The path to pro golf just got a lot more interesting for college players.
In a major shake-up announced Thursday, the PGA Tour is making it easier for college stars to chase their pro dreams, with more opportunities to earn Tour cards and better access to developmental tours.
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The biggest change? College golf’s top performers will have more ways to rack up points in the Tour’s fast-track program called PGA Tour Accelerated.
Gordon Sargent, Vanderbilt’s senior standout, already blazed this trail. He became the first player to hit the magic number of 20 points in 2023, earning his PGA Tour card straight out of college.
Two other players are getting close. Florida State’s Luke Clanton and Auburn’s Jackson Koivun both sit at 17 points, with Virginia’s Ben James not far behind at 11.
Starting this year, players can earn points for:
- Being world #1 amateur for 26 weeks (1 point)
- Finishing top 5 in a PGA Tour event (1 point)
- Winning prestigious amateur events like the Jones Cup (1 point)
- Claiming major amateur titles like the U.S. Amateur (2 points)
The Tour’s also throwing a lifeline to players who finish just short of the top spot. Starting in 2026, if the second-place finisher in PGA Tour University hits 1,300 points, they’ll get the same Tour status as the winner – something that hasn’t happened since the program started in 2021.
There’s good news for the developmental Korn Ferry Tour too. The top 10 college seniors will now get guaranteed spots, up from just the top 5 getting full access before.
It’s all part of the Tour’s push to attract young talent early. With rival tours trying to lure away golf’s next generation, these changes could help keep tomorrow’s stars on the traditional path to the PGA Tour.
The points won’t count retroactively, but they’re setting up what could be an incredibly competitive race among college golf’s elite this season.
