The Korn Ferry Tour Championship is here, and the pressure is on for golfers battling for those coveted PGA TOUR cards. With only 20 spots up for grabs, every shot counts as players fight to secure their future on the prestigious PGA TOUR.
Here’s a look at some of the bubble boys and their stories:
Zecheng ‘Marty’ Dou (No. 19) – The Chinese prodigy is aiming for a comeback after a challenging rookie season. With a recent runner-up finish, can he hold on to his spot?
Sudarshan Yellamaraju (No. 20) – Canada’s rising star, born in India, is on the verge of his first PGA TOUR card. Will his unconventional journey take him to the top?
Mitchell Meissner (No. 21) – After battling injuries and the putting yips, Meissner switched to left-handed putting, saving his career. Can he join his brother on the PGA TOUR?
Julian Suri (No. 22) – A seasoned pro from New York, Suri has made a career of comebacks. Can he secure his first PGA TOUR card?
Jeremy Gandon (No. 23) – The French rookie has been a revelation this season. Can he finish strong and represent France on the PGA TOUR?
Justin Suh (No. 24) – The former world amateur No. 1 needs a special performance to regain his PGA TOUR status. Will he rise to the occasion?
Who will make it to the PGA TOUR? Stay tuned as the Korn Ferry Tour Championship unfolds!
The Cornferryy Tour Championship is more than just a tournament. It’s a high-stake showdown that could change lives. The top 20 players on the Cornferryy Tour points list after this event will secure their PGA Tour cards for 2026, while everyone else faces another tough year grinding it out to reach golf’s biggest stage. But here’s where it gets controversial. Is the pressure of these final four days on the Pete Die course at Frenchlick Golf Resort the ultimate test of true golfing grit or just a makeorb breakak gamble? With 11 spots already claimed, the spotlight shines brightly on the players teetering on the edge, fighting desperately for their chance to step up to the PGA Tour. Let’s dive into the stories of six competitors on this nail-biting bubble, each hoping a stellar performance brings their dreams to life. Zachchanging Dao, ranked 19th, Zetang Marty Dao holds the precarious 19th place as he battles to regain a coveted PGA tour card. A trailblazer for Chinese golf, Dao’s journey is compelling. He represented China at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside Carl Yuan and boasts 69 PGA Tour starts. Though with only one top five finish so far, bursting onto the scene as a teenager, Dao dominated the 2016 PGA Tour China Series with four wins and the Order of Merit crown. In 2017, he became the first player from mainland China to triumph on the corn ferry tour, a milestone that earned him his PGA Tour card in 2018. His rookie season was a steep learning curve, pushing him back to the developmental circuit until he earned promotion again in 2022. This year, his form has picked up, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the recent compliance solutions championship, his best of the season, which propelled him into the top 20. Now under immense pressure on French Lick’s challenging Pete Die course, Du faces a make orb breakak moment to secure a third PGA Tour stint and reaffirm his status as a leading figure in Chinese golf. Sudarian Yellow Maraju ranked 20th. Right on the bubble at 20th is Canada’s Sudarian Yellow Maraju. Bidding for his first PGA Tour card after a swift rise through the ranks. He burst into the spotlight early in 2025 with a win at the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic. the season’s second event, a breakthrough that followed a tough rookie year in 2024 where he made only two top 25 finishes across 25 tournaments and ended up 99th on the points list. That performance, however, granted him conditional status and a crucial second chance. Yella Maraju made the most of it, pushing through the grueling PGA Tour Q school presented by Kornferry, securing eight guaranteed starts this season. Born in India and raised in Canada, he started hitting golf balls at age six in a Winnipeg dome and turned pro at 19 out of economic necessity. “I didn’t go to college because I couldn’t afford to,” he candidly shared. “Now his unconventional path could culminate in a PGA tour breakthrough if he can handle the pressure one more week.” Mitchell Meisner ranked 21st, standing just outside the bubble at 21st. Mitchell Meisner will tee off first Thursday, driven by the chance to join his younger brother, PGA Tour professional Misner. After tying for 33rd at last year’s French lick finale, Mitchell faced a daunting hurdle, a second surgery on his right wrist shortly thereafter. His comeback has been a testament to resilience. Collegiate challenges nearly ended his career. He struggled intensely with the putting yips and was considering a consulting career before a radical experiment, switching to left-handed putting. This unconventional change reawakened his confidence and saved his golf career. Although recent results have been inconsistent, no better finish than tied 22nd since midsummer and three missed cuts in six starts. French Lick’s final event could rewrite the Mesner family story on the biggest stage. Julian Sururi, ranked 22nd. Known for making comebacks, Julian Suri embodies the spirit of perseverance. Now 34, the New York native sits just two places shy of the top 20, hunting his first PGA Tour card. Suri catapulted into contention with a thrilling win at the Utah Championship, firing a final round 63 that lifted him from 56th to 16th in points. This marked only his second official World Golf ranking win, joining a 2017 victory on the DP World Tour. A former Duke University standout and once the official golf ambassador for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, Suri’s journey has globe trotted between tours and continents. Could he harness the momentum from his hometown team’s recent victory over the Kansas City Chiefs and crack the top 12 here? If that happens, the PGA Tour could be waiting. Jeremy Gandon ranked 23rd. French rookie Jeremy Gandon has turned heads with a breakout season, including a win at the club car championship at the Landings Golf Athletic Club, the first French player after Paul Barjon to win on the cornfairy tour. Seven top 25 finishes have solidified his position, but at 23rd, he probably needs a top five finish this week to claim a PGA Tour card. A Kansas State alum with the 2018 Big 12 individual co-ch champion title, Gandon’s steady ascent represents a surge in French golf’s international footprint. A strong performance on Pete Dy’s demanding course could elevate not just his career, but also France’s growing prominence in the sport. Justin Su ranked 24th. Finally, Justin Su, number 24 on the list, knows precisely what it takes to win here. Once the world amateur number one and 2022 cornferryy tour player of the year, S is eager to reclaim his PGA Tour status. He sparked early season excitement with a win at the 118 Visa Argentina Open, his second cornfairy tour title following a difficult 2024 season that saw him lose his tour card. Saw dominated this championship two years ago, albeit on a different course, securing first place in the seasonl long standings and his initial tour promotion. Now at 27, after battling injuries and pandemic related setbacks, the grind has tested him like never before. He’ll likely need to finish tied for third or better this week to complete his comeback. So, what do you think? Does this final showdown fairly determine who belongs on the PGA Tour? Or does it add unnecessary pressure that might overshadow consistent performance over the season? Are these bubble boys the true heroes of perseverance, or is this system stacked against those teetering on the edge? Let us know your thoughts. Agree, disagree, or eager to debate down below.
