The landscape of the PGA Tour has become increasingly complex, with changes to the structure of PGA-sanctioned Tours adding layers of intricacy. The final stage of Q-School, featuring players competing for various statuses, exemplifies this evolution. For the unversed, the top 5 players and ties at Q-School earn PGA Tour cards, while the next 40 and ties secure guaranteed starts on the Korn Ferry Tour. Within this group, the top 25 and ties receive 12 guaranteed starts, while the remainder of the top 40 and ties are assured 8 starts.

This year, few players have endured a more heartbreaking journey than Barstool golfer Alistair Docherty. In October, at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, Docherty posted an impressive final-round 68 in Indiana. For much of the day, it seemed as though he was on the cusp of earning his first PGA Tour card. To achieve this milestone, Docherty needed to finish as the outright runner-up to break into the top 30 of the Korn Ferry Tour points list. However, a tie with Doc Redman and Brian Campbell dashed his hopes, leaving him just one stroke shy of his goal.

Docherty’s agony didn’t end there. At the final stage of Q-School, he was tied for the lead heading into the last round. Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, he failed to record a birdie until the 17th hole. Needing one more birdie to clinch his PGA Tour card, his approach shot on the 18th hole sailed past the green. He closed with a 73, once again falling a single stroke short.

Now, the 30-year-old appears to be coming to terms with a future that doesn’t yet include a PGA Tour card. Reflecting on Docherty’s difficult season, Monday Q Info shared on X, “Damn, this game can be brutal. Alistair Docherty missed his PGA Tour card during the KFT finals by one stroke. And now he missed at Q-School by one stroke. He won’t be thinking about it now, but halfway through the KFT season this year he was in danger of losing his KFT card, so all in all, a great season.”

While there were a lot of heartbreaks at the Pete Dye Course at Indiana’s French Link Golf Resort after the final round, there was one person who came out with flying colors. 

Noah Goodwin becomes tour-bound

Noah Goodwin’s journey to securing a PGA Tour card is a testament to perseverance and determination. After 17 years of relentless effort, Goodwin finally got his breakthrough in October at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. The moment came down to a nail-biting finish, with his fate hinging on the final holes played by Brian Campbell and Doc Redman.

As Goodwin anxiously watched both players line up their putts on the 18th green, he knew a birdie from either could cost him his dream. But when they carded even-par, the relief was palpable. Describing the intense experience, Goodwin shared, “Awful. Awful. Every second of it was awful. There was no break the entire time. I mean, God, at the end of the day, I got lucky. But it takes a lot of luck to play this game, and it takes a lot of luck to get where we are going. So, I am just grateful, I am proud of the effort, and I am proud of the people I have around me who have been here for me and gotten me through all of this. Yeah, that’s about it.”

As the realization of his achievement sank in, Goodwin sprinted to embrace his girlfriend in a heartfelt moment of celebration, finally tasting the reward of nearly two decades of dedication. His long-awaited journey to becoming “Tour-bound” serves as an inspiring story for golfers and fans alike, showcasing the grit and persistence needed to succeed at the highest levels of the sport.

These two events underscore the contrasting tale of sports with the duo of Docherty and Goodwin on the opposite spectrum of things. How will their respective careers pan out in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments below!