Brandon Stone Explains Skipping DP World Tour Q-School

Brandon Stone has won three DP World Tour titles and has been a top player in Europe since 2016. He turned professional in 2013, represented South Africa at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and finished T12 at the 2018 PGA Championship.

However, by 2022, he was struggling with his game and faced relegation to the Challenge Tour. Instead of trying to save his status at Q-School, he chose not to go.

At the 2024 British Masters, Stone shared his thoughts about that tough time during an interview in the DP World Tour’s ‘Green Room’.

He said: "Um, it was f***ing awful, if I’m honest. I remember so vividly in 2022, I looked at myself in the mirror and didn’t recognize the person. Didn’t recognize the golfer."

Facing Challenges:

Stone recalled feeling lost and lacking confidence. He didn’t even try to save his card because he felt incapable of shooting under par. "Had no confidence, didn’t have an identity to my game," he said. "I just didn’t feel like I could shoot under par."

"I remember so vividly knowing that if I went to Q-School, there was no way I was getting my card back," he added. This period marked a low point in his career where he felt undeserving of playing on the DP World Tour.

Fans may think it’s inspiring how Stone managed to turn things around despite such a difficult time.

Stone decided to reset his career by starting fresh on the Challenge Tour with renewed determination. He achieved six top-10 finishes including a runner-up spot at the B-NL Challenge Trophy and placed T11th at the season-ending Challenge Tour Grand Final in Mallorca.

Hopeful for another win on the DP World Tour soon, Stone expressed gratitude for his journey: "You fast-forward through it; a really stellar season for me on the Challenge Tour."

Reflecting on earning back his card after Mallorca’s event, he said: “When I got back to my hotel room…there was a mirror…and it was the first time in over a year that I recognized myself.”

What do you think about Brandon Stone’s comeback?