Australian golfer Harrison Endycott is thrilled to have regained his PGA Tour card after posting a dominant victory in the final event of the cut-throat qualifying school in Florida.
Endycott had to sleep on the third-round lead for two nights after thunderstorms and water-logged courses forced a Monday finish.
But the 27-year-old held his nerve to convert a two-shot advantage into a four-stroke victory with a final-round three-under-par 67 at the TPC Sawgrass Dye's Valley Course.
With the top five finishers and ties earning cards, Endycott secured his ticket back to the big time after he had finished 139th in the FedExCup standings in his rookie PGA Tour season.
"It's great to go do the job over four days. Obviously a win is a win," he said.
"It was a tough, grinding year, rookie year on tour, and you learn a lot out there."
Endycott meticulously analysed his playing stats after the last PGA Tour event of the season to see where he needed to lift his game.
It paid off big time this week as the Sydneysider recorded just three bogeys in 72 holes in notching a well-deserved Q-school triumph.
He prevailed at 15-under, well clear of American Trace Crowe at 11-under.
Blaine Hale Jr was third at nine-under, one shot ahead of American Hayden Springer and Mexican Raul Pereda, who shared fourth to wrap up the remaining PGA Tour cards.
"Sometimes it's good to take a step back, and we went through all our stats and managed to really point out and pick out why we were in that category," Endycott said.
"Whether it's wedge dispersion, some course management decisions and some putting, it's great that the PGA Tour can provide that information for us.
"We just picked up what we needed to get better, did some really good work over the last few weeks, and it's nice to come out and get a win."
Endycott's success vindicates the Sydneysider's decision to roll the dice and buy a house in Nashville recently, despite his uncertain future.
He had been guaranteed status on the secondary Korn Ferry Tour, but now has automatic entry to full-field PGA Tour events for 2024.
The 40 next best players and ties at Q-school earned Korn Ferry Tour cards, but unfortunately fellow Australian John Lyras missed out by one shot.
Lyras closed with an even-par 70 at Sawgrass Country Club to tie for 54th at one-over.
It was also a rough day for countryman Tom Power-Horan, who started in a share of 24th but ended joint 64th at two-over following a closing 74 at Sawgrass Country Club.
