The Korn Ferry Tour Championship is heating up! Meet five golfers with their PGA TOUR dreams on the line at French Lick. From rookies to veterans, these players have unique stories and are battling for their futures.
Barend Botha: The young South African is leading the field, but only a win will secure his PGA TOUR card. He’s overcome a midseason slump and is now in the driver’s seat.
Sandy Scott: This Scottish rookie is just one shot behind, aiming for a miraculous comeback. After a devastating wrist injury, he’s fighting for his PGA TOUR chance.
Justin Suh: A former top-ranked amateur, Suh is seeking redemption. He’s played in majors and on the PGA TOUR, but now fights to regain his card.
Zecheng ‘Marty’ Dou: Hotter than ever, Dou is on the verge of a TOUR return. His impressive late-season surge has him poised for success.
Pontus Nyholm: The Swede is on the bubble, needing a strong final round to secure his spot. Can he leap back into the promotion zone?
Imagine your entire career, your lifelong dream, hanging in the balance for just 18 holes of golf. That’s the pressure cooker facing several players at the Cornferry Tour Championship at French Lake this Sunday. This isn’t just another tournament. It’s a lifealtering event where PGA Tour dreams are either realized or deferred. The tension is palpable. The stakes are skyhigh. And the stories are nothing short of dramatic. Let’s dive into the journeys of five players who have everything, and we mean everything, on the line. Here are five golfers who are staring down destiny at the Pete Die course. Each with a unique path and a burning desire to succeed. One, Benda, the South African surge. Leading the pack is Brenn Botha, a 23-year-old from South Africa. If you had told him at the start of Saturday that he would fire a back 930, he probably wouldn’t believe you. But that’s exactly what happened. He’s now sitting pretty at 10 under par, holding the solo lead. After a somewhat shaky start, Botha exploded with six birdies on the back nine. A performance that could very well define his career trajectory. For Botha, the situation is crystal clear. Only a win guarantees him a coveted PGA Tour card. But here’s where it gets controversial. Many believe that such a high pressure winner take all scenario is unfair to players who have performed consistently well throughout the season. What do you think? His journey to this point hasn’t been a walk in the park. After a slump that saw him miss nine cuts in 10 events, Botha made a game-changing decision. He enlisted his older brother NJ Botha to carry his bag for much needed emotional support. Both I explained, “I went through a rough patch in the middle of the year and I kind of just needed family close by. It was tough being on the road and I just needed some family. So I asked him if he wanted to come carry the bag. We got him a visa and he ended up on the bag. The impact was immediate. Since his brother joined him, Botha has been a different player, securing a runner-up finish at the Utah Championship and a T7 at the Compliance Solutions Championship. His college teammates even drove from Purdue to cheer him on Saturday. I don’t really look at the scoreboards, Boa added. I just play my own game. Whatever happens happens. I know I have to go win, so I’ll do my best to give it a fight. I have nothing to lose. Two. Sandy Scott, the comeback kid from Scotland. Just one shot behind Botha is Sandy Scott, a 27year-old Wookie from Inestess, Scotland. His story is a testament to resilience and the power of never giving up. Starting the week at number 63 on the points list, Scott needs a victory to secure his PGA Tour card. It seemed almost impossible, but now it’s within his grasp. And this is the part most people miss. Scott’s journey is even more remarkable considering that 5 years ago he wasn’t sure if he’d ever play golf again. As a standout at Texas Tech, he suffered a devastating wrist injury after hitting a shot from a French drain. The torn ligaments required two surgeries and sidelined him for 18 months, testing his love for the game. It’s kind of crazy to look back on, Scott reflected. When I was going through that, I didn’t think I’d play golf again. To be in an opportunity like this is amazing. I play golf with a lightness now that I probably never would have had I not gone through that. Now healthy, Scott is playing some of the best golf of his career, sitting at nine under, just one stroke behind the leader. When asked about quitting, Scott said, “I try to avoid that question. I just love golf so much and I think it would be hard for me to leave the game entirely. To be able to fulfill my dream and play it as a professional is amazing. Three, Justin Su redemption on familiar ground. For Justin Su, this week is about proving himself again. Once the world’s top ranked amateur, the USC alum has experienced both the highs and lows of professional golf. He’s played in five majors and made 90 PGA Tour starts, but consistency has been a challenge. His breakthrough came at this very tournament in 2022 when he won the Kornferryy Tour Championship and earned his first PGA Tour card. However, after a difficult 2024 season, he lost that card and is now fighting to get back. Saw acknowledges the pressure, saying, “There’s such a big gap between me and 20 that it kind of just gives me free rule to be aggressive. Hopefully, everything just kind of takes care of itself.” A win at the Visa Argentina Open earlier this year boosted his confidence. Now 27, he enters Sunday T7 at 6 under, likely needing a top three finish to return to the tour. I’ve kind of learned that golf is a humbling sport. Said, “When you’re playing good, it feels great. You don’t really know how you’re going to play. I just want to be at a level where I can compete and get better. Could Sus past success at this course give him an edge?” Four. Zach Doe. The late season hot streak. Few players have been as dominant as Zachchang Marty Doe. recently. He has surged from the brink of elimination into a prime position for a tour return. The 27year-old from China was 58th on the points list entering the playoffs, but back-to-back finishes of solo second and T2 propelled him to number 19 heading into French lick. Du, who represented China at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has been on a mission, showcasing the precision and patience that made him a standout on both the PGA Tour China and cornfairy tour circuits. He likely needs only a steady Sunday to secure his spot inside the top 20 and a PGA Tour card for 2026. For Du, who has already proven his ability to perform under pressure, one more solid round could complete one of the most impressive late season runs in recent memory. Do you think Gu’s Olympic experience gives him an advantage in handling pressure? Five. Pontis Niholm on the bubble. Sweden’s Pontis Niholm will likely have a restless night, constantly thinking about the leaderboard, entering the week at number 18 in points. Niholm has slipped to number 21, the first man outside the promotion zone. After a tough three rounds at French Lake, sitting T42 at two over, the 27year-old needs a round in the three or four under range on Sunday to climb back inside the top 20. It’s a difficult task, but Niholm’s season record provides reason for optimism. He has made 21 cuts in 25 starts, won the visit Knoxville Open in May, and has three top 20 finishes in his last five starts. Now everything rests on one final round. Will Niholm be able to overcome the pressure and secure his PGA Tour card? What do you think is the most difficult aspect of being on the bubble heading into the final round?
