In the concluding Korn Ferry Tour Championship, 30 successful golfers are promoted to the prestigious PGA Tour for 2024. Sixteen solid golfers have already secured their spots, leaving the remaining 14 incredibly coveted. One particular golfer, Shad Tuten, found himself in a promising position to snag one of these positions, ranking 29th on the Korn Ferry Tour Points list before the 72-hole, no-cut showdown. The first three days saw Tuten’s scores throughout the first three days stand at 69-73-69, positioning him just slightly beyond the top 10.
A Soggy Sunday That Changed Everything
However, the unfortunate turn of luck came on Sunday for Tuten. Registering a score of 76 at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Indiana, a two-stroke penalty was included. This penalty was a result of a rules mishap during tat day’s game.
An Unwelcome Surprise in the Scoring Area
Television cameras caught Tuten incorrectly applying the lift-clean-and-place rule in the 15th fairway as stated by Golf Channel. The golfer initially lifted his ball, cleaned, and placed it back only to see the ball roll forward. Jim Duncan, the KFT’s Vice President of Competition and Administration explained that Tuten should have tried to place the ball back on the same spot initially and if the ball rolled a second time, he could then place it at a closer point. Unfortunately, Tuten skipped the second step.
A Costly Missed Step
“The two-stroke penalty was imposed for playing from the wrong position when Tuten failed to attempt and replace the ball on the same spot,” asstated by Duncan. This error significantly affected the golfer’s standing, sliding him from No. 29 to No. 32, leaving him on the outer frame of the 2024 PGA Tour season.
A Redemption Chance in the Horizon
All might not be lost for Tuten as he will have another opportunity to redeem himself. However, he will have to wait for two months. Those golfers who ranked between No. 31 and No. 60 on the KFT points list possess exemptions to the Final Stage of PGA Tour Q-School. Here, the top five finishers, including ties, will obtain their 2024 PGA Tour cards. The final round will be held from the 14th to 17th December at TPC Sawgrass Dye’s Valley Course and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
By: Todd Kelly
Title: Two-Stroke Penalty Denies Korn Ferry Tour Golfer a 2024 PGA Tour Card
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/10/08/korn-ferry-tour-shad-tuten-penalty-pga-tour-card/
Published Date: Sun, 08 Oct 2023 21:16:00 +0000
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