Anyone Care About Web.com Q School?

[Darth Putter]

I really don't see the problem with sponsor exemptions. Is there something wrong with the three-time US Am champion getting into 7 events when the season only has two months left, majors over, and he obviously can play?

 

I'm pretty sure any US Am champion if he wants to turn pro is going to get sponsor exemptions. If your game is good enough to get those invites, and you can crack top 125 in money list in just 7 tournaments, then you absolutely deserve it.

 

I didn't watch web.com Q-school, wasn't remotely interested, but felt bad for the guy who putted off the green to cost himself a spot. I am not that detailed into what is right/wrong about how to get on tour via Q-school or sponsors. But I do have a problem with the ridiculous purse size and how many exempt players there are. 125 is way too much. Knock that down to 100, maybe less, and open up more qualifying. Get the players who are playing hot in there, not the ones struggling and clinging on to the "cuts made" tour.

 

There are obviously lots of different stories out there, and every individual player's story is going to be different.

 

Yet, Bryson DeChambeau was given multiple opportunities and a lot of time to figure out his game on tour - remember the side-saddle putting debacle? Not every player receives this kind of coddling. And yes, after a really rocky transition, DeChambeau finally came through.

 

How many other players might have achieved the same if given the same opportunities.

 

The Tour and their sponsors have tried so hard to make DeChambeau a star, and for the life of me I can't figure out why. How is he more "marketable" than Xander Schauffele or any number of young, talented players.

 

Simply put, I think both the PGA Tour and Tournament Sponsors just need to let the chips fall where they may. Let the scores dictate who gets to play. It's golf, not Dancing with the Stars.

 

I am not following how BDC was given any more opportunities than anyone else other than for the reason of his play. He was low Am at Masters and decided to turn pro to see if he could earn a card for 2017. Again, like anyone else who wins a US Am, or low Am at Master, or a good finish in any major as an Am, or NCAA winner, if you have any decent agent you are going to get sponsor exemptions.

 

BDC's clubs did the talking, and he fell short of getting his card, then he was dropped into Web Finals, like anyone else who was in his situation would have, and then he promptly won, got on tour, and won, another year on tour and won multiple times...how is that coddling? And that's the definition of rocky transition??? Really?

 

I can't speak to all the marketing of BDC vs other young players except to say the media likes the crazy physics talk, and his agent is doing his job quite well.

 

For every Bryson DeChambeau, I would argue that there are 20-50 players out there who are equally, if not more, talented. Yet, because they aren't "marketable" we will probably never hear about any of them.

 

An argument that will fall on well deserved deaf ears. There aren't 20-50 more talented players in the world much less among his college aged contemporaries.

 

 

Bryson DeChambeau got to where he is the old fashioned way...

 

 

He EAAARRRRNNNNNED it!

 

If the rest of them are talented enough they will earn their way to five tour wins as well.

[jholz]

An argument that will fall on well deserved deaf ears. There aren't 20-50 more talented players in the world much less among his college aged contemporaries.

 

 

Bryson DeChambeau got to where he is the old fashioned way...

 

 

He EAAARRRRNNNNNED it!

 

If the rest of them are talented enough they will earn their way to five tour wins as well.

 

Typing things emphatically and backing them up with a GIF always makes them true! Hooray internet!

[marmooskapaul]

Don’t really follow or pay much attention to it.nothing against the competitors...just don’t follow them. Kind of oversaturated with PGA, NFL,college football and Nva and college basketball

[theboypinoy]

I really don't see the problem with sponsor exemptions. Is there something wrong with the three-time US Am champion getting into 7 events when the season only has two months left, majors over, and he obviously can play?

 

I'm pretty sure any US Am champion if he wants to turn pro is going to get sponsor exemptions. If your game is good enough to get those invites, and you can crack top 125 in money list in just 7 tournaments, then you absolutely deserve it.

 

I didn't watch web.com Q-school, wasn't remotely interested, but felt bad for the guy who putted off the green to cost himself a spot. I am not that detailed into what is right/wrong about how to get on tour via Q-school or sponsors. But I do have a problem with the ridiculous purse size and how many exempt players there are. 125 is way too much. Knock that down to 100, maybe less, and open up more qualifying. Get the players who are playing hot in there, not the ones struggling and clinging on to the "cuts made" tour.

 

There are obviously lots of different stories out there, and every individual player's story is going to be different.

 

Yet, Bryson DeChambeau was given multiple opportunities and a lot of time to figure out his game on tour - remember the side-saddle putting debacle? Not every player receives this kind of coddling. And yes, after a really rocky transition, DeChambeau finally came through.

 

How many other players might have achieved the same if given the same opportunities.

 

The Tour and their sponsors have tried so hard to make DeChambeau a star, and for the life of me I can't figure out why. How is he more "marketable" than Xander Schauffele or any number of young, talented players.

 

Simply put, I think both the PGA Tour and Tournament Sponsors just need to let the chips fall where they may. Let the scores dictate who gets to play. It's golf, not Dancing with the Stars.

 

I am not following how BDC was given any more opportunities than anyone else other than for the reason of his play. He was low Am at Masters and decided to turn pro to see if he could earn a card for 2017. Again, like anyone else who wins a US Am, or low Am at Master, or a good finish in any major as an Am, or NCAA winner, if you have any decent agent you are going to get sponsor exemptions.

 

BDC's clubs did the talking, and he fell short of getting his card, then he was dropped into Web Finals, like anyone else who was in his situation would have, and then he promptly won, got on tour, and won, another year on tour and won multiple times...how is that coddling? And that's the definition of rocky transition??? Really?

 

I can't speak to all the marketing of BDC vs other young players except to say the media likes the crazy physics talk, and his agent is doing his job quite well.

 

Yeah, we obviously have opposing viewpoints on this. You view sponsor exemptions, agents, and a couple of high finishes at notable tournaments as a viable road to the tour. I do not.

 

From my perspective, these practices have very little to do with golf. They are simply about money, marketing, and selling beer.

 

On a larger scale, I would argue that the PGA Tour marketing department is making the same mistakes as MLB and the NFL. They can't predict what might capture people's interest in the future, so they rely on the past to shape their approach. Tiger Woods was really popular - let's do that again. People like home runs - let's see what we can do to have players hit more of them. People like QB's - let's make the game all about them.

 

At the end of the day, both MLB and the NFL have been hurt by these preoccupations, and over time, the game itself suffers. The NFL would love to pin the downturn in interest to the National Anthem issue, but in reality its because the game kind of sucks these days. Major League hitting has devolved into either a homerun or strike out. Going to a game, much like attending a PGA Tournament, has become an opportunity to drink because no one wants to actually watch the game.

 

What I think is most tragic about all of this is how it narrows the field of opportunity. Slap hitters, defensive specialists, and base running have virtually no place in MLB anymore. If you don't fit the preconceived profile of a dominant NFL style QB, or even if you struggle just a little bit, your career is over.

 

For every Bryson DeChambeau, I would argue that there are 20-50 players out there who are equally, if not more, talented. Yet, because they aren't "marketable" we will probably never hear about any of them.

 

The guy is incredibly talented, and he's shown it this past season. He won on the tour multiple times, and has climbed up high in the world rankings. He's 5th in the world.

 

I don't know about 50 players being equally or more talented. He's shown quite a bit himself

[BearQ]

I care about it and respect the guys grinding on the web

 

However, I love watching the Asian tour whenever it’s on GC. The courses, refreshing different swings, awesome commentary and variance in shotmaking.

 

Watch some of the chipping/pitching styles in the hero Indian open and you’ll reconsider all you thought you knew. SSP chawrasia is a flippy, wristy chipper and one of the best I’ve ever seen...holes out one nearly every round

[jdl]

Don't really follow or pay much attention to it.nothing against the competitors...just don't follow them. Kind of oversaturated with PGA, NFL,college football and Nva and college basketball

 

Thanks for letting us know.

[NaBUru38]

For every Bryson DeChambeau, I would argue that there are 20-50 players out there who are equally, if not more, talented. Yet, because they aren't "marketable" we will probably never hear about any of them.

Golf is very meritocratic. Nearly every tournament is open, anyone can attempt to qualify. The Q-School rewards the best players with a card to a satellite tour, and the best get a PGA Tour card.

[canonlbp430]

I really don't see the problem with sponsor exemptions. Is there something wrong with the three-time US Am champion getting into 7 events when the season only has two months left, majors over, and he obviously can play?

 

I'm pretty sure any US Am champion if he wants to turn pro is going to get sponsor exemptions. If your game is good enough to get those invites, and you can crack top 125 in money list in just 7 tournaments, then you absolutely deserve it.

 

I didn't watch web.com Q-school, wasn't remotely interested, but felt bad for the guy who putted off the green to cost himself a spot. I am not that detailed into what is right/wrong about how to get on tour via Q-school or sponsors. But I do have a problem with the ridiculous purse size and how many exempt players there are. 125 is way too much. Knock that down to 100, maybe less, and open up more qualifying. Get the players who are playing hot in there, not the ones struggling and clinging on to the "cuts made" tour.

 

There are obviously lots of different stories out there, and every individual player's story is going to be different.

 

Yet, Bryson DeChambeau was given multiple opportunities and a lot of time to figure out his game on tour - remember the side-saddle putting debacle? Not every player receives this kind of coddling. And yes, after a really rocky transition, DeChambeau finally came through.

 

How many other players might have achieved the same if given the same opportunities.

 

The Tour and their sponsors have tried so hard to make DeChambeau a star, and for the life of me I can't figure out why. How is he more "marketable" than Xander Schauffele or any number of young, talented players.

 

Simply put, I think both the PGA Tour and Tournament Sponsors just need to let the chips fall where they may. Let the scores dictate who gets to play. It's golf, not Dancing with the Stars.

 

I am not following how BDC was given any more opportunities than anyone else other than for the reason of his play. He was low Am at Masters and decided to turn pro to see if he could earn a card for 2017. Again, like anyone else who wins a US Am, or low Am at Master, or a good finish in any major as an Am, or NCAA winner, if you have any decent agent you are going to get sponsor exemptions.

 

BDC's clubs did the talking, and he fell short of getting his card, then he was dropped into Web Finals, like anyone else who was in his situation would have, and then he promptly won, got on tour, and won, another year on tour and won multiple times...how is that coddling? And that's the definition of rocky transition??? Really?

 

I can't speak to all the marketing of BDC vs other young players except to say the media likes the crazy physics talk, and his agent is doing his job quite well.

 

Yeah, we obviously have opposing viewpoints on this. You view sponsor exemptions, agents, and a couple of high finishes at notable tournaments as a viable road to the tour. I do not.

 

From my perspective, these practices have very little to do with golf. They are simply about money, marketing, and selling beer.

 

On a larger scale, I would argue that the PGA Tour marketing department is making the same mistakes as MLB and the NFL. They can't predict what might capture people's interest in the future, so they rely on the past to shape their approach. Tiger Woods was really popular - let's do that again. People like home runs - let's see what we can do to have players hit more of them. People like QB's - let's make the game all about them.

 

At the end of the day, both MLB and the NFL have been hurt by these preoccupations, and over time, the game itself suffers. The NFL would love to pin the downturn in interest to the National Anthem issue, but in reality its because the game kind of sucks these days. Major League hitting has devolved into either a homerun or strike out. Going to a game, much like attending a PGA Tournament, has become an opportunity to drink because no one wants to actually watch the game.

 

What I think is most tragic about all of this is how it narrows the field of opportunity. Slap hitters, defensive specialists, and base running have virtually no place in MLB anymore. If you don't fit the preconceived profile of a dominant NFL style QB, or even if you struggle just a little bit, your career is over.

 

For every Bryson DeChambeau, I would argue that there are 20-50 players out there who are equally, if not more, talented. Yet, because they aren't "marketable" we will probably never hear about any of them.

 

You could maybe make that argument for Niemann but not for Dechambeau. As an amateur he is in the company of Jack, Phil, Tiger, and Ryan Moore, so saying there are 50 other people just as talented as him is a stretch beyond all stretches. There are like 1-2 guys a year that get on tour in this fashion so it's not like it is tainting the entire process.

[Aaronwilson_95]

I really don't see the problem with sponsor exemptions. Is there something wrong with the three-time US Am champion getting into 7 events when the season only has two months left, majors over, and he obviously can play?

 

I'm pretty sure any US Am champion if he wants to turn pro is going to get sponsor exemptions. If your game is good enough to get those invites, and you can crack top 125 in money list in just 7 tournaments, then you absolutely deserve it.

 

I didn't watch web.com Q-school, wasn't remotely interested, but felt bad for the guy who putted off the green to cost himself a spot. I am not that detailed into what is right/wrong about how to get on tour via Q-school or sponsors. But I do have a problem with the ridiculous purse size and how many exempt players there are. 125 is way too much. Knock that down to 100, maybe less, and open up more qualifying. Get the players who are playing hot in there, not the ones struggling and clinging on to the "cuts made" tour.

 

There are obviously lots of different stories out there, and every individual player's story is going to be different.

 

Yet, Bryson DeChambeau was given multiple opportunities and a lot of time to figure out his game on tour - remember the side-saddle putting debacle? Not every player receives this kind of coddling. And yes, after a really rocky transition, DeChambeau finally came through.

 

How many other players might have achieved the same if given the same opportunities.

 

The Tour and their sponsors have tried so hard to make DeChambeau a star, and for the life of me I can't figure out why. How is he more "marketable" than Xander Schauffele or any number of young, talented players.

 

Simply put, I think both the PGA Tour and Tournament Sponsors just need to let the chips fall where they may. Let the scores dictate who gets to play. It's golf, not Dancing with the Stars.

 

I am not following how BDC was given any more opportunities than anyone else other than for the reason of his play. He was low Am at Masters and decided to turn pro to see if he could earn a card for 2017. Again, like anyone else who wins a US Am, or low Am at Master, or a good finish in any major as an Am, or NCAA winner, if you have any decent agent you are going to get sponsor exemptions.

 

BDC's clubs did the talking, and he fell short of getting his card, then he was dropped into Web Finals, like anyone else who was in his situation would have, and then he promptly won, got on tour, and won, another year on tour and won multiple times...how is that coddling? And that's the definition of rocky transition??? Really?

 

I can't speak to all the marketing of BDC vs other young players except to say the media likes the crazy physics talk, and his agent is doing his job quite well.

 

Yeah, we obviously have opposing viewpoints on this. You view sponsor exemptions, agents, and a couple of high finishes at notable tournaments as a viable road to the tour. I do not.

 

From my perspective, these practices have very little to do with golf. They are simply about money, marketing, and selling beer.

 

On a larger scale, I would argue that the PGA Tour marketing department is making the same mistakes as MLB and the NFL. They can't predict what might capture people's interest in the future, so they rely on the past to shape their approach. Tiger Woods was really popular - let's do that again. People like home runs - let's see what we can do to have players hit more of them. People like QB's - let's make the game all about them.

 

At the end of the day, both MLB and the NFL have been hurt by these preoccupations, and over time, the game itself suffers. The NFL would love to pin the downturn in interest to the National Anthem issue, but in reality its because the game kind of sucks these days. Major League hitting has devolved into either a homerun or strike out. Going to a game, much like attending a PGA Tournament, has become an opportunity to drink because no one wants to actually watch the game.

 

What I think is most tragic about all of this is how it narrows the field of opportunity. Slap hitters, defensive specialists, and base running have virtually no place in MLB anymore. If you don't fit the preconceived profile of a dominant NFL style QB, or even if you struggle just a little bit, your career is over.

 

For every Bryson DeChambeau, I would argue that there are 20-50 players out there who are equally, if not more, talented. Yet, because they aren't "marketable" we will probably never hear about any of them.

 

You could maybe make that argument for Niemann but not for Dechambeau. As an amateur he is in the company of Jack, Phil, Tiger, and Ryan Moore, so saying there are 50 other people just as talented as him is a stretch beyond all stretches. There are like 1-2 guys a year that get on tour in this fashion so it's not like it is tainting the entire process.

Plus you have to do what the 125th guy Probally did in 23-27 starts in 7 starts plus Monday Q’s

[Darth Putter]

Despite not playing well at the Web.com Q School after the first round, top amateur Braden Thornberry still turned pro today. He is the McCormick Medal Winner as the world's #1 amateur for 2018, but by turning pro he loses his spot in the US and British Opens. He has conditional status on the Web.com tour and will probably get a full allotment of 7 sponsors exemptions to try to get his card.

 

All-American Davis Riley turned pro last week.

 

As a comparison, Cameron Champ turned pro in early November last year.

 

With the FedEx Cup Playoffs (and the Web.com Playoffs too) moving up this year, there are only 11 tournaments between the NCAA Championship and the Playoffs for a new pro to try to get his card. We may see a few more top college stars turn pro over winter break.