David Carey Opens Strong at PGA TOUR Q-School Second Stage, Eyes Final Stage at Sawgrass
David Carey is off to a promising start in his push for a PGA TOUR card, carding a three-under 69 in the opening round of the Second Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School in Alabama. The Irishman finds himself in a tie for 17th at RTJ Golf Trail’s Highlands/Marshwood layout-just one shot shy of the crucial top-16 cutoff that would send him through to the Final Stage later this month.
This is the part of the season where every stroke matters, and Carey knows it. With the pressure dialed up and the margin for error razor-thin, he's positioned himself right in the mix heading into the remaining rounds.
This year’s Q-School carries even more weight than usual. Following adjustments announced by the TOUR in November of last year, the path to PGA TOUR membership has become more streamlined-but also more competitive. The exemption threshold for full PGA TOUR status has shifted from the top 125 to the top 100 in the FedExCup standings, meaning those who do earn their cards through Q-School can count on more consistent opportunities in Full-Field Events.
For Carey and the rest of the field, the goal is clear: finish among the top five at the Final Stage and secure a PGA TOUR card for the 2026 season. That final test will take place across two demanding venues-Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass and the neighboring Sawgrass Country Club. Each player will tackle two rounds on each course, with the pressure building toward a dramatic final day.
But even for those who fall just short of the top five, there’s plenty on the line. The next 40 finishers and ties at Final Stage will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2026, with varying levels of exemption from the tour’s periodic reorders.
The first 25 finishers and ties in that group will be subject to the third periodic reorder, while the rest will fall under the second. Everyone else who makes it through Final Stage still walks away with Korn Ferry Tour status and a spot in the Latin America Swing of the 2026 PGA TOUR Americas season.
There’s also an added bonus for the medalists (and ties) from each Second Stage site. If they don’t improve their status at Final Stage, they’ll still lock in Korn Ferry Tour membership and be slotted into the second reorder of the 2026 season-a valuable safety net in a system where every reshuffle can impact playing opportunities.
For Carey, the math is simple but the challenge is steep: keep the momentum going, stay under par, and climb into that top 16. From there, it’s on to Sawgrass, where careers are made and dreams of the PGA TOUR come into sharper focus.
He's one round in, with more work to do-but so far, Carey’s making his case.