Carey hits apex of learning curve; LET Q-School starts well for Irish
David Carey will draw as much hope from overcoming the dog days as he will from making the cut in The 150th Open as he chases his PGA Tour dream at the Final Stage of the Q-School in Sawgrass.
The Dubliner (29) begins his quest at Dye’s Valley Course today and while he’s had the experience of making the cut at St Andrews in 2022 and Monday qualifying for two PGA Tour events in 2023, he’ll also be drawing on his battles in the lower leagues to try and win one of five precious PGA Tour cards.
“The Open helps, of course, but whether it be good results or bad results, since I've been a kid, all the different things you've done that all kind of adds up to experiences that you can draw from and lessons that you've learned from,” said Carey, who was so far down the pecking order this year, he only got into the Irish Challenge as a last gasp reserve on site at Killeen Castle.
“I've played in big events, in The Open and on the PGA Tour and European tour stuff, down to smaller events, and they all have their own learning curve.
“I think the one thing I have learned from having played at basically every level is that they're all just golf tournaments, and if you can just shoot under par, you'll probably do okay regardless of where you are.”
The Dubliner (29) is one of 176 players looking to finish in the top five after 72 holes in what is a $510,000 no-cut event.
Players will play two rounds each at Dye’s Valley Course and Sawgrass Country Club and while the winner will bank $50,000, the goal is to make the top five (no ties) and secure that dream ticket to the big time.
Carey has already secured status on the third-tier PGA Tour Americas, but if he finishes outside the top five, the next 40 and ties will receive Korn Ferry Tour membership for the 2026 season
“Ideally, I will finish in the top five, but either way, I've got somewhere to play next year and somewhere to kind of build from,” said Carey, who played a selection of mini tour events and Monday qualifiers for PGA Tour events this year.
“You can't not think about it because it's right there in front of you, but when you're hitting a shot or a putt, you can't be in that mindset,” he said.
"You have to get back to reality and focus on what you need to do.
“But yeah, I've had a few little brief thoughts in my head about what could be.”
It’s also Q-School time on the Ladies European Tour and Olivia Mehaffey, Canice Screen and Aine Donegan got off to fast starts at the Lalla Aicha Q-School Pre-Qualifiers in Marrakech.
Mehaffey (28) chipped in at her 18th to open with a four-under 68 at Palm Golf and share the lead with Thailand’s Kan Bunnabodee in the race to make the top 20 and ties after three rounds, who will qualify for next week’s Final Stage.
“My preparation for Pre-Q has been good, although I haven’t played a tournament since La Sella (in September),” said Mehaffey. “I went to Arizona for just over three weeks to practice in good weather before this.
“Everything in my game today was pretty solid. I hit a lot of fairways and greens, which helped me out.
“My birdies today mainly came from hitting two par-5s in two and then some wedges close. I had a chip-in birdie on the 18th, which was fun.”
Mehaffey and Bunnabodee led by two shots from Screen, South Africa’s Caitlyn Macnab and France’s Margot Rouquette, who shot 70s, while Irish amateur Olivia Hunt was just two shots outside the top 20 after an opening 77.
It was also a strong opening day for Lahinch star Donegan, who was just a shot off the lead after carding a two under 70 in the battle to make the top 19 and ties at Fairmont Royal Palm Golf & Country Club.
The former Curtis Cup winner raced to the turn in four-under, and while she dropped three shots on her back nine, she birdied her final hole to sit in a seven-way tie for second, just a shot behind leader Jess Baker.
France’s Gala Dumez shot a four-under 68 to lead at Samanah Golf, while a five-under 68 gave American Victoria Gaile the lead at Noria Golf.
