You’re never too old to learn something and Q-School is for all ages with Irish players ranging from 23-49 hoping they can find enough answers to secure their places on tour next season.
Sara Byrne and Lauren Walsh grew up playing amateur golf together from the age of twelve and now they are five rounds away from potentially walking the fairways alongside each other on the LPGA Tour.
The pair are in Mobile, Arizona for the Final Stage and they are both going in under the radar with Epson Tour (second tier) status already secured for making it this far in qualifying.
Walsh also enjoyed a fruitful rookie season on the Ladies European Tour while Byrne will have a chance to join her at the Final Stage of LET Q-School in Morocco in a fortnight.
Focusing on this week, there are 25 LPGA Tour cards available and Byrne and Walsh will be hoping to clinch one and join Leona Maguire at the top level.
Joining the big time would be a dream come true for Byrne (23) who turned professional in September but even during the infancy of her pro career she already has full status to fall back on.
The Dromoland Castle star has already overcome some pressure situations in her career, especially trying to qualify for the Curtis Cup team a week where she starred for GB&I, going unbeaten in her last event as an amateur.
“No matter what happens this week, I have a full-time job for next year — a full schedule, which is vital for my game,” Byrne said on her arrival in Mobile this week.
“Twelve months ago I was biting my fingernails, thinking, will I make Curtis Cup, or will I not? How will I get through Q-School with everyone telling me it’s the hardest thing in the world?
“Looking back, if I could tell myself that everything worked out exactly how it did so far, I’d be over the moon, to be honest.”
Castlewarden’s Walsh arrives with a full season of tour golf under her belt and a T-16 finish at the Spanish Open last week rounded off a memorable debut campaign in Europe.
But the former Wake Forest student would love to be playing full time Stateside.
“I have enjoyed my time on the LET but I would love to get out and compete against the best in the world on the LPGA,” she said.
Meanwhile John Murphy, JR Galbraith, Paul Dunne, Kevin Phelan, Niall Kearney, Declan Kenny and Michael Young are in Thailand looking to clinch Asian Tour cards as they look to take the scenic route through the professional game.
You’re never too old to make it on tour and Chris Devlin has made a bright start in his quest to join Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke on the PGA Tour Champions.
Devlin, better known for launching Graeme McDowell’s career, when he gave up some of his own scholarship money to help him get a start at the University of Alabama, has carded a two-under 69 at Q-School.
The Ballymena amateur who turns 50 in April, shares 22nd place and is five shots off the lead held by Dicky Pride.
Just five cards are available for the senior tour next season with two-time major winner Angel Cabrera and 2008 Ryder Cup star Boo Weekley competing alongside established tour players Soren Kjeldsen, Stephen Gallacher, Raphael Jacquelin, Brian Davis, Freddie Jacobson and Arjun Atwal.
It may be an uphill task for Devlin from here but if he can finish between 6th and 30th he will be afforded opportunities to Monday qualify for events next season.