The Korn Ferry Tour season has concluded, and 20 players have earned their PGA TOUR cards for 2026. This video highlights the five most compelling graduates you need to watch:
Johnny Keefer: A dominant force who quickly rose through the ranks. Can he continue his success on the PGA TOUR?
Neal Shipley: The low amateur at the Masters and U.S. Open. Will his experience translate to a full TOUR schedule?
Christo Lamprecht: A towering figure with incredible power. How will his unique build impact his rookie season?
Adrian Dumont de Chassart: A post-hype sleeper with a record-setting victory. Can he find consistency on the TOUR?
Kensei Hirata: A prolific winner on the Japan Golf Tour. Will his international success translate to the PGA TOUR?
The transition from the corn ferry tour to the PGA Tour is a proving ground. A crucible where dreams are forged and sometimes shattered. This year, 20 players earned their PGA Tour cards. But who are the most captivating stories? Let’s dive in and find out. It’s a tricky business predicting success. Remember Tim Widing, who was a favorite after finishing fifth on the Porn Ferry Tour points list? He’s now struggling at 209th in the FedEx Cup. Then there’s Aldrich Potgeer, who barely made the cut at 29th on the points list, yet he’s currently the rookie of the year front runner. This unpredictable nature makes analyzing these rising stars all the more exciting. Here are five cornfairy tour graduates we’re particularly eager to follow. Johnny Kefir. Johnny Kefir didn’t just sneak onto the PGA Tour. He’s been dominating since. After being the last player to get status through the 2024 PGA Tour University program, he quickly silenced any doubters. Kefir’s success continued on the corn ferry tour where he secured two wins and topped the seasonlong points race. He’s earned a lot of hype, climbing to number 51 in the official World Golf Ranking despite only having played in three PGA Tour events. If he gets sponsor exemptions during the FedEx Cup fall, he could even qualify for the Masters before his rookie year even begins. Kefir’s game is incredibly well-rounded. He finished fourth in total driving, averaging a remarkable 320 yard off the tee. He also ranked 15th in greens in regulation, second in scrambling, and 10th in putting average. Will his impressive performance translate to the PGA Tour, or will he face a steeper learning curve? Neil Shipley. Neil Shipley’s potential is evident. He’s already shown glimpses of brilliance in limited opportunities, including making nine cuts in 12 tour starts. His best finish was a T6 at last year’s Isco Championship. He was the low amateur at the 2024 Masters and US Open. Despite his success, Shipley wasn’t a standout in college, finishing 48th in the 2024 PGA Tour University. He had to work his way up, qualifying for the cornfairy tour and then turning in a strong season to earn his tour card. Shipley nearly secured early entry into the rest of the season’s tour events, coming close to a three- win promotion. He won twice on the corn ferry tour and finished tied for third twice. How will Shipley perform with a full tour schedule? The Ohio State product featured on Netflix’s Full Swing has an infectious personality and a game to match. But as we know, not every highly anticipated prospect shines right away. Crystal Lamperect. Kristo Lamperect is hard to miss. Standing at an impressive 6’8, he’s the tallest player on the tour and a force to be reckoned with. He finished ninth on the cornfairy tour points list in his first full year, quickly adjusting to professional golf. Lampre nearly earned his card straight from college last year, but finished second in PGA Tour University. He won the amateur championship in 2023 and finished as the low amateur at the Open Championship in 2023. His coach at Georgia Tech, Bruce Hepler, said, “He’s the best I’ve seen in 40 years off the tea, and he’s that good around the green, too. Will Lamperek’s unique physique and talent translate to success on the PGA Tour?” Adrien Dumont Desert. Dumont Desart is a post-hype sleeper returning to the tour with less fanfare than two years ago. He was the reigning cornfairy tour rookie of the year with two wins under his belt. He should be viewed as more than just a fringe tour player. Only 25 years old, the former Illinois standout led the Corn Ferry Tour in Birdie Average in 2025. He showcased his firepower with a record- setting victory at the Compliance Solutions Championship, where his winning score of 33 under 251 marked the lowest 72 hole score relative to par in cornfairy tour history. His lone season on tour in 2024 was hampered by a wrist injury. Healthy again this year, Dumont Dishes game returned. He recorded more top 10s than missed cuts and clinched his tour card with that historic performance with a year of tour experience and immense potential. Can Dumont Desart finally reach his full potential? Kensei Hiata. Keni Hiata didn’t win in his lone cornfairy tour season, but the 24 year old has already proven to be a prolific winner. He has six career Japan Golf Tour wins, including four in 2024. That earned him the Japan Golf Tour Rookie of the Year honors. He was the third youngest to win four times on the Japanese tour. Will Herata’s winning ways continue on the PGA Tour? So, what do you think? Which of these players are you most excited to watch on the PGA Tour?
