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Did Arnold Palmer make a remark about removing qualifying school? I see his point, but also qualifying school is useful for those:

1. Who just missed the top 125 and came back to succeed... Lucas Glover, Brett Wetterich, Hunter Mahan, Nick Watney

2. Those from foreign tours who werent' probably going to play on the Nationwide tour.. Todd Hamilton, John Senden, Carlos Franco. Isn't European, Japanese, or Australiasian tour experience as beneficial?

3. Other feel good stories .. Ben Curtis, J.B. Holmes, Mark Wilson

4. Those just missing qualifying via Nationwide tour... Daniel Chopra, Ben Crane, Jim Furyk, John Daly

I believe the tour can expand Nationwide tour spots by giving conditional spots like 126th -150th on money list. Giving additional spots from the Nationwide Tour isn't the only answer.

Also, many of the graduates of this year's q-school had Nationwide tour experience: Brendon de Jonge, Glen Day, Chris Stroud, Matt Hendrix, Kyle Reifers, Steve Wheatcroft, Cameron Beckman, Steve Allan, Parker MacLachlin, Chris Tidland. Most of them played in the Nationwide Tour Championship.

Golf Fanatic, you make a lot of good points in keeping Q-School. What were Arnie's reasons to get rid of Q-School?

I agree with the examples you provide, but I can see Arnie's point too. You toil all year on a tour and do relatively well (while supporting golf in the Nationwide cities) and your potential spot is taken by someone who gets hot for one week at Q-school. Not sure of the right answer, as someone will be "hurt" either way, but I think Arnie makes an interesting arguement.

If I understand correctly, Arnold Palmer mentioned that some people kept returning to q-school, and some of these players needed to be on the Narionwide tour to improve their competitive skills.

This is just a thought...

Why not have the Nationwide qualifying school set up like the current PGA qualifying school and have one qualifying event just for the PGA? However, the qualifying event is open to the 126-150th on the PGA money list, all exempt Nationwide tour players, players on the European and other foreign tours. We can limit this to 125-156 players. Any open spots are distributed to other non-exempt players from the PGA or Nationwide tour based solely on earnings.

I heard some talk from some retired professionals, I don't remember who, arguing that 125 is too many on the PGA Tour and that it should be reduced to 90. I'm not trying to hijack the thread, just thought you might find it interesting.

I guess I just don't see anything wrong with the system as it is so I don't see any reason to change it. I think if you're good enough, you'll make it on Tour whether through Q-School or the Nationwide Tour.

Then again, Arnold Palmer knows a lot more about the business than I do but I guess I just don't see a reason for going against Q-School. The original poster brings up a lot of valid points as to why Q-School should stay.

This is a really interesting point - limit the fully-exempt players and expand the amount of spots for the Monday qualifier. It might make it more interesting.

If we use qualifying school, why not put all of the Nationwide and European Tour exempt players in the final stage along with 126-150 from the PGA money list? It may decrease the spots on the final stage, but it ould make for a strong q-school finals. Thoughts...