On Friday the PGA Tour announced that Thorbjørn Olesen of Denmark and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño of Spain have accepted Special Temporary Membership for the remainder of the 2013 season, making them
eligible for unlimited sponsor’s exemptions.

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Bow down to Bowdo

Coming into the excruciating long week at PGA West for Q-school finals, Steven Bowditch felt like his form was taking a turn for the better. When you’re fighting to re-earn your job–the Australian had conditional status on the PGA Tour last year–the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

The Australian shot an eight-under 64 on the Nicklaus Tournament course to take a one-shot lead through 90 holes heading into Monday’s sixth and final round. (continue reading…)

Charlie Beljan's Cinderella story started when he earned his card at Q-school finals in 2011

As longtime WUP readers know, Q-school is my favorite tournament to cover all season. (Heck, I even went to second stage this year!–talk about the nerve-wracking atmosphere I’ve ever experienced.) Rather than going to Tiger Woods’ member-guest 22-man invite-only World Challenge in the L.A. area, I drove about three hours east to the desert, more specifically PGA West in La Quinta, for what I consider the most intriguing event of the year. Especially since 2012 is the LAST Q-SCHOOL EVER (as we know it — there will no longer be a direct pathway to the PGA Tour).

Let’s take a moment of silence to celebrate and remember 45 years of the only professional sporting event where you can start at Q-school pre-qualifying with no status and then play up to four different stages (full tournaments with strong fields) in the grueling process, which ends with the six-round finals, to earn full status on the PGA Tour for the following season. Ain’t that great?

Everybody loves a “Rudy” and Cinderella story. (continue reading…)

Paul Lawrie against a backdrop of swirling dust.

High winds have forced a suspension of play at the *sharp intake of breath* Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy. (continue reading…)

Didn't think this guy would be making an appearance, did you?

The European Tour’s lucrative roll along the Gulf coast continues this week, and while the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy (henceforth, the Qatar Masters) can’t quite muster the glamour of its bigger, brasher sister, the Abu Dhabi Championship, its first round was far from lacking in both excitement and oddity. (continue reading…)

Gonzo: class ball-striker and fan of trickle-down economics.

You may have been led to believe that the class field of the week was hanging out at The Lakes, but no(!), the Singapore Open is the place to be. Or at least it was, until a downpour of biblical proportions disrupted play and forced the cancellation of the scheduled third round. (continue reading…)