A golfer's journey: From personal struggles to a fresh start at Q-School
In a heartwarming turn of events, Chan Kim, a seasoned PGA TOUR player, leads after the first round of the PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry. But here's where it gets controversial: Kim's path to this position has been far from conventional, and his story might just inspire a different perspective on the game.
Kim, a 35-year-old career golfer, began his Q-School journey with a remarkable 6-under 64 on the Dye's Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass. This achievement is especially noteworthy given the personal challenges he faced earlier this year.
You see, Kim's game took a sudden downturn after he seemed to be settling into the highest level of golf. Swing troubles plagued him, and even when he played well enough to lead early in a championship, his focus shifted back to the technicalities of his swing. It was a frustrating cycle.
"I started getting back into thinking about my golf swing," Kim explained. "I just wanted to play some golf, hurry up, and get back to my family."
And this is where the story takes an emotional turn. As the season progressed, Kim's personal life became a whirlwind. His first child, daughter Jenna, was born during a championship, an event he missed. Worse still, Jenna was hospitalized for a month due to complications, and doctors warned that her situation was critical.
"It was a rough end to the season," Kim said. "Having our first child and then having her in the hospital for a month was incredibly stressful. I was so focused on her that nothing else mattered."
On the course, Kim's mechanics suffered as his mind was elsewhere. He described his swing as "hitting wipe cuts," and he spent time trying to fix his swing, only to find himself playing 'golf swing' instead of golf.
But Kim's journey is a testament to resilience. He has an impressive international record, with eight wins, including a dominant run on the Japan Golf Tour. He's played in 13 major championships and finished T11 at The Open Championship in 2017. After a back injury sidelined him for a year, he made a strong comeback with six top-three finishes in 2019.
In 2022, Kim shifted his focus to the PGA TOUR, finishing second at Q-School Final Stage. Now, with his family life stabilized and Jenna finally home, Kim is ready to rediscover his early-season form from 2025.
"She's home now," Kim said of his daughter. "She got home yesterday."
As for the other players in the field, here's a glimpse at how they began their Q-School journey:
Projected TOUR Cards:
- Greyson Sigg (5-under): With a solid record of 129 starts on TOUR, Sigg is playing for his full-time status after dropping to 136th in the FedExCup Fall.
- Michael Feagles (4-under): The alum of the University of Illinois Fighting Illini carded an impressive round with five birdies and a bogey. He once shot a remarkable 59 on the Korn Ferry Tour.
- Luke Gutschewski (4-under): Fresh out of Iowa State, Gutschewski aims to follow in his father's footsteps and make it to the PGA TOUR.
- A.J. Ewart (4-under): After missing the top 10 on the PGA TOUR Americas Points List, Ewart battled through Second Stage to earn status for the Korn Ferry Tour at Final Stage.
Korn Ferry Tour Bubble:
- Hayden Springer (3-under): Having already earned a TOUR card through Q-School in 2023, Springer started the 2025 season strongly but dropped in the rankings. He shares a special bond with his father, who caddies for him at Q-School.
- Kyle Westmoreland (2-under): A former active-duty Air Force Captain, Westmoreland has secured Korn Ferry status for the 2026 season and is positioned well after his first round.
- Camilo Villegas (1-under): A five-time PGA TOUR winner, Villegas battled back from a double-bogey to shoot under par. He will have past champions status on the PGA TOUR next season.
- Alejandro Tosti (1-under): The Argentinian finished third on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List and then earned a top-five finish at Q-School, continuing his journey on the PGA TOUR.
- Zac Blair (1-under): Blair's spirited fall earned him limited starts on the PGA TOUR next season, but he's positioned just inside the top-40.
Notables:
- Luke List (even): A two-time TOUR winner with 313 career starts, List finds himself on the outside looking in after finishing 157th in the FedExCup.
- Sam Ryder (even): Ryder returns to grind for status after just missing the threshold, finishing 108th in the FedExCup. He made 19 cuts out of 28 in 2025 but never cracked the top ten.
- Cameron Champ (1-over): The three-time TOUR winner played the 2025 season with limited status, competing in only 16 events and missing eight cuts. He needs a significant surge to return to the TOUR full-time.
- Lanto Griffin (2-over): Last year's Q-School medalist, Griffin started this year's Q-School with a 2-over 71.
- Harry Higgs (3-over): Higgs, who was inches away from a two-year winner's exemption, returns to Q-School after falling victim to a playoff chip-in. He's off to a poor start in his 2025 Q-School endeavor.
- Taylor Moore (4-over): Moore, who won the 2023 Valspar Championship, will need a monumental effort to battle back into contention for a TOUR card this week.
So, what do you think? Is Kim's story an inspiration or a cautionary tale? Share your thoughts in the comments!
