For seven years, Braden Thornberry has been, sadly for him, the reply to a trivia query.
Whereas eight of the 9 members of the 2017 U.S. Walker Cup workforce who turned skilled had gone on to earn their PGA Tour playing cards (Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa have every received a number of majors), Thornberry was caught within the minors, maybe perpetually. He performed 4 straight years on the KFT, then misplaced his card previous to final season. Final yr, three of his 4 world-ranked begins got here on the Problem Tour – all missed cuts. He regained his KFT standing this yr through Q-Faculty, but was No. 51 in factors getting into this week’s Korn Ferry Tour Championship at French Lick.
Needing a solo second or higher to maneuver into the highest 30 and earn his PGA Tour card, Thornberry did one higher: He received.
Thornberry closed in 6-under 66 after which waited hours to find that his 9 below was ok for a one-shot win over Brian Campbell, Doc Redman and Alistair Docherty.
“I performed good all yr and simply hadn’t fairly acquired it to work out for me,” Thornberry stated. “It’s a bizarre factor as a result of it’s getting my first professional win in addition to attending to the PGA Tour. I simply labored so laborious to get right here. A whole lot of stuff I really feel like hasn’t gone my means during the last 5 years or so, and to lastly have one thing go my means and play properly on the proper time is simply superb.”
Campbell and Redman, one other Walker Cupper in 2017 who was attempting to get again to the PGA Tour, every birdied their ultimate gap to knock Docherty out of place. Docherty’s misfortune was Noah Goodwin’s achieve, as Goodwin, the previous SMU standout who entered the week at No. 26 in factors, ended up No. 30.
“Each second of it was terrible,” Goodwin stated of his prolonged wait after tying for forty fourth. “There was no break the complete time. I imply, God, on the finish of the day I acquired fortunate. However it takes plenty of luck to play this recreation, and it takes plenty of luck to get the place we’re going. I’m simply grateful.”
Meet Thornberry, Campbell, Goodwin and the 27 different gamers who graduated the Korn Ferry Tour this yr:
COLUMBUS, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 22: Matt McCarty of the USA performs his shot from the primary tee in the course of the ultimate spherical of the Nationwide Youngsters’s Hospital Championship 2024 at Ohio State College Golf Membership on September 22, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Picture by Raj Mehta/Getty Photos)
Matt McCarty
KFT end: 1
Age: 26
Faculty: Santa Clara (2021)
PGA Tour profession: 2 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: Received thrice on the KFT this season, all from July onward, to earn a battlefield promotion to the PGA Tour. Nevertheless, McCarty didn’t play a Tour occasion till final week’s Sanderson Farms Championship as he needed to lock up the No. 1 spot in factors, which comes with exemptions into subsequent yr’s U.S. Open and Gamers Championship.
Enjoyable reality: His caddie, Devrath Das, was his teammate in faculty.
Max McGreevy
KFT end: 2
Age: 29
Faculty: Oklahoma (2017)
PGA Tour profession: 66 begins, 3 top-10s, 1 runner-up
Have to know: Performed two straight seasons on the PGA Tour earlier than shedding his card after final season, however he earned his means again with two wins and 9 top-10s this season on the KFT.
Enjoyable reality: McGreevy’s dad, Brian, performed collegiately at Kansas and received the 1998 Oklahoma State Novice when Max was 3 years outdated.
Frankie Capan III
KFT end: 3
Age: 23
Faculty: Florida Gulf Coast (2022)
PGA Tour profession: 4 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: Turned professional two years in the past after enjoying one ultimate summer time of novice golf. He breezed by way of three levels of KFT Q-Faculty, shedding to only two gamers mixed, earlier than incomes his card at ultimate stage. This season, Capan has damaged out with a win and two runner-up finishes.
Enjoyable reality: Capan’s father, Frank, co-founded Entry Money Worldwide, which turned one of many largest non-bank deployers of ATMs within the U.S. Additionally, Frankie is a large Minnesota Vikings fan.
GLENVIEW, ILLINOIS – JULY 26: Steven Fisk performs his shot from the seventeenth tee in the course of the second spherical of the NV5 Invitational introduced by Outdated Nationwide Financial institution at The Glen Membership on July 26, 2024 in Glenview, Illinois. (Picture by Quinn Harris/Getty Photos)
Steven Fisk
KFT end: 4
Age: 27
Faculty: Georgia Southern (2019)
PGA Tour profession: 0 begins
Have to know: A Walker Cupper and nine-time winner in faculty, Fisk didn’t make it to the KFT till 2022. He wanted a top-10 at Q-Faculty on the finish of that yr to maintain his card, although after a win and two runner-up finishes this season, he’s headed to the PGA Tour.
Enjoyable reality: Fisk makes use of a home made grip that’s highlighted by a really weak left hand and overlapping proper thumb over his left thumb.
Tim Widing
KFT end: 5
Age: 27
Faculty: San Francisco (2021)
PGA Tour profession: 4 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: Received back-to-back KFT occasions in April whereas additionally enjoying in two majors this yr, together with the U.S. Open, the place he tied for forty first.
Enjoyable reality: Met his now-wife, Jazmine, whereas in faculty, and on their first date, a 16-mile run, Widing was hospitalized with extreme hydration.
Taylor Dickson
KFT end: 6
Age: 31
Faculty: Winthrop (2015)
PGA Tour profession: 1 begin, 0 top-10s
Have to know: Rookie yr on the KFT was 2020-21, and he’s amassed 13 top-10s since then, together with two wins this season.
Enjoyable reality: Units as much as the golf ball with the hosel of the membership exterior the ball.
Brian Campbell
KFT end: 7
Age: 31
Faculty: Illinois (2015)
PGA Tour profession: 24 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: Campbell has been on the PGA Tour earlier than, in 2016-17, when he missed 13 of 20 cuts and was penalized for sluggish play on the 2017 Zurich Basic. He’s performed 5 seasons on the KFT since, although misplaced his card and made simply three begins in 2022. This yr was highlighted by two runner-up finishes and 7 whole top-10s.
Enjoyable reality: His brother, Derek, was drafted by the Phillies.
Harry Higgs
KFT end: 8
Age: 32
Faculty: SMU (2014)
PGA Tour profession: 120 begins, 2 runners-up, 6 top-10s
Have to know: After 4 straight seasons on the PGA Tour, together with two seconds, Higgs skilled a resurgence on the KFT this yr with two wins. He additionally certified for the U.S. Open through a playoff at ultimate qualifying that additionally included McCarty, who was eradicated.
Enjoyable reality: Born in Camden, New Jersey, however grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, and now lives in Dallas.
Thomas Rosenmuller
KFT end: 9
Age: 27
Faculty: North Texas (2019)
PGA Tour profession: 0 begins
Have to know: After successful thrice on the Professional Golf Tour in 2020, Rosenmuller disenchanted on the Problem Tour in 2021, the identical yr that he missed the lower on the DPWT’s BMW Worldwide Open, the place he hit a tree on his ultimate gap and made double to overlook by a shot. He then closed with a course-record 63 at ultimate stage of KFT Q-Faculty on the finish of 2021 to punch his KFT ticket.
Enjoyable reality: Dates Russian tennis participant Maria Kononova.
William Mouw
KFT end: 10
Age: 24
Faculty: Pepperdine (2023)
PGA Tour profession: 2 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: Earned his KFT card final yr through PGA Tour U and completed within the prime 25 in half of his 12 begins. This yr, he completed second thrice in 21 occasions.
Enjoyable reality: Married his high-school sweetheart, Hannah, the week previous to his ultimate NCAA Championship in 2023.
Quade Cummins
KFT end: 11
Age: 28
Faculty: Oklahoma (2021)
PGA Tour profession: 6 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: Had six top-10s, together with a runner-up end, this yr, his third on the KFT.
Enjoyable reality: Was the sixth man on Oklahoma’s 2017 NCAA title workforce and used to put on a belt buckle in faculty that learn, “Oklahoman Outlaw.”
FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 15: Ryan Gerard of the USA walks off the 18th inexperienced after the ultimate spherical of the Simmons Financial institution Open for the Snedeker Basis 2024 at Vanderbilt Legends Membership on September 15, 2024 in Franklin, Tennessee. (Picture by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Photos)
Ryan Gerard
KFT end: 12
Age: 25
Faculty: North Carolina (2022)
PGA Tour profession: 23 begins, 2 top-10s
Have to know: He Monday-qualified into the 2023 Honda Basic and tied for fourth on his approach to incomes particular short-term membership on the PGA Tour. This yr on the KFT, he received as soon as and was prime 25 in almost half of his 25 begins.
Enjoyable reality: Gerard informed Golf Digest of his unorthodox golf swing, “I’ve been informed my swing seems to be like Daniel Berger and Jon Rahm had an aneurysm on the downswing.”
Kevin Roy
KFT end: 13
Age: 34
Faculty: Lengthy Seaside State (2012)
PGA Tour profession: 32 begins, 1 top-10
Have to know: Roy completed twenty fourth in factors on the KFT in 2022 to earn his PGA Tour card for the primary time. Nevertheless, he misplaced it after only one yr and needed to return to the KFT, the place this yr he posted two runner-up showings.
Enjoyable reality: Was a senior on Lengthy Seaside State’s workforce when Xander Schauffele was a freshman.
Cristobal del Photo voltaic
KFT end: 14
Age: 30
Faculty: Florida State (2017)
PGA Tour profession: 2 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: Del Photo voltaic shot 57 on the Astara Golf Championship in February, however he didn’t get his first win till The Ascendant in July. On the time of his victory, Del Photo voltaic had already handed up an Olympic berth to give attention to incomes his PGA Tour card.
Enjoyable reality: His cousin, Nicole Perrot, was the primary Chilean-born participant to win on the LPGA.
FRENCH LICK, INDIANA – OCTOBER 06: Kevin Velo reacts after making a birdie on the 18th gap in the course of the ultimate spherical of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship introduced by United Leasing & Finance 2024 at French Lick Golf Resort on October 06, 2024 in French Lick, Indiana. (Picture by Mike Mulholland/Getty Photos)
Kevin Velo
KFT end: 15
Age: 27
Faculty: San Jose State (2020)
PGA Tour profession: 0 begins
Have to know: Velo received on PGA Tour Latinoamerica in 2022 and completed fourth on the tour to earn his KFT card. He had simply two top-25s final season, although, and wanted to undergo three levels of Q-Faculty to regain his card. He notched a win and three whole top-10s this yr.
Enjoyable reality: Velo’s dad, Jose, immigrated from Spain earlier than Kevin was born and labored 4 jobs to assist his household.
Braden Thornberry
KFT end: 16
Age: 27
Faculty: Ole Miss (2018)
PGA Tour profession: 11 begins, 1 top-10
Have to know: Performed three seasons on the KFT, however he misplaced his card after 2022, when he had no top-10s in 20 begins. He had no standing anyplace in 2023 earlier than regaining his KFT card through Q-Faculty. Coming into the KFT Championship, Thornberry had seven top-25s in 24 occasions, although only one top-10.
Enjoyable reality: Was into motocross when he was a child, although when he was 9 years outdated, he crashed and broke his leg.
Paul Peterson
KFT end: 17
Age: 36
Faculty: Oregon State (2012)
PGA Tour profession: 2 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: A rookie final yr on the KFT, Peterson clinched his PGA Tour card with a win on the Simmons Financial institution Open in mid-September. He additionally has received on the DP World Tour, Japan Tour and Asian Tour in his profession.
Enjoyable reality: He performs golf left-handed however does every part else right-handed.
Isaiah Salinda
KFT end: 18
Age: 27
Faculty: Stanford (2019)
PGA Tour profession: 11 begins, 1 top-10
Have to know: The 2019 Walker Cupper and NCAA workforce champion at Stanford, Salinda received and had three top-10s this yr, his second on the KFT.
Enjoyable reality: Salinda’s win, in Panama, got here simply weeks after he had his appendix eliminated, a surgical procedure that delayed the beginning of his KFT season.
Karl Vilips
KFT end: 19
Age: 23
Faculty: Stanford (2024)
PGA Tour profession: 1 begin, 0 top-10s
Have to know: Vilips tied for eighth at this yr’s NCAA Championship to maneuver to tenth within the ultimate PGA Tour College rankings and earn the final partial KFT card. He then completed second in his third begin and received in his fourth en path to graduating to the PGA Tour.
Enjoyable reality: Developed a speedy following on YouTube as a younger child, going by the moniker, “Koala Karl.”
Jackson Suber
KFT end: 20
Age: 24
Faculty: Ole Miss (2022)
PGA Tour profession: 3 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: Suber didn’t put up a single top-25 in eighth Canada begins out of faculty, however he had 9 mixed top-10s, together with two seconds and a 3rd the final two seasons on the KFT.
Enjoyable reality: Was the final man into this yr’s U.S. Open, the place he made the lower.
FRENCH LICK, INDIANA – OCTOBER 05: Jeremy Paul of Germany is seen on the sixteenth gap in the course of the third spherical of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship introduced by United Leasing & Finance at French Lick Golf Resort on October 05, 2024 in French Lick, Indiana. (Picture by Jennifer Perez/PGA TOUR through Getty Photos)
Jeremy Paul
KFT end: 21
Age: 30
Faculty: Colorado (2017)
PGA Tour profession: 0 begins
Have to know: Paul, who left Colorado early, performed three of 4 years in Canada and didn’t have standing anyplace in 2020 earlier than getting again on the KFT full-time in 2022. He received the season opener in Nice Exuma, Bahamas, this yr.
Enjoyable reality: Has a twin brother named Yannick, who performs on the DP World Tour.
Mason Andersen
KFT end: 22
Age: 25
Faculty: Arizona State (2022)
PGA Tour profession: 2 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: Didn’t earn professional standing out of school, however acquired on the KFT final yr and has eight mixed top-10s previously two seasons, together with a win at this yr’s Argentina Open. He completed thirty sixth in KFT factors final season.
Enjoyable reality: Shot 116 in his first golf event spherical, which included taking six swipes at a ball caught in a bush.
John Pak
KFT end: 23
Age: 25
Faculty: Florida State (2021)
PGA Tour profession: 15 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: The No. 1 participant in PGA Tour U in 2021, Pak selected to play PGA Tour occasion, however he missed 5 of six cuts that summer time. The subsequent yr on KFT, he posted only a single top-25 in 16 begins and misplaced his card. He received on Canada final yr and regained his KFT standing for this season, which was highlighted by a victory on the Compliance Options Championship in late June.
Enjoyable reality: He dates former Florida State and present skilled golfer, Beatrice Wallin.
OMAHA, NEBRASKA – AUGUST 09: Kris Ventura of Norway performs his tee shot on the tenth gap in the course of the second spherical of the Pinnacle Financial institution Championship introduced by Woodhouse at The Membership at Indian Creek on August 09, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Picture by David Berding/Getty Photos)
Kristoffer Ventura
KFT end: 24
Age: 29
Faculty: Oklahoma State (2018)
PGA Tour profession: 51 begins, 1 top-10s
Have to know: Ventura made 29 begins on the PGA Tour in 2020-21, however he misplaced his card after posting solely two top-20s. He’s performed every of the final three seasons on the KFT, and this yr he had a second amongst 4 top-10s and 10 top-25s.
Enjoyable reality: Was the principle recruiting goal of Oklahoma State head coach Alan Bratton when Bratton found Viktor Hovland, who was later Ventura’s faculty teammate and fellow Norwegian Olympian this summer time in Paris.
Kaito Onishi
KFT end: 25
Age: 25
Faculty: USC (2021)
PGA Tour profession: 5 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: Onishi had a rocky begin to his professional profession, leaving USC previous to the postseason his senior yr after which being disqualified from his professional debut in Japan for violating COVID-19 quarantine guidelines. Onishi reached the KFT in 2023 and completed No. 100 in factors, on the quantity for retaining conditional standing. That set the stage for a season that included a win amongst 5 top-25s.
Enjoyable reality: Was born in Japan however attended highschool at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
COLUMBUS, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 22: Ricky Castillo of the USA performs his shot from the seventeenth tee in the course of the ultimate spherical of the Nationwide Youngsters’s Hospital Championship 2024 at Ohio State College Golf Membership on September 22, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Picture by Raj Mehta/Getty Photos)
Ricky Castillo
KFT end: 26
Age: 23
Faculty: Florida (2023)
PGA Tour profession: 2 begins, 0 top-10s
Have to know: After successful in his first summer time on the KFT, Castillo didn’t win this yr, however he did put up six top-20s in his first seven occasions. After falling out of the highest 30 in July, Castillo responded with a T-2 on the Magnit Championship in August.
Enjoyable reality: Wears pukka shells in honor of his late grandmother. Additionally, his brother, Derek, jumped on his bag earlier this season in Chicago, with the 2 enjoying plenty of mini-golf whereas on the street, together with this week at French Lick.
Trevor Cone
KFT end: 27
Age: 31
Faculty: Virginia Tech (2015)
PGA Tour profession: 30 begins, 1 top-10
Have to know: Cone’s rookie season on the PGA Tour in 2023 included a T-3 on the Barbasol Championship. That was his solely end higher than T-23, nevertheless, and he was again on the KFT, the place he received in 2018 and 2022. This yr, he had six top-10s.
Enjoyable reality: For years, his Twitter bio has claimed he’s a “huge doughnut man.”
Danny Walker
KFT end: 28
Age: 28
Faculty: Virginia (2018)
PGA Tour profession: 1 begin, no top-10s
Have to know: Walker was medalist at KFT Q-Faculty ultimate stage in 2019, however he misplaced his card after the 2020-21 season. Walker made a putter change earlier than the Memorial Well being Championship in June, and that resulted in his first of eight top-25 finishes to shut the season.
Enjoyable reality: Labored as a waiter at Bahama Breeze in late 2021 to earn some cash to return to highschool, however he solely lasted just a few weeks and returned to professional golf.
COLUMBUS, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 20: Aldrich Potgieter of South Africa performs his shot from the 14th tee in the course of the second spherical of the Nationwide Youngsters’s Hospital Championship 2024 at Ohio State College Golf Membership on September 20, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Picture by Raj Mehta/Getty Photos)
Aldrich Potgieter
KFT end: 29
Age: 20
Faculty: None (2023)
PGA Tour profession: 1 begin, no top-10s
Have to know: Grew to become the youngest winner in KFT historical past final January by successful within the Bahamas at age 19. He additionally shot 59 in Bogota and completed T-20. He had missed three of 4 cuts getting into the KFT Championship, the place he shot 69 on the ultimate day to complete T-40 and narrowly advance to the PGA Tour.
Enjoyable reality: Counts former PGA Tour winner Tim Clark as a mentor.
Noah Goodwin
KFT end: 30
Age: 24
Faculty: SMU (2022)
PGA Tour profession: 3 begins, 1 top-10
Have to know: Previous to this season, Goodwin was finest often called a professional for successful twice in Canada in 2022 but in addition having to withdraw from the ultimate stage of KFT Q-Faculty that yr due to sickness. After ending No. 110 in KFT factors final season, Goodwin regained standing at Q-Faculty. He opened the yr with two straight top-10s. He completed with sixth, his most up-to-date coming two weeks in the past in Columbus to bump him from No. 31 to No. 26 in factors, setting the stage for him to carry on for the ultimate PGA Tour card.
Enjoyable reality: Was recognized at 9 years outdated with pituitary dwarfism, which suggests his pituitary gland fails to provide an satisfactory provide of progress hormone. Goodwin overcame that to win back-to-back AJGA Rolex Junior Participant of the Yr awards.
