Peter Uihlein during the Round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur.
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EmailERIN, Wis. – Peter Uihlein told Golfweek on Friday that he intends to play the European and PGA Tour Q-Schools this fall. Oklahoma State head coach Mike McGraw shouldn’t fret, though. Uihlein said that he’ll complete his senior year for the Cowboys regardless of how he fares.
Uihlein is hardly the first amateur to attend Q-School, but his presence could still be unprecedented. Both tours require that amateurs who earn cards at Q-School turn pro shortly after the event to accept membership.
“I wouldn’t turn (pro),” Uihlein said. “I would never do that.”
So why is he going, then? To gain experience and strengthen his resume for when he turns professional after the 2012 NCAA Championship, he said.
His case for sponsor exemptions would be strengthened should he show he's skilled enough to earn tour membership. Uihlein typically plays amateur events during Oklahoma State’s winter break; playing Q-School will better prepare him for his upcoming pro career. Unlike most other Americans, Uihlein may begin his pro career on the European Tour, depending on where he gets starts.
The qualifiers won’t conflict with Oklahoma State’s fall schedule, which ends in October.
He’s exempt into the second stage of Q-School for both tours. Making the cut at the Open Championship exempted him into the second stage of PGA Tour Q-School. His exemption at European Tour Q-School comes from being in the top 10 of the R&A’s World Amateur Rankings.
Uihlein has signed up for the PGA Tour second-stage qualifier Nov. 15-18 at TPC Craig Ranch. Uihlein won an AJGA event at the course in McKinney, Texas, course during his junior career. The second stage of European Tour Q-School overlaps with the finals of PGA Tour Q-School, though. The European Tour qualifiers are Dec. 2-5 in Spain. The final stage of PGA Tour Q-School is Nov. 30-Dec. 5 at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif.
