Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States: After conquering the Japan Golf Tour in his first full rookie season, reigning ‘Prize Money King’ Keita Nakajima aims to make 2023 even more memorable by securing a PGA Tour card.
The 23-year-old is this week bidding to join fellow-Japanese Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Hisatsune in the US next year via the PGA Tour Qualifying School (Q-School).
For the first time since 2012, Tour cards will be awarded through the PGA Tour Q-School, with status for the 2024 season secured by those finishing in the top five and ties.
Nakajima is among 165 hopefuls doing battle in the 72-hole final stage at two different venues – PC Sawgrass (Dye’s Valley Course) and Sawgrass Country Club.
Nakajima gained direct access to the final stage by being the number one player in the Japan Tour’s 2023 Money Rankings.
“My good performances on the JGTO have granted me this wonderful opportunity. I am going to do my best so that I can make the most of this chance. I’m feeling good about my game now,” said Nakajima, a three-time winner on his home Tour this year.
“It makes me very happy to receive this opportunity. I want to play this week with confidence and understanding that I am the winner of the Order of Merit on the JGTO. My goal has always been to play on the PGA Tour. I certainly want to convert this opportunity and do my best to finish inside top five so that I can play in the US next year,” added Nakajima, winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in 2021 and a former number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Satoshi Kodaira is another Japanese in the fray this week, seeking to improve his status after finishing outside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup ranking.
Hisatsune secured his PGA Tour debut after ending the DP World Tour season as one of the leading 10 points finishers on the Race to Dubai rankings.
Nakajima has more than just a PGA Tour card to play for this week. Should he fall short of securing PGA Tour status, he could still find himself earning membership on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour.