David Carey believes he has everything to gain as he chases a PGA Tour card today at the Q-School finale in Florida.
Just five cards are available to the 176 player field across Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass and at Sawgrass Country Club over 72 holes with a $510,000 prize purse and no cut.
Carey arrives with PGA Tour Americas status already secured as well as a conditional Korn Ferry card so the 29-year-old feels he is playing with a bit more freedom than some who are stressing and sweating this week.
“A week ago I had no real status anywhere and now I have Americas and Korn Ferry so it can only get better,” said Carey who knows a top-45 finish would clinch a full Korn Ferry card.
The Dubliner is renowned for his power hitting and he regularly reaches 190mph ball speed with the driver. He is carrying two drivers this week which he hopes can help keep him in play on the narrow layout this week and give himself the best chance of grabbing a fairytale PGA Tour card.
“Anything is going to be a positive for me from this point. If we can get in the top-45 and get a Korn Ferry card great and top five even better. Somebody has to. At the end of the week there will be five guys at the top. It won’t be an easy week, the courses quite tricky. If I can keep the ball in play off the tee and give myself chances then I have every chance.”
Dubbed ‘Mr 57’ after shooting a record score on the Alps Tour in 2019, Carey has shown an aptitude for the top level. He qualified and made the cut at the 150th Open at St Andrews in 2022 and Monday Q’d for two PGA Tour events in 2023.
But injuries and illness wrote off 2024 and much of 2025 and Carey is aiming to get back on track in his career.
“Regardless it will be a nice step forward. If you go back to every year since 2019 except for last year which was a nightmare with injuries and illness. I had made a step forward every other year, first win, shot 57, played the Open, Monday qualified for PGA Tour events so everything was a first.
“Next year will be the first time I am a member of a PGA Tour so that is another step forward. It’s very exciting to have a plan and a schedule for next year.”
Carey can’t be accused of lying idle. During his time away from competitive golf he has grown a healthy social media presence with the help of his girlfriend Caitlin who is also his caddie this week.
He has 17,000 followers on Tiktok while his viewership is in the millions.
“That was one of the positives to come out of last year. It just came about from Caitlin my girlfriend she does all the social media stuff. She was out on course taking videos for me. Given that I wasn’t at tournaments we thought why don’t we do something with these videos and that’s how it all started. It’s going well so it has been a positive.”
Carey is coached by Shane O’Grady who also counts newly minted LPGA Tour pro Lauren Walsh in his stable. He would dearly love to make it a double celebration for the Blackbush based coach.
“It’s great to see an Irish player get on to one of the biggest stages. Hopefully we can make it a double celebration with Shane.”
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