Oh no...not now...no, please...uh oh...no...wait...oh, crap.

Thirteen pre-qualifier tournaments, thirteen first-stage events and six second-stage events later, the pool of thousands of golfers hoping to re(earn) their place on the PGA Tour in 2012 has been dwindled down to 173 players, ranging from recent college grads, mini-tour grinders, journeymen, has-beens, major champs, former Tour winners, past Ryder Cup members and guys who had a tough season. All of whom will kick off the grueling six-round, 108-hole marathon at PGA West’s Nicklaus Tournament and Stadium courses this morning. At the finish line, the top 25 (and ties) will collect their cards. (continue reading…)

TAIII returns to Q-school: Mid-life crisis?

The last man standing at the driving range at PGA West on Monday evening was the oldest player in the field at the final stage of PGA Tour Q-school. Tommy Armour III has enjoyed a long, fulfilling career, which includes playing professional golf since 1981 (before probably half of the guys in the field were even born).

At age 52 the two-time PGA Tour winner played full-time on the Champions Tour in 2011, notching four top-tens in 23 starts to finish 28th on the money list. While he didn’t play any events on what he calls the “regular” tour for the first time since 1982, Armour decided to give it a go again, signing up for Q-school and winning second stage at the Hombre GC site to advance to this week’s final test. (continue reading…)

Just another day in paradise!

While the majority of the media corps arrived in the L.A. area for the Chevron World Challenge, Tiger’s money-grab event (but proceeds all go to charity so hooray!), I stepped off a plane about two hours east in Palm Springs for my second-favorite tournament of the year (fave is the British Open), PGA Tour Q-School finals at PGA West. Which might seem strange to some, but I love the atmosphere, the concept of 150-plus guys — most of whom had to endure the first- and second- stages — whittled down from an original pool of thousands, with some fighting for a shot at livin’ the dream (for the first, fourth or tenth time) , others trying to get their jobs back and just one playing out of boredom. (continue reading…)