Golf World Monday - January 30, 2012

04q-school;plans;Revealed

months of chatter about a radical change to the structure of the pga tour and how
golfers would gain access to it crystallized Jan. 24 at torrey pines with a formal
presentation by commissioner tim finchem to players prior to the farmers insur-
ance open. under the plan, Q school will only award access to the nationwide tour;
150 players from the pga and nationwide tours will compete in a three-tournament
series for 50 pga tour cards. (a series that would not have included 2011 Q-school
medalist brendan todd, above, who finished 84th on last year’s nationwide tour
money list.) moreover, the tour schedule, instead of starting in January, will com-
mence in october beginning in 2013 if the proposal is adopted by the policy board.
“you always have to have change to have growth,” phil mickelson told the the as-
sociated press, but other players questioned the departure from tradition, including
dustin Johnson, who has had a successful career since getting through Q school on
his first attempt. “i don’t like any of the ideas about changing the tour!!!” Johnson
said on twitter. “there is no reason to!!!!!!!!!” rickie fowler, was more diplomatic,
noting the need to attract a new umbrella sponsor for the nationwide tour after
2012. “it’s a tough situation because you want the nationwide tour around, and you
want to have the title sponsor,” fowler said. “at the same time you want to have that
open door for the local club pro to be able to make it into the final stage and have his
chance of making it on the pga tour.” but unless some tweaks occur, the dreamers
are going to have to fight on the undercard first. —Bill Fields (@BillFields1)