Crowd of Canucks try to get PGA card

THE CANADIAN PRESS

David Hearn has a hunch. It's been a couple of years since he had any success at the PGA Tour's qualifying school but the 29-year-old feels like that's about to change. Hearn is one of more than a dozen professional Canadian golfers who will tee it up in the second stage of Q-school this week. "I'm really looking forward to it and ready for it this year," Hearn said Tuesday. "I've got a good feeling about getting through. "That in itself should be considered a victory. After all, there's nothing quite like it in sports.

Nearly a thousand golfers sign up for Q-school each year and compete in a series of pressure-packed tournaments with the hope of claiming one of 25 spots on the PGA Tour for the next season. "It's a giant job interview," said Hearn. Four of the second stage tournaments start Wednesday while another two will be played next week. Roughly 20 golfers from each of the six venues will advance to the final stage of qualifying next month in California, where the 25 PGA Tour cards will be handed out. It's best not to do math because the odds are pretty long.

Fortunately for Hearn, he's survived it before. The native of Brantford, Ont., made it all the way through in 2004 and has good vibes heading into his second stage qualifier at Deerwood Golf Club near Houston. The past experience certainly helps. "You get more accustomed to your expectations going in and the way you should play at Q-school," said Hearn. "I think when you're younger you try to play a little bit differently when you get to Q-school as opposed to just playing your own game. "I think you learn from that year after year." Hearn has entered the PGA Tour's qualifying school seven or eight times and admits that he "hasn't had the best success. "That throw-away comment illustrates what makes the experience so difficult. The fact that Hearn has ever made it through Q-school makes him exponentially more successful than average, but he still feels a little beaten down. Just like everyone else. This year could be different."I'm here to play well," said Hearn. "I want to compete and try to win this tournament. "I'm planning on getting to the final stage. And when I get there, I have no doubts that I'll get through. "Those kind of positive thoughts are often tough to find at these events. One other golfer declined an interview, citing stress - a testament to just how difficult Q-school can be on players.Hearn chooses to embrace the challenge and focus on the positive outcome that can come from it. "I think it's pretty unique from any sport," said Hearn. "The NHL, you can get drafted in the first round but that doesn't necessarily mean you're going to be in the NHL. "But this tournament, if you finish in the top-25 of final stage you are guaranteed a spot on the PGA Tour next season."

One benefit he enjoys over many others is that he still has status on the minor league Nationwide Tour. That gives him somewhere to play if he doesn't qualify for the PGA Tour in the coming weeks.

Besides Hearn, there are several players of interest to follow at Q-school. Jon Mills is back after recently completing his second season on the PGA Tour, where he didn't earn enough money to retain his card. The 30-year-old from Oshawa, Ont., is at the Southern Hills Plantation Club in Florida. He's looking to graduate from Q-school for the first time. Former PGA Tour winner Ian Leggatt is competing in Pine Mountain, Ga., alongside a trio of young Canadian pros - Mark Leon, James Love and three-time Canadian Amateur champion Richard Scott. Graham DeLaet and Dustin Risdon each won events on the Canadian Tour over the summer and are entered at the same venue in Texas as Hearn.