Noticeable Uptick In Americans At European Tour Q-School

Steve Elling talks to the American duo of Peter Uihlein and Brooks Koepka about their successful run of golf in Europe. With the new PGA Tour structure that requires Web.com Tour play to graduate to the big tour, and even then with no guarantee of the chance to play, Europe may increasingly become an answer.

This was eye-opening:

In 2011/12 combined, 85 Americans signed up for European Q-School. This year alone, 83 entered. Moreover, three Americans made it to the finals last year, while 11 are playing for a full tour card this week in Spain.

And...

“People say BK and I are trailblazers, but it’s also the changes with the Web.com that are a big part of this,” Uihlein said.

European Q-School chief Mike Stewart said American players have cited the lack of direct access as a huge reason for their record presence in at the final stage in Spain, plus the fact that Q-School in the States costs roughly US$5,000 (Dh18,400). European Q-school costs half as much at £1,350 (Dh7,879). The third reason was both popular and easy.

“I suspect that the success of Uihlein and Koepka has also played a part,” Stewart said in an email from Spain.