Composition of silhouette of male golf player over landscape and blue sky with copy space. sport and competition concept digitally generated image. Copyright: xx 1451962
Composition of silhouette of male golf player over landscape and blue sky with copy space. sport and competition concept digitally generated image. Copyright: xx 1451962
Nearly two years after the PGA Tour made significant changes to its structure, one rising Korn Ferry Pro has backed the new format. James Nicholas has a simple reason for it.
"But, at the end of the day, if you're good enough, you're going to make it. If you play well enough, you're going to make it. And that's the beauty about golf - it's up to you, right?" Nicholas said.
The structural change reduced the number of full-time cards from 125 to 100. Along with that, field sizes at many tournaments, including The Players Championship, will be reduced.
September 26, 2024, Madrid, Madrid, SPAIN: James NICHOLAS of United States during the Acciona Open Espana 2024, golf DP World Tour in Spain, celebrated at Club de Campo of Madrid on September 26, 2024, in Madrid, Spain. Madrid SPAIN - ZUMAa181 20240926_zaa_a181_002 Copyright: xOscarxJ.xBarrosox
September 26, 2024, Madrid, Madrid, SPAIN: James NICHOLAS of United States during the Acciona Open Espana 2024, golf DP World Tour in Spain, celebrated at Club de Campo of Madrid on September 26, 2024, in Madrid, Spain. Madrid SPAIN - ZUMAa181 20240926_zaa_a181_002 Copyright: xOscarxJ.xBarrosox
Many PGA pros, however, questioned the Tour’s decision at the time. They believed that the real issue of slow-play was not being addressed by the Tour. Many stated that the reduction of cards and field sizes was not a good idea.
Moreover, the PGA Tour announced that it would be removing the Monday qualifying spots from all its events. Starting from 2026, Korn Ferry Tour’s top-20 pros will receive the full PGA Tour status and not the top-30, as it happened earlier. And according to Nicholas, that is not a problem.
"If I go out and I play great [this season], I'm going to have a PGA Tour card. If I go out and play not so well, I won't be. But that's the beauty of game, you either earn it or you don't and it's all on you," Nicholas added.
Nicholas' 2026 Korn Ferry Tour Performance
The former Yale University golfer found his first success on the Korn Ferry Tour in February 2026.
Trending slideshow: Top 10 Golfers Who Secured Korn Ferry Tour Cards for the 2026 Season
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Top 10 Golfers Who Secured Korn Ferry Tour Cards for the 2026 SeasonPGA Tour Q-School's final stage grinds nerve and skill to the limit. While 5 claimed coveted PGA Tour cards, 48 more locked in exempt status for the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour. This spotlight uncovers the top 10 from that KFT group, their tales of playoff heartbreaks, sudden-death surges, and defining moments on the road to pro relevance. Jevone Moore/Imago/ZUMA Press WireGreyson Sigg locked in his KFT card with a T13 at 8-under, capped by a scorching 6-under 64 Sunday. A PGA Tour vet with 129 starts, he brings battle-tested experience back to the Korn Ferry Tour. Navigating a brutal field across 2 tough courses, his steady grit signals a fierce push for the top circuit in 2026. via Imago/Icon SportswireBrandon Wu, a former PGA Tour member, clinched his KFT card at T13 with 8-under par, powered by a stellar 3rd-round 65. He's proven major-championship caliber before, and his poise under Q-School's brutal pressure sets up a launchpad for a dominant KFT comeback in 2026. Thos Caffrey/Imago/GolffileTheo Humphrey’s T13 finish at 8-under par punched his ticket back to the KFT. His path has been defined by resilience, grinding through multiple qualifying stages in recent years. A composed week across both host venues, capped by a final-round 66, showcased his grit and consistency, clear proof that he has the game to contend regularly next season. via Imago/ZUMA Press WireIan Holt posted a T9 finish at 9-under par, securing full Korn Ferry Tour status for 2026. Built on remarkable consistency with 3 straight opening rounds of 67, his week featured clean cards and minimal mistakes, spotlighting the kind of steady, high-level game that could fuel a true breakout season in pursuit of his 1st major professional win. David Kirouac/Imago/Icon SportswireMitchell Meissner tied for T9 at 9-under par, a career-defining result that locks in a full 2026 KFT schedule. This breakthrough offers vital security for his development, fueled by 4 straight sub-par rounds (68-67-68-68). His precision signals the talent to battle rising stars and climb to the next level. Rich Graessle/Imago/Icon SportswireChan Kim, a veteran with 8 international wins, tied for T9 at 9-under par to claim his KFT card. He led the field with an opening 64, then held steady through an emotional week as his newborn daughter was released from the hospital. Kim’s efficient, focused play proves the 35-year-old is primed for the challenges ahead. Graham Stokes/Imago/Icon SportswireTrent Phillips powered to a T9 finish at 9-under par with a dominant week at Q-School. He rocketed up the leaderboard Sunday with a scorching 8-under 62, the day's low round. Fresh off a stellar college career at Georgia, this young pro's poise under pressure delivers a massive confidence surge for the big stages ahead. Stefano Di Maria/Imago/GolffileMatt Atkins tied for 7th at a rock-solid 10-under par. He embodied late-week consistency with a bogey-free 64 and a 65 in the middle rounds, staying firmly in contention. This commanding Q-School performance confirms he's primed to chase wins in 2026 and battle for a PGA Tour spot, leveraging his prior KFT know-how. Matthew Maxey/Imago/Icon SportswireCamilo Villegas, the charismatic veteran, secured a T7 finish at 10-under par, proving his game is still sharp. A 5-time PGA Tour winner, Villegas missed the tour card playoff by just 1 single stroke after a narrow miss on the 18th hole. "Spiderman" brings a wealth of experience to the KFT as he seeks to return to the PGA Tour stage, remaining a massive fan favorite. via Imago/DreamstimeBen Silverman secured the top spot among the KFT group with an impressive T5 finish at 11-under par. He was part of a dramatic, sudden-death playoff for the final PGA Tour card, falling just short on the 1st extra hole. Silverman is a seasoned KFT winner with strong finishes this year and will be a dominant force on the 2026 KFT circuit with his highly-ranked exempt status. Rich Graessle/Imago/Icon Sportswire
Nicholas won the Astara Golf Championship in Bogota, Colombia, by two strokes, finishing with a score of 19-under 265.
"The goals remain the same. They become a little bit more in reach obviously after having a win, but you've got to go have a great second half of the year now and either go get another win or get a bunch of top 10s and chase down that point threshold,” said Nicholas.
Currently at rank 7 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List, Nicholas looks set to join the PGA Tour.
