) who earn PGA TOUR cards, the next 40 finishers (and ties) will receive guaranteed Korn Ferry Tour starts.

Benefits
• Top five finishers and ties at Final Stage will earn PGA TOUR cards.

• The next 40 finishers and ties at Final Stage will earn exempt status through multiple reshuffles of the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour season, with the first 25 finishers and ties being subject to the third reshuffle (12 guaranteed starts), and any remaining finishers within the category being subject to the second reshuffle (eight guaranteed starts).

• The next 20 finishers and ties at Final Stage will earn exempt status for the Latin America Swing of the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas season, while also earning conditional Korn Ferry Tour membership.

• All remaining finishers at Final Stage will have conditional Korn Ferry Tour membership and conditional PGA TOUR Americas membership for the 2024 season.

Note: The players who earn TOUR cards via Final Stage will slot into a category directly between Nos. 2-30 on the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Points List and Nos. 126-150 on the 2023 FedExCup Fall standings.

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Five out of 168. Those odds put inordinate pressure on everybody in the field,

before they even strike the first shot. I still remember reading Peter Jacobsen's chapter about his experience in Q-School. Something to the effect of:

"On the last hole, I found myself in position to secure my card with a par. But, I put my drive in a bunker, which required a skinny four iron shot to a guarded green. I did not have that shot in my bag. But, I HAD to have that shot in my bag, else I would not be allowed to wear Sansabelt slacks for a living. I somehow got the ball onto the green, and made my par, but not before scaring the he!! out of myself by knocking my first putt four feet past the hole. My knees were knocking so badly, I could barely hold the putter as I stroked that last putt."

Sansabelt double knit slacks were a thing back then. Jacobsen got his card. Among those who missed by a single shot? One Curtis Strange, who would have to wait another year. He eventually did OK, though.

Wow, just a quick browse turned up the name Chris Petefish. He turned pro

An early look . . .