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Why It’s Tough Making A Living As A PGA Tour Monday Qualifier

Rick Arnett /

Being a Monday qualifier on the PGA Tour is a rough way to make a living. You are up against other hungry pros that day to hopefully shoot low enough to earn the right to merely play in that week’s event. Did I say low? You betcha.

As GolfDigest’s Alex Myers details, Mondays are flag hunting day like no other event.

To reiterate, the average last-spot score at a Monday qualifier this year was 66.42. And three times, a 64 was needed to grab the last spot. If you shot 65 any of those three days, you were out of luck. Incredible.

It’s also interesting to note how close the average medalist score this year (64.66) was to last year’s 64.54. What wasn’t similar was the prize money earned: This year’s group took home nearly $3.4 million combined, $2 million more than last year.

In other words, those who earned spots in PGA Tour events via a Monday Qualifier took advantage of their shots on the big stage. None more so than Corey Conners, who became the first Monday qualifier to win a PGA Tour title since 2010 and just the fifth overall since 1980 with his victory at the Valero Texas Open in April. The 27-year-old Canadian also finished T-3 after qualifying for the Sony Open in January.

Again, it’s a tough way to earn the chance to make a paycheck, but at least some are seizing the opportunity. And remember, these players are good. 

Corey Conners Monday Q Info Monday Qualifying