Chan Kim tops the leaderboard at PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry after shooting a 6-under 64. He’s aiming to regain his PGA TOUR status after a difficult season marked by swing struggles and personal challenges related to his newborn daughter’s health.
This video recaps Kim’s impressive first round, his journey through international golf, and the emotional toll of his daughter’s birth and hospitalization. We’ll also look at other notable players in contention, including Greyson Sigg, Michael Feagles, and Camilo Villegas, and their quest for PGA TOUR cards and Korn Ferry Tour status.
Stay tuned for updates throughout Q-School!
Imagine fighting for your career while your newborn daughter fights for her life. That’s the emotional roller coaster Chong Kim faced. And after a harrowing season, he’s now leading PGA Tour Q School. But can he hold on and reclaim his PGA Tour card? Let’s dive into his inspiring story and see who else is in contention. Jimmy Ryman reports from Ponte Vidra Beach, Florida, where Chon Kim, a season competitor known for his resilience, has seized the first round lead at the PGA Tour Q School presented by Cornferry. Kim’s impressive six under 64 on the challenging DY Valley course at TPC Sawrass positions imperfectly as he aims to regain his coveted PGA Tour status. This isn’t just another tournament for Kim. It’s a chance to rewrite a painful chapter. Kim, aged 35, initially secured his PGA Tour card through the Cornferry Tour in 2023 and successfully maintained it with a solid 94th place finish in the 2024 FedEx Cup standings. The early part of 2025 hinted at a promising future marked by his first career top five finish at the Valero Texas Open, followed by a commendable T7 at the Corales Pundakana Championship. But here’s where it gets controversial. Just when it seemed he was solidifying his place among golf’s elite, a dramatic slump hit with Kim missing the cut in a staggering 11 out of 14 starts. What went wrong? His game faltered precisely when he appeared to be settling comfortably at the highest level with swing related issues significantly hindering his performance. Even when he showed flashes of brilliance like leading early in the ISCO championship, his mind became preoccupied with the intricate details of his technique, a mental trap many golfers struggle with. As Kim himself explained, the first two rounds obviously went really well. And then the third and fourth rounds, I started getting back into thinking about my golf swing. I said, “You know what? I’m just going to go out, hurry up, and play some golf, get back in, and call the wife, who was pregnant at the time, see how the baby’s doing.” This quote highlights the pressure and distractions he was experiencing even before the major life event that would soon consume his focus. Off the course, Kim’s life became significantly more complex as the season progressed. His first child, a daughter named Jenna, was born during the Worldwide Technology Championship. A moment he tragically missed due to his professional commitments. What’s even more heart-wrenching is that Jenna was immediately hospitalized for a month due to serious complications. This is the part most people miss. The sheer emotional weight of this situation cannot be overstated. I had a pretty rough end of the season. It’s weird. We had our first child. We had a daughter Friday of the Worldwide Technology Championship. Kim recounted, “I wasn’t able to be there, but I got on a flight Saturday, flew in, and she was in the hospital for a month.” Doctors even warned that Jenna’s situation was potentially life-threatening. Imagine trying to focus on a golf ball when faced with such devastating news. Doctors didn’t know if she was going to survive, which in turn just put us under a lot of stress. he said. I was so focused on that that nothing else really mattered at that point. This level of stress inevitably impacted his performance on the course. His mechanic suffered as his mind was understandably elsewhere. For some reason, I was kind of hitting like these wipe cuts and I thought it was swing related. So, I started working on my swing, he explained. That just never really left. I just kept tweaking it, tweaking it, tweaking it. At that point, you’re playing golf swing, not golf. This illustrates the common pitfall of overthinking technical aspects under pressure, a challenge faced by golfers at all levels. This setback represents a significant obstacle in Kim’s already eventful golf career. Since turning professional in 2010, he has amassed eight international victories, including a dominant stretch on the Japan Golf Tour, highlighted by three wins in 2017. Through his success in Japan, he earned entry into 13 major championships, achieving a notable T11 finish at the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Burkedale. After a year sidelined by a back injury, he rebounded strongly with six top three finishes in 2019, won the Japan Open Golf Championship, and ultimately topped the 2020 to 21 Japan Tour standings. However, his ultimate goal was the PGA Tour. In 2022, he shifted his focus to securing a path to the PGA Tour. Finishing second at Q school final stage. Yeah, in 22 I think I finished second at Q school. He said I’ve got a very good track record at Q schools for some reason. I made it through Canadian Q school, Asian Tour Q School, Japan Tour Q School twice and got challenge tour status off European tour Q school. So I’ve played about every single one. His extensive experience in Q schools worldwide gives him a unique perspective and perhaps a mental edge. Now with his personal life stabilized as he looks to conclude what he hopes will be the last of his many Q school appearances with a strong performance. She’s finally home. Kim said of Jenna after his round that propelled him to the top of the leaderboard. She got home yesterday with two made cuts to close out the FedEx Cup fall and a renewed sense of clarity. Kim seems poised to rediscover the form he displayed earlier in 2025. If he can maintain a position within the top five through the weekend, he will earn his return to the PGA Tour, this time with a clear mind and a healthy daughter awaiting him at home. This is a powerful narrative of perseverance and the importance of family support in professional sports. Here’s a look at how the rest of the field fared after Thursday’s play. Projected tour cards. The top five finishers after 72 holes will secure full status for the 2026 PGA Tour season. Here’s a snapshot of who is currently in line to earn a coveted tour card. One, Chong Kim, 6 under. Two, Grayson Sig, five under. A veteran of four seasons on tour, accumulating 129 starts. Sig fell to 136th in the FedEx Cup fall this year and is fighting to regain his full-time status. The pressure is on for the Georgia Bulldog. T3. Michael Feeles, four under the University of Illinois fighting Ali alam carded five birdies and a bogey at Sawrass Country Club. He once shot an incredible 59 on the corn ferry tour at the BMW charity proam presented by TD Syninx showcasing his potential. T3 Luke Gutsjki for under. A recent graduate from Iowa State this summer. Gutski is aiming to follow in his father’s Scott Gutchki footsteps and make it to the PGA Tour. Family legacies add another layer to the competition. T3 AJ Uert under after narrowly missing out on the top 10 of the PGA Tour America’s points list this season. U battled through second stage at Tucson, Arizona to earn status for the corn ferry tour at final stage. His journey highlights the grueling path to the PGA Tour. Corn Fairy Tour bubble. The next 40 finishers and ties will earn Cornferryy Tour membership for the 2026 season. The first 25 finishers and ties will be subject to the third reshuffle occurring after the 14th event, while any remaining finishers will be subject to the second reshuffle occurring after the 10th event. Understanding the reshuffle process is crucial for players aiming to maximize their opportunities on the corn ferry tour. After round one, 63 players are at one under 69 or better, representing the current cutoff for corn ferry tour status. Here are some notable names within that group. T6 Hayden Springer, three under, having already earned a tour card through PGA Tour Q School in 2023 with a top five finish. Springer started the 2025 season with his only top 10 of the year at the Farmers Insurance Open before dropping to 131st in the FedEx Cup fall rankings. Can he recapture that early season form? T15. Kyle West Morland, two under. The former active duty Air Force captain has already secured cornfairy status for the 2026 season through the season long points list and is well positioned after a firstround 68 at Srass Country Club. His military background adds a unique dimension to his story. T34 Camilo Viegas won under the five-time PGA Tour winner who will have passed champion status on the PGA Tour next season battled back from a double bogey 5 at the par 315th his sixth hole to shoot under par. His resilience is a testament to his experience. T34. Alejandro Toasty one under. The Argentinian finished third on the 2023 Cornferry Tour points list to earn his card and then the following season finished top five at Q school to continue playing on the PGA Tour. He’s proving his ability to navigate the pressure of Q school. T34 Zack Blair one under. A strong fall season earned Blair limited starts on the PGA Tour next season as he climbed into the top 150 of the FedEx Cup fall. But the BYU star is positioned just inside the top 40 in Ponte Vidra Beach. He’s looking to solidify his status for the upcoming season. Notables. T64. Luke list. Even the two-time tour winner with 313 career starts finds himself on the outside looking into begin what is likely an unsavory trip to Q school after finishing 157th in the FedEx Cup. A stark reminder of the competitive nature of professional golf. T64 Sam Ryder. Even Ryder returns to familiar territory in Northeast Florida to grind for status after just slipping beyond the threshold to 108th in the FedEx Cup. He made 19 of 28 cuts in 2025, but never collected a top 10. Consistency is key, but he needs a breakthrough performance. T89 Cameron Champ.
