Justin Thomas is about to enter his 11th season on the PGA Tour, and he’s firmly established as one of its cornerstones these days.
With two PGA Championship titles to his name, he hasn’t looked back since earning his tour card for the 2015 season.
The American has become a familiar face in Ryder Cups and other top events, and his presence has only grown over the years.
But like many experienced players, Thomas now finds himself watching a new wave of talent rise up from the Korn Ferry Tour into the professional game.
After this year’s class wrapped up their journey through the amateur ranks, Thomas reached out with an encouraging message to those who made it through.
Justin Thomas shares his thoughts as 20 Korn Ferry Tour players earn PGA Tour cards
Stepping up from the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA Tour is no easy feat, and not everyone finds their footing straight away.
Just like in any sport, making the jump from amateur to professional can be a tough adjustment. Thomas has been through it himself and knows just how challenging that transition can be.
But he managed to find his stride early on, winning back-to-back CIMB Classic titles in 2015 and 2016. Then in 2017, five more wins helped establish him as a rising star on tour.
20 Players from the Korn Ferry Tour who have earned Their PGA Tour Card
Several players from this year’s graduating class are already familiar to golf fans.
Neal Shipley and Christo Lamprecht have built their profiles well before reaching the main stage, while Korn Ferry followers will know Chandler Blanchet’s story of persistence, finally earning his card on his fourth attempt.
| Player | Korn Ferry Rank |
| Johnny Keefer | 1 |
| Chandler Blanchet | 2 |
| Austin Smotherman | 3 |
| Neal Shipley | 4 |
| Emilio Gonzalez | 5 |
| Hank Lebioda | 6 |
| Adrien Dumont de Chassart | 7 |
| S.H. Kim | 8 |
| Christo Lamprecht | 9 |
| Davis Chatfield | 10 |
| Zach Bauchou | 11 |
| Pierceson Coody | 12 |
| S.T. Lee | 13 |
| Jeffrey Kang | 14 |
| Kensei Hirata | 15 |
| Trace Crowe | 16 |
| John VanDerLaan | 17 |
| Zecheng Dou | 18 |
| Sudarshan Yellamaraju | 19 |
| Pontus Nyholm | 20 |
The rest now face the challenge of proving themselves against the world’s top players and seeing if they can establish a long-term presence.
READ MORE: Jon Rahm’s long break from golf could cost him form ahead of the 2026 Masters
The real work is just beginning for this group, but recent trends suggest that many will adapt quickly, adding even more competition for established names trying to hold onto their positions.
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