Uihlein to play in PGA Tour Qualifying Tournaments
28 Aug 2011
by Golfweek
see also: Peter Uihlein Rankings
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ERIN, Wis. – Peter Uihlein told Golfweek
on Friday that he intends to play the
European and PGA Tour Q-Schools this fall.
Oklahoma State head coach Mike McGraw
shouldn’t fret, though. Uihlein said that
he’ll complete his senior year for the
Cowboys regardless of how he fares.
Uihlein is hardly the first amateur to
attend Q-School, but his presence could
still be unprecedented. Both tours require
that amateurs who earn cards at Q-School
turn pro shortly after the event to accept
membership.
“I wouldn’t turn (pro),” Uihlein said. “I
would never do that.”
So why is he going, then? To gain
experience and strengthen his resume for
when he turns professional after the 2012
NCAA Championship, he said.
His case for sponsor exemptions would be
strengthened should he show he's skilled
enough to earn tour membership. Uihlein
typically plays amateur events during
Oklahoma State’s winter break; playing Q-
School will better prepare him for his
upcoming pro career. Unlike most other
Americans, Uihlein may begin his pro
career on the European Tour, depending on
where he gets starts.
The qualifiers won’t conflict with Oklahoma
State’s fall schedule, which ends in
October.
He’s exempt into the second stage of Q-
School for both tours. Making the cut at
the Open Championship exempted him into
the second stage of PGA Tour Q-School.
His exemption at European Tour Q-School
comes from being in the top 10 of the
R&A’s World Amateur Rankings.
Uihlein has signed up for the PGA Tour
second-stage qualifier Nov. 15-18 at TPC
Craig Ranch. Uihlein won an AJGA event at
the course in McKinney, Texas, course
during his junior career. The second stage
of European Tour Q-School overlaps with
the finals of PGA Tour Q-School, though.
The European Tour qualifiers are Dec. 2-5
in Spain. The final stage of PGA Tour Q-
School is Nov. 30-Dec. 5 at PGA West in La
Quinta, Calif.