The Korn Ferry Tour Championship is here, and the pressure is on! Only the top 20 players on the Points List will secure their 2026 PGA TOUR cards. We take a look at the bubble boys fighting for their spot on golf’s biggest stage.
Zecheng ‘Marty’ Dou, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Mitchell Meissner, Julian Suri, Jeremy Gandon, and Justin Suh are all within reach of the top 20, but who will rise to the occasion at the Pete Dye Course in French Lick? These golfers have shown resilience and talent, but only a few will make the cut.
From Marty Dou’s comeback after a challenging rookie season to Sudarshan Yellamaraju’s rapid rise through the ranks, each player has a unique story. Mitchell Meissner’s switch to left-handed putting saved his career, while Julian Suri seeks another comeback. Jeremy Gandon aims to continue France’s growing golf presence, and Justin Suh hopes to regain his former glory.
Don’t miss this thrilling conclusion to the Korn Ferry Tour season! Who will earn their PGA TOUR card and change their career forever?
Oldly stepping into the spotlight, the pressure is on as players prepare for a crucial week at the Cornferryy Tour Championship. The challenge is stark. The top 20 competitors on the corn ferry Tour points list upon conclusion of this tournament will earn their coveted PGA Tour cards for 2026. While those who do not succeed will be thrust back into the relentless grind of professional golf. For players like Marty Du and Sudarian Yella Maraju, the outcome of just four days spent on the intricately designed Pete Dye course at the French Lick Golf Resort holds monumental significance. Currently, 11 out of the 20 available cards have already been secured, leaving us to focus on six players teetering on the brink. Those who must deliver a standout performance this week in order to shine on golf’s grandest platform. Zach do position 19. Zach Marty do finds himself in a precarious situation as he enters the cornfairy tour championship. Clinging to the second to last projected PGA Tour promotion spot. His quest to reclaim a place in professional golf elite circles is palpable. Do took part in the 2024 Paris Olympics representing China, sharing the stage with fellow golfer Carl Yuan. Although he has made 69 appearances on the PGA Tour, only once did he manage a top five finish. His exceptional talent was evident early on in his career. He triumphantly surged through the PGA Tour China Series in 2016, securing four victories and the Order of Merit crown while still a teenager. The following year marked a significant milestone when he became the first player from mainland China to win on the corn ferry tour, earning his PGA Tour card for the 2018 season. His rookie year was fraught with challenges, and he subsequently returned to regain form over the following seasons. However, this year has shown a resurgence for the 27year-old, highlighted by his impressive runner-up finish at last week’s compliance solutions championship, which propelled him into the top 20 of the point standings ahead of French Lick. Now, Dub faces an all too familiar scenario, performing under pressure. A solid performance on the demanding Pete Dai course could signify his third return to the PGA Tour and underscore a remarkable comeback for one of China’s golfing pioneers. Sudarian Yelamaraju, position 20 at the 20th spot on the cornfairy tour points list. Canada Sudarian Yelamaraju is eager to secure his inaugural PGA Tour card after making a swift descent through the ranks of professional golf. Yella Maraju gained significant attention in early 2025 when he clinched victory at the Bahamas Great Eczema Classic, which marked a decisive turning point for the 24year-old. In contrast, his 2024 rookie season was a tough learning experience, yielding only two top 25 finishes from 25 starts, landing him in the 99th spot overall. That performance, however, was enough to retain conditional status. thus paving the way for another attempt. Building upon this opportunity, he showcased resilience by navigating through all three stages of the PGA Tour Q School presented by Kornferryy, finishing T36 in the final stage, which assured him eight starts this season. He has since been on an upward trajectory. Having spent his formative years in India before moving to Canada, Yella Maraju began his golfing journey at age six in a Winnipeg golf dome before turning pro at 19. I didn’t go to college because I couldn’t afford to, he reflected post victory in the Bahamas. Successfully channeling his unconventional path towards the pinnacle of the sport hinges on managing nerves for one final week. Mitchell Meisner, position 21. As the first competitor to tea off Thursday, Mitchell Meisner stands at number 21, just shy of the promotional bubble at the corn ferry tour championship. An alumnest of Rice University, Mesner faced a setback last year, finishing T33 at the season finale in French Lick, quickly followed by a second surgery on his right wrist. His resilience has been tested continuously, but he now finds himself within reach of joining his younger brother, M. Misner, who already clays on the PGA Tour. Misner’s challenges nearly culminated in quitting professional golf during his college days when he struggled with putting yips and contemplated a consulting career. In a lastditch effort, he switched to left-handed putting, an experiment that surprisingly rekindled his confidence and extended his career. Variability has marked his performances this season. With no finishes better than T-22 since midsummer and three missed cuts in his last six outings, he remains hopeful. A strong result at French Lick could dramatically alter the narrative for the Meisner brothers. A family story fueled by tenacity. Julian Sururi, position 22, known for his remarkable comebacks, Julian Sururi has a new opportunity at Redemption this week. Sitting just two places outside the coveted top 20, this 34year-old native of New York finds himself eyeing his premier PGA Tour card, Siri sparked renewed optimism with a victory at the Utah Championship presented by Zion’s Bank and Inter Mountain Health, where he shot a closing round of 63 that catapulted him from number 56 to number 16 in the rankings. This triumph marked his first cornferry tour win in 39 attempts, adding to his two overall titles on officially sanctioned tours, including the 2017 Danish Golf Championship on the DP World Tour. Siri, a former standout at Duke University and resident of Jacksonville, Florida, has traveled extensively throughout his career. Remarkably, he served as the official golf ambassador for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018. Drawing inspiration from his hometown’s recent victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Suri hopes to translate that energy into a top 12 finish, which could very well secure his place on the PGA Tour. Jeremy Gandon, position 23. Jeremy Gandon’s rookie campaign on the cornfairy tour has proven to be a revelation. The French golfer notched his first tour title at the club car championship held at the Landings Golf Athletic Club, positioning himself on the brink of potential promotion at number 23 on the points list. Following in the inspiring footsteps of his compatriate Paul Barjon, Gandon became only the second French player to clinch victory on the cornfair tour. Throughout the season, his performance has been remarkably consistent with seven finishes in the top 25. Though his challenge remains, he may need to finish in the top five at French Lick to breach the top 20 barrier. A testament to his skills developed at Kansas State, where he was the 2018 Big 12 individual co-ch champion and one of the most reliable players in the conference. A strong finish at the Pete Die course could secure Gandon’s coveted spot on the PGA Tour, highlighting France’s growing impact in the global golf arena. Justin Su, position 24. Justin Su, a former world amateur champion and the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour player of the year, has a clear understanding of what it takes to triumph at this prestigious event. Arriving at the tournament at number 24, he recognizes the need for another standout performance to rejoin the ranks of the PGA Tour. Sus showcased his prowess earlier this season with a victory at the 118 Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro, marking his second Cornferryy Tour title. This comeback was especially crucial after losing his PGA Tour card in 2024, during which he only made 12 cuts from 29 attempts, finishing at number 165 in the FedEx Cup fall standings. In a remarkable showing two years ago, Sue dominated this same tournament, albeit held at a different course, ultimately capturing the top position in the seasonl long standings to secure his inaugural tour promotion. Now 27, Sue’s journey has been marred by injuries, the trials of a pandemic, and the rigors of Monday qualifiers since he turned professional in 2019. The road ahead still presents a challenge. A top three finish this week will be critical for him to complete his impressive return to the PGA Tour.
