LPGA Q-Series Cut to 72 Holes After Major Weather Delays

What was supposed to be a five-round, 90-hole marathon at RTJ Golf Trail’s Magnolia Grove has now been condensed into a sprint.

The LPGA confirmed that Round 3 was suspended at 9:05 a.m. local time due to unplayable conditions and did not resume until 2:30 p.m. With additional rain in the forecast and multiple earlier delays already compressing the week, the tour made a significant decision:

Q-Series has been officially reduced to 72 holes, with no cut.

The updated plan:

• Complete all play by Tuesday, Dec. 9
• Top 25 and ties earn 2026 LPGA Tour cards
• All others receive Epson Tour or conditional status based on finish

The shift dramatically changes the competitive landscape — removing the traditional 72-hole cut and tightening the window for players who typically rely on longer formats to separate themselves.

🔴 Live Scoring — LPGA Q-Series Leaderboard

PGA TOUR Q-School Second Stage Also Hit Hard

The PGA TOUR Second Stage — held across five sites — experienced its own bout of December chaos. At multiple locations, weather forced officials to:

• Suspend play mid-round on Friday
• Cancel the final round entirely
• Revert to 54-hole scores per Q-School bylaws

One site in Dothan, Alabama, never even attempted its fourth round after storms delayed the third, resulting in another 54-hole finish. Only three of the five total sites (Palm Coast, FL; Savannah, GA; and Tucson, AZ) completed all 72 holes as scheduled.

For players on the bubble, the elimination of a full round removed both opportunity and risk — leaving some advancing and others eliminated based solely on 54-hole performance.

🔴 Full Coverage — PGA TOUR Q-School Guide

High Stakes, High Uncertainty in December

Q-School is already the toughest week of the year for aspiring professionals. Adding unpredictable winter weather only heightens the volatility.

This year’s disruptions highlight the razor-thin margins players face:

• Careers hinge on weather delays and daylight windows
• Entire rounds can vanish from the results
• Status for 2026 can be decided in fewer holes than expected

As LPGA Q-Series races to finish its shortened format and PGA TOUR hopefuls await final qualifying, one thing is clear: December Q-School remains as unpredictable — and consequential — as ever.