After conquering the JGTO in his first full rookie season, reigning Prize Money King Keita Nakajima aims to make 2023 even more memorable by securing a PGA Tour card.
The 23-year-old has a golden opportunity to join Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune to carry Japanese pride in the prestigious US circuit next year through the PGA Tour Qualifying School (Q-School).
For the first time since 2012, tour cards will be awarded through the PGA Tour Q-School, with status for the 2024 season secured by those finishing in the top five and ties.
Nakajima will be among the 165 hopefuls doing battle in the 72-hole final stage at two different venues – the TPC Sawgrass (Dye’s Valley Course) and Sawgrass Country Club, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, which commenced on Thursday.
Nakajima can certainly count his blessings as he gained direct access to the final stage by being the No. 1 player in the JGTO Money Rankings.
Being the former world No. 1 amateur golfer, holding the title for a record-breaking 87 weeks in a row, Nakajima enters the Q-School with all eyes on him.
After all, Nakajima has also done enough to make the whole world take notice of him, especially after winning three times and consistently finishing inside the top five back home.
“My good performance on JGTO has granted me this wonderful opportunity. I am going to do my best so that I can make the most of this chance. I’m feeling good about my game now,” he said.
“It makes me very happy to receive this opportunity. I want to play this week with confidence and understanding that I am the winner of the order of merit on JGTO. Truly, my goal has always been to play on the PGA TOUR. I certainly want to convert this opportunity and do my best to finish inside top 5 so that I can play in the U.S next year,” said Nakajima.
Satoshi Kodaira will be the other Japanese in the fray this week, seeking to improve his status after finishing outside the top 125 on the FedExCup ranking.
It would be an achievement if both Nakajima and Kodaira could boost Japanese representation to four on the PGA Tour next year.
Hisatsune had earlier secured her PGA Tour season debut after ending the DP World Tour season as one of the leading 10 points finishers on the Race to Dubai rankings.
Nakajima has more than just a PGA Tour card to play for this week; in the event, he falls short of securing PGA Tour status, he could still find himself earning membership on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour.
Provided he completes the Q-School as one of the next 40 finishers and ties (excluding the top five and ties who earn exemptions to the PGA Tour), he is guaranteed access to the first 12 events in 2024.
Last year, Kaito Onishi and Yuto Katsuragawa earned Korn Ferry Tour membership and made 22 and 16 starts, respectively.
However, Onishi and Katsuragawa struggled to make an impact as they finished 100th and 130th, failing to meet the top 75 requirement to retain their Korn Ferry Tour status.
