changes to the PGA Tour qualifying system

The PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, higher quality as Q School, has been available since the late 1960s. In early stages, as little as five PGA Tour cards were awarded each year from the event.

That number has grown to the top 25 and ties. With all the changes supply, starting in 2013 you will have zero PGA Tour cards awarded. The superior finishers at Q School will earn full status for the Nationwide Tour.

It doesn't seem to be broken, so was this variation really needed? The tour thinks this will make the two Nationwide and PGA stronger ultimately.

"I think all of you be aware Taylormade R11 driver that since 1990, we've got studied year-in and year-out the comparative performance of players away from the Nationwide Tour versus players off of the Qualifying School," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem stated on Tuesday. "And this can be a reaffirmation that we have great confidence according to this many years of history just what the Nationwide Tour does to cook a player for your competitive challenges in the PGA Tour."

The 50 places that were available - 25 spots from Q School and 25 from the Nationwide Tour money list - will now come through a three-event series that may combine people in both tours, and several non-members to submit the fields.

"The final events is going to be added to an off week on the PGA Tour so that we are able to command good television exposure, so we brings the climate as well as the drama of the competition to the fans," Finchem explained.

This three-event series, which is to be played at about the time with the FedEx Cup playoffs, won't have as dramatic a direct impact as Q School within the short-term, but stories will grow from this.

The changes, which were voted on and approved by the PGA Tour's Players Advisory Council, will take place starting within the fall of 2013. A cynic might say the players for the council came through the current system and it worked for the kids, exactly why change?

As Finchem said, the Nationwide Tour provides players a peek at what exactly is in the future about the PGA Tour. Q School graduates have ample PGA Tour wins to their credit, nevertheless it pales in comparison to the 300-plus wins that former Nationwide Tour players have accumulated for the PGA Tour.

Anyone this new system could hinder could be the hot-shot college star jumping directly to the PGA Tour.

Rickie Fowler left college early and gained his PGA Tour card via Q School in '09. After having a plethora of amateur Mizuno MP-59 Irons and collegiate wins, Fowler continues to be seeking his first PGA Tour win.

While Fowler still needed Q School to arrive at the tour, his 2009 Walker Cup teammate Bud Cauley didn't.

Cauley, a PGA Tour rookie, earned enough money following last season in their six sponsors exemptions which he finished the equivalent of No. 116 for the tour's money list.

Therefore, Cauley joined famous brands Gary Hallberg, Scott Verplank, Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard, Ryan Moore and Ernie els as those who avoided Q School and went right to the PGA Tour.

This indicates this path will still be open for collegians, but tend to exactly the same be said for rising international players? What would have grown to be of Rory McIlroy if he spent 12 months for the Nationwide Tour, and played poorly? Maybe he never wins the U.S. Open.

Which path increases results? Those with the PGA Tour headquarters will tell you that playing your way with the Nationwide Tour is the foremost way.

Who are we to argue? They are often right, nevertheless the coming changes appear to allow it to be harder to discount golf clubs have about the PGA Tour.

That could strengthen the tour ultimately, but, hopefully, the alterations don't adversely effect superstar collegians, like Jordan Spieth or Patrick Cantlay, or international stars such as Asian Amateur champ Hideki Matsuyama from realizing their dreams and competing on the PGA Tour.

Michelle Wie has elevated the public eye to get more years than most of the people realize. She first appeared in the LPGA Tour event in 2002.

Yep, 2002! And she or he was only in grade school way back when.