Careers on line as q-school looms

Kevin Streelman's dream of playing the PGA TOUR in 2008 was fast turning into a nightmare.

He had to birdie four of his last five holes at the first stage of q-school a year ago just to advance on the number. Streelman then became one of only nine players to survive the second and third stages, as well, and earn his TOUR card.

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Kevin Streelman's life changed last year at q-school.

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The Duke grad has gone on to become one of the most successful PGA TOUR rookies -- currently standing 84th on the money list with more than $1 million in earnings. Earlier this year, he found himself in the final group with Tiger Woods in the third round of the Buick Invitational on Saturday, and he shared the lead after the opening round of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

"At first stage, if I hadn't done that, none of this would have been possible," Streelman said. "I think a lot of it's timing. When it's your turn, it's your turn. When it's your time, it's your time, your destiny. It's a crazy experience."

The grueling test of nerves and niblicks that is the PGA TOUR National Qualifying Tournament begins Tuesday at six sites around the country. Five more first-stage events will be held next week.

The fields for each first-stage event will be roughly 78 players. A predetermined number of those based on the field size -- generally the low 19, 20 or 21 players and ties -- advance to the second stage of qualifying.

The second stage consists of six events held over a two-week period. Again, a certain number of players from each event advance to the finals which will be held Dec. 3-8 at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.

The low 25 players and ties at the finals receive their PGA TOUR playing privileges for 2009 while the rest will have varying degrees of status on the Nationwide Tour. The final consists of 108 gut-wrenching holes, unlike the first two stages that are contested over 72.

To get an idea of the odds, consider this. A total of 1,300 players entered q-school last year and only 26 received TOUR cards. And 64 of the 158 players who reached the finals -- like Streelman -- survived the first two stages while six others had to go to pre-qualifying, as well.

Joining Streelman in navigating all three stages to earn their TOUR cards for 2008 were Travis Perkins, Tommy Gainey, David Lutterus, Cody Freeman, Dustin Johnson, Jin Park, Jason Allred and Alejandro Canizares.

Streelman and Johnson, who won the Turning Stone Resort Championship earlier this month to put himself among the favorites for PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, are the lucky ones. They will not have to go back to q-school this year.

Johnson earned a two-year exemption for his victory and Streelman is safely within the all-exempt top 125 on the money list. The other eight have considerable work to do in the final three events of the Fall Series -- only Park ranks better than 200th at No. 189.

"I'm sure glad to not have to go back this year," Streelman said. "(Q-school is) really hard to explain to most people. It's gruesome, it can be terrifying, it can be fun. Your whole job, your whole living and it can be millions of dollars depends on one week of play."

Streelman says players learn a lot about themselves during q-school because every shot is so critical. How they handle that pressure has everything to do with whether they make it to the TOUR the following season.

"Sports psychologists would say you have to look at it as if you are playing golf with your buddies," he said. "It depends on how strong you are mentally but it definitely pushes the envelope a lot."

For some, that envelope opens easier than for others. PGATOUR.COM takes a look at 2008 campaigns of the nine players who advanced through all three stages of q-school last year.