Q-School:

The qualifying tournament for the PGA tour was first played in 1965 and it has been played ever since. Better know as Q-School, the tournament determines which golfers earn their PGA Tour Card with membership and playing privileges for the following PGA Tour Season.

PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament Format:

This is series of Tournaments with three (3) qualifying stages. Stage one is played at numerous locations around the country and those who qualify advance to the Second Stage. Second stage qualifiers then move to the Final Stage, which is the gruelling six-round tournament referred to as "Q" School.

Following the six rounds of stroke play in the Final Stage, those golfers finishing in the highest bracket receive fully exempt status on the PGA tour for the following year. As an average, the number of finishers are usually about 30.

Q-School also serves as a qualifier for the Nationwide Tour. Golfers who do not finish in the top 30 of the Final Stage receive exempt or conditional status to the Nationwide Tour, depending on their placement.