Sponsored content
The biggest question for fans of Callaway sensation David Micheluzzi this week at the Final Stage of the PGA Tour’s Qualifying School in Ponte Vedra, Florida is, What does he need to finish to secure a PGA Tour card for 2024?
Micheluzzi himself, though, doesn’t mind the answer.
“I’m in a very unique situation; I earned my DP World Tour card in April, so I’ve kind of got a kind of free hit at it,” Micheluzzi, who won three PGA Tour of Australasian events in 2023, said from Dye’s Valley course at TPC Sawgrass. “I plan to play [in Europe] full time, next year. But there’s five [PGA Tour] cards [in Florida] up for grabs [this week] and I’d love to grab one of those.”
Micheluzzi won an Australasian event in 202 and three in 2023, winning the 2022-2023 order of merit title which comes with a card on the formerly-named European Tour in 2024.
“I feel like the [strategic alliance between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia] is doing really well with our giving guys opportunities from different countries and different tours to get onto the PGA Tour and also DP World Tour. It’s great; if you play well, you get rewarded. I feel I’ve done that this year, which has been nice.”
Now, Micheluzzi’s attention has turned to the US. For the first time since 2012, a direct path to the PGA Tour is up for grabs for the top 5 finishers at Qualifying School.
The Melburnian did not start well on Thursday in the US, with an opening round of four-over par 74 at Sawgrass Country Club. He’ll play two rounds there and two rounds at Dye’s Valley course at TPC Sawgrass, which resembles its more famous cousin on the other side of the driving range, the Stadium
Course at TPC Sawgrass.
But it’s not over for “Micha” just yet. While the top five and ties on the leaderboard after four rounds earn PGA Tour membership for 2024, the next 40 finishers and ties earn exemptions for multiple reshuffles on the Korn Ferry Tour season in 2024. Micheluzzi is tied 114th at four-over after round one, but that’s only four shots out of a tie for 32nd. Among the top 40 finishers upon completion of the tournament, the first 25 finishers and ties will be subject to the third reshuffle, assuring them starts in the first 12 events of the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour season. After that, the other top 40 will be subject to the second reshuffle, guaranteeing the first eight events of the 2024 season.
“The game is feeling good. I had a win about four weeks ago in Australia [the Vic PGA] which was one of our smaller events, which was nice. I had a second [at the Queensland PGA], the week before that, and then we played the Aussie PGA and Aussie Open. I came tied 18th and a missed cut [at the Open], but the missed cut was more me just not been happy with the way I was playing and I got a bit unlucky. But overall I feel great. Good to be back here and can’t wait.”
After the top 40 and ties, the next 20 finishers and ties earn exempt status for the Latin America Swing of the 2024 PGA Tour Americas season, in addition to conditional Korn Ferry Tour membership for the 2024 season.
Whatever Micheluzzi’s result is on Monday morning, AEDT, Australian fans will no doubt be following his exciting career as it progresses to the DP World Tour in 2024 and beyond.
What’s in the Bag – David Micheluzzi
Driver: Paradym Triple Diamond (8.5°)
Fairway wood: Paradym Triple Diamond T (14°)
Utility: X Forged UT Tour (19°)
Irons: Apex TCB 4-10
Wedges: Jaws Raw 50°, 54°, 58°
Putter: Odyssey WH OG 2Ball CH
Ball: Chrome Soft X LS
Another Callaway star, Min Woo Lee, is assured of being on the PGA Tour in 2024. On Thursday, the Perth pro, who won the Australian PGA Championship recently, dropped a hype video announcing his US PGA Tour status for 2024. Lee earned enough non-member FedEx Cup points in 2023 to lock up status for the PGA Tour next year, helped largely by a T-6 at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, a T-5 at the US Open, his maiden top-five at a major, as well as top 10s at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut and the Zozo Championship in Japan.
The video is trademark Lee, who has become a social media sensation with his, “Let him cook!” catchphrase. The video, below, shows his PGA Tour member belt buckle with his quirky sunglasses over them and some of his best shots in the US in 2023.
What’s in the Bag – Min Woo Lee
Driver: Paradym Triple Diamond (10.5°) with Fujikura Ventus Blue 6X Shaft
Fairway wood: Paradym Triple Diamond (16.5°) with Fujikura Ventus Blue 10X Shaft
Utility: X Forged UT (2-iron) with True Temper AMT Tour White Shaft
Irons: Apex MB (4-PW) with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Shafts
Wedge: Jaws MD 5 (50°) with Nippon NS Pro Modus Shaft
Putter: Odyssey Tri Hot 5K Double Wide
Ball: Chrome Soft X
