Any Given Monday
Throughout the next few months, I am going to dive into the professional golf world. Up until about a year ago, the scene was very confusing to me, not really knowing how the top talent I was watching on TV each week got into that tournament in the first place.
There are a few different ways to play on a professional golf tour. One can make his way through Q-School, gaining status at the final stage, a tournament I will explain in next month’s article. Another way can be through sponsor exemptions. The third way to play your way onto a Tour is the “Monday Qualifier.”
What is a Monday qualifier?
A Monday qualifier is an 18-hole shootout. Taking place on the Monday before the tournament week, there are up to 150 guys playing for just 4 spots. Not an easy task. The majority of players in the qualifier have no status, or at least not enough to get into the current event.
Among many professionals, you will hear the term “Chasing Mondays.” This is referring to a player with no status who follows the TOUR each week, in hopes he’s got a 64 (or lower) in him on that Monday.
The PGA Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour, as well as PGA Tour Americas, have Monday Qualifiers, with everyone in each qualifier chasing the same dream. Better be aiming at most flags, as shooting even par here won’t do you much good.
In the summer of 2022, I played in my first Korn Ferry Monday Qualifier in Vernon Hills, Illinois. With little expectation of claiming one of those four coveted spots, I drove to the course full of nerves and excitement. I remember the day vividly as I was paired with two professionals. One, a journeyman in his mid-thirties, had been “Chasing Mondays” and playing mini-tour events for as long as he could remember. The other, a fresh professional out of the University of Iowa, was coming off of a stellar college career.
The journeyman got off to a great start, birdieing his first 3 holes. I was curious to see if he would be able to keep his foot on the gas.
After hitting it in the water on hole 13, the former Hawkeye walked off the course. I have come to know this is a common occurrence, and at 3 over par, he wasn’t going to make it through. He hopped in his car and made the eight hour drive to his next event. Onto the next!
I finished my round at 2 under par, missing the cut by 3 strokes. While it was a solid first showing, I realized I had much less pressure than the other two people in my group. I had a home-cooked meal that night with a caddying loop lined up the next morning. With two years left of amateur golf, it was an eye opening experience.
The journeyman, Trey Shirley, ended up shooting 67 (-5), good enough to get into the event. He went on to make the cut that week, making some much needed money and adding valuable experience to his resume.
Monday qualifiers breed some awesome Cinderella stories, but also jumpstart careers. Canadian Corey Conners Monday qualified for the 2019 Valspar Invitational. He ended up winning the event six days later. Fast forward 5 years and he is a steady top 50 player in the world.
Another inspiring Monday qualifier story is Patrick Flavin. The former RedHawk and great friend of mine once made it through 5 Mondays in one season! Patrick had 4 top 25 finishes on the Tour that season, proving all you need is a chance.
It is an exciting thing, professional golf. You are truly one week away from fulfilling a lifetime of dreams. Just keep knocking on the door!
For more information on this side of professional golf, follow Monday Q Info. Ryan French does a fantastic job shining a light on these stories.
