A promotion is in the near future for 25 players, as is some career stability, at least for one season.
Last week was the final week of the Web.com Tour regular season, and 25 players can now rest easy knowing that they will be playing with the best players in the world in 2016. For some, it will be their first shot on the stage, and for others, it is a chance for career redemption. The following are the top 25 players on the Web.com Tour money list who earned their PGA Tour cards. Another 25 cards will be handed out at the end of the Web.com Tour Finals, which consists of four tournaments and features the next 75 players on the money list as well as PGA Tour players who did not achieve enough FedEx Cup points to earn their card for next season.
1) Patton Kizzire
The 29 year old from Georgia was playing in his rookie season, but had the poise and the talent of a seasoned veteran. He notched two wins and an astonishing 11 top 10's in 19 starts to easily take the money list title. Kizzire is currently 109 in the Official World Golf Rankings, and will be exempt into The Players Championship.
2) Martin Piller
29 years old out of Texas who is married to LPGA Tour professional Gerina Piller, a two time Solheim Cup participant. Played one season on the PGA Tour back in 2011. Won twice this season.
3) Dawie Van der Walt
The highest ranked non-American on the Web.com Tour, Van der Walt, the 32 year old from South Africa, will be playing in his first PGA Tour season after winning twice this season. He is not brand new to big events, however, as he previously won on the European Tour and played in the Open Championship in 2014.
4) Peter Malnati
One season was all Malnati needed to return to the PGA Tour, as the 28 year old returns after previously spending one season, 2014, on Tour. Malnati had his wife on the bag for most of the season. He won in Brazil.
5) Dicky Pride
The best story of the bunch, Pride entered the final tournament of the year ranked 40th on the money list. The 46 year old went on to win the tournament, his first professional victory in 21 years, to earned his PGA Tour card. He last had status in 2013. Pride won the FedEx St. Jude Classic all the way back in 1994.
6) Smylie Kaufman
The 23 year old from Alabama won once on the Web.com Tour last season. Had a really good college career playing for the LSU Tigers. Kaufman will be a rookie next season, and is an early favorite to win the Rookie Of The Year Award.
7) Kelly Kraft
It took a little longer then expected, but the 2011 US Amateur Champion has full time status on the PGA Tour next season. His comeback victory in Louisiana was what propelled him into the Top 25. While he will be playing in his first PGA Tour season, he will not be classified as a rookie, as he played several events after winning the US Amateur.
8) Wes Roach
Roach struggled on Tour in 2014, but he will have another opportunity after winning once on the Web.com Tour this season. The 26 year old from Tennessee has one top 10 on Tour.
9) Shane Bertsch
Bertsch has bounced back and forth between the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour for the better part of two decades. The 45 year old has struggled with injuries the past several seasons, but put together a good enough season this year to give the PGA Tour another shot. He has five top 10's in 174 career starts.
10) Si Woo Kim
The first of three Koreans to qualify for the PGA Tour next season. Kim, 20, first earned his card when he was 17 years old, and was ineligible to play for most of that season since he did not meet the Tour's 18 year old requirement. He won once and had another runner up this season. Experienced for his age.
11) Abraham Ancer
Played only one season on the Web.com Tour before earning a promotion. The 24 year old owned duel citizenship in both the US and Mexico, but currently lives in Oklahoma. He will be a rookie on Tour next season.
12) Jamie Lovemark
Beset by injuries, Lovemark got back on the right track after playing well on the Web.com Tour this season. He was the NCAA player of the year in 2007 and the Web.com Tour Player of the Year in 2010. He is still only 27 years old, so he has plenty of time to make good on his talent.
13) Michael Kim
22 years old from Houston by way of South Korea, Kim was the NCAA player of the year in 2013. He didn't win, but he notched two third place finishes as part of his solid season. Kim will be a rookie next year.
14) Tyler Aldridge
Won in Dallas this season to boost him into the Top 25. The 30 year old previously played on the PGA Tour in 2009. One of an incredibly short list of pros from Idaho.
15) D.H. Lee
Former medalist of the now defunct PGA Tour Q-School. Lee, 28 from Korea, played two seasons on the PGA Tour before losing card at the end of the 2014 season. Only needed one year to get it back.
16) Miguel Angel Carballo
Seems to regain his PGA Tour card in even number years, as he previously played on Tour in 2012 and 2014. The 36 year old from Argentina is one of two South American players to earn their cards. He also previously played on the European Tour.
17) Rod Pampling
Played on the PGA Tour this season via past champions status, so his position inside the Top 25 is that much more impressive. The 45 year old from Australia won once and had two other top 10s in only eight starts. Owns two PGA Tour victories, last in 2006, and was last seen with full status on Tour in 2012.
18) Bronson Burgoon
The 28 year old's claim to fame was hitting the clinching shot to win Texas A&M the NCAA championship back in 2009. Since then, he has played on mini tours, and has no previous experience on the PGA Tour, so he will be a true rookie.
19) Steve Marino
Once touted as a great young American superstar, the 35 year old has been plagued by injuries and struggles with his golf game. Had a stretch of two years on the PGA Tour where he finished runner up four times, including a playoff loss to Steve Stricker in 2009. He finished T14 at the 2010 Masters. Previously dubbed "best player without a win." Marino looks to play a full season on Tour for the first time since 2011.
20) Darron Stiles
A veteran player who has bounced between the PGA Tour and Web.com Tour a few times in his career. The 42 year old first played on the PGA Tour in 2003 and was last seen on Tour in 2009. He is still looking for his first win, but he does own five Web.com Tour victories.
21) Andrew Landry
Won for the first time in the early part of the season. The 28 year old will be a rookie on the PGA Tour next season.
22) Sung Kang
Not to be confused with the Fast And The Furious actor of the same name, Kang, 28 from Korea, owns three victories in Asia. He previously had status on Tour in 2011 and 2012. He has one start in a major, the 2011 US Open, where he finished T39.
23) Lucas Lee
The 28 year old will be a rookie on the PGA Tour next season. He will be the only Brazilian to own a PGA Tour card, and will look to earn enough ranking points to qualify for the Olympics in his home country next year.
24) Patrick Rodgers
Didn't play the back part of the Web.com Tour as he earned special temporary membership on the PGA Tour earlier this season. His finishes in those events made him qualified for the Tour next season. Even though he did not have full membership this year, he will not qualify for the Rookie Of The Year race next season.
25) Harold Varner III
The big hitter barely hung on to the final qualifying position. The 25 year old from Florida will be a rookie on Tour next season. He was one of the longest hitters on the Web.com Tour last season.