Cameron Percy has spearheaded a brilliant Australian charge to earn full playing status for the PGA Tour Champions in 2024.
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The Victorian won by five shots at 20-under 264 to take out medallist honours in the final stage of Q-School at TPC Scottsdale's Champions course in Arizona on Friday.
Percy will be joined on the Tour next year by compatriots Michael Wright (Qld), Steve Allan (Vic) and David Bransdon (Vic), in more good news for Australian golf fans.
Wright finished second, with American Shane Bertsch third. They were followed by Allan (fourth) and Bransdon (fifth), as Australians grabbed the lion's share of the five fully exempt cards on offer.
The quintet will gain access to all open, full-field events on the 2024 PGA Tour Champions, beginning at the Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida, in February.
Percy finished with a 4-under 67 in Friday's final round.
"When we got to 15, I asked my caddie how we were doing, because I thought we were getting lapped," Percy said.
"After he told me we were four ahead, I chipped it in. From then on, I knew I just needed to keep it in front of us coming in."
At the urging of other players, Percy experienced a change of heart before this week got under way.
"I wasn't going to come (here), I was exhausted," the 49-year-old said.
"I was actually going to get ready for the PGA Tour's Q-School next week. I was told to go to Q-School here and get my card.
"It's so much better than having to Monday qualify. So I did ... and it has all paid off."
Percy's career-best finish on the Tour (220 total starts) was a playoff loss (P2) at the 2010 Shriners Children's Open.
His best of four top-25 finishes in 23 Tour starts this past season was a T12 at The Classic in the Palm Beaches (formerly The Honda Classic).
Of his 12 top-10 finishes on Tour, three came in the 2021-22 campaign, his career-most for a single season.
"The PGA Tour is the toughest, most challenging golf in the world to compete with," Percy noted after Thursday's third round.
"So, I like the confidence I'm hanging on to, knowing I've been playing well out there."
Percy's compatriot Wright stood on the tee box of the 72nd hole at 4-under on the day and 14-under overall. Seemingly, he was a lock for a top-five spot.
"I hit what was my worst drive all week at No.18 today, down into the desert," Wright said.
"I had a terrible lie on the rocks, leaving me with no option but to try and hack a 5-iron. It went, maybe, 30 yards, but stayed on the dirt on the desert."
But, then, from 122 yards, Wright was bang on target, holing his third shot for a highly unlikely birdie to cap off a round of 5-under 66 that allowed him to secure solo-second at 15-under 269.
Allan, who won the 2002 Australian Open, followed rounds of 68-66-65 with a final-round even-par 71 to lock up the No.4 spot at 14-under, while Bransdon posted scores of 69-70-65-67 to finish a shot back and claim fifth.
Australian Associated Press
