The Korn Ferry Tour Championship is more than just a tournament—it's a high-stakes showdown that could change lives. The top 20 players on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List after this event will secure their PGA TOUR cards for 2026, while everyone else faces another tough year grinding it out to reach golf’s biggest stage. But here's where it gets controversial: is the pressure of these final four days on the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Golf Resort the ultimate test of true golfing grit—or just a make-or-break gamble?
With 11 spots already claimed, the spotlight shines brightly on the players teetering on the edge—fighting desperately for their chance to step up to the PGA TOUR. Let’s dive into the stories of six competitors on this nail-biting "bubble," each hoping a stellar performance brings their dreams to life.
Zecheng Dou – Ranked 19th
Zecheng "Marty" Dou holds the precarious 19th place as he battles to regain a coveted PGA TOUR card. A trailblazer for Chinese golf, Dou’s journey is compelling: he represented China at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside Carl Yuan and boasts 69 PGA TOUR starts, though with only one top-five finish so far. Bursting onto the scene as a teenager, Dou dominated the 2016 PGA TOUR China Series with four wins and the Order of Merit crown. In 2017, he became the first player from mainland China to triumph on the Korn Ferry Tour—a milestone that earned him his PGA TOUR card in 2018.
His rookie season was a steep learning curve, pushing him back to the developmental circuit until he earned promotion again in 2022. This year, his form has picked up, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the recent Compliance Solutions Championship, his best of the season, which propelled him into the top 20. Now, under immense pressure on French Lick's challenging Pete Dye Course, Dou faces a make-or-break moment to secure a third PGA TOUR stint and reaffirm his status as a leading figure in Chinese golf.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju – Ranked 20th
Right on the bubble at 20th is Canada's Sudarshan Yellamaraju, bidding for his first PGA TOUR card after a swift rise through the ranks. He burst into the spotlight early in 2025 with a win at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic, the season's second event—a breakthrough that followed a tough rookie year in 2024 where he made only two top-25 finishes across 25 tournaments and ended up 99th on the points list. That performance, however, granted him conditional status and a crucial second chance.
Yellamaraju made the most of it, pushing through the grueling PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry, securing eight guaranteed starts this season. Born in India and raised in Canada, he started hitting golf balls at age six in a Winnipeg dome and turned pro at 19 out of economic necessity. "I didn’t go to college because I couldn’t afford to," he candidly shared. Now, his unconventional path could culminate in a PGA TOUR breakthrough if he can handle the pressure one more week.
Mitchell Meissner – Ranked 21st
Standing just outside the bubble at 21st, Mitchell Meissner will tee off first Thursday, driven by the chance to join his younger brother, PGA TOUR professional Mac Meissner. After tying for 33rd at last year’s French Lick finale, Mitchell faced a daunting hurdle: a second surgery on his right wrist shortly thereafter. His comeback has been a testament to resilience.
Collegiate challenges nearly ended his career—he struggled intensely with the putting yips and was considering a consulting career before a radical experiment: switching to left-handed putting. This unconventional change reawakened his confidence and saved his golf career. Although recent results have been inconsistent—no better finish than tied 22nd since mid-summer and three missed cuts in six starts—French Lick’s final event could rewrite the Meissner family story on the biggest stage.
Julian Suri – Ranked 22nd
Known for making comebacks, Julian Suri embodies the spirit of perseverance. Now 34, the New York native sits just two places shy of the top 20, hunting his first PGA TOUR card. Suri catapulted into contention with a thrilling win at the Utah Championship, firing a final-round 63 that lifted him from 56th to 16th in points. This marked only his second Official World Golf Ranking win, joining a 2017 victory on the DP World Tour.
A former Duke University standout and once the official golf ambassador for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, Suri’s journey has globe-trotted between tours and continents. Could he harness the momentum from his hometown team’s recent victory over the Kansas City Chiefs and crack the top 12 here? If that happens, the PGA TOUR could be waiting.
Jeremy Gandon – Ranked 23rd
French rookie Jeremy Gandon has turned heads with a breakout season, including a win at the Club Car Championship at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club—the first French player after Paul Barjon to win on the Korn Ferry Tour. Seven top-25 finishes have solidified his position, but at 23rd, he probably needs a top-five finish this week to claim a PGA TOUR card.
A Kansas State alum with the 2018 Big 12 individual co-champion title, Gandon’s steady ascent represents a surge in French golf’s international footprint. A strong performance on Pete Dye’s demanding course could elevate not just his career, but also France’s growing prominence in the sport.
Justin Suh – Ranked 24th
Finally, Justin Suh, No. 24 on the list, knows precisely what it takes to win here. Once the world amateur No. 1 and 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year, Suh is eager to reclaim his PGA TOUR status. He sparked early-season excitement with a win at the 118 Visa Argentina Open, his second Korn Ferry Tour title, following a difficult 2024 season that saw him lose his TOUR card.
Suh dominated this championship two years ago—albeit on a different course—securing first place in the season-long standings and his initial TOUR promotion. Now, at 27, after battling injuries and pandemic-related setbacks, the grind has tested him like never before. He’ll likely need to finish tied for third or better this week to complete his comeback.
**So, what do you think? Does this final showdown fairly determine who belongs on the PGA TOUR, or does it add unnecessary pressure that might overshadow consistent performance over the season? Are these "bubble boys" the true heroes of perseverance, or is this system stacked against those teetering on the edge? Let us know your thoughts—agree, disagree, or eager to debate—down below!
