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Justin Thomas sends message to 20 new PGA Tour card holders after Korn Ferry Tour season ends

Originally posted on HITC | By Lee Connor | Last updated Oct 13, 2025 2:23 PM ET

Justin Thomas is about to enter his 11th season on the PGA Tour, and he’s firmly established as one of its cornerstones these days.

With two PGA Championship titles to his name, he hasn’t looked back since earning his tour card for the 2015 season.

The American has become a familiar face in Ryder Cups and other top events, and his presence has only grown over the years.

But like many experienced players, Thomas now finds himself watching a new wave of talent rise up from the Korn Ferry Tour into the professional game.

After this year’s class wrapped up their journey through the amateur ranks, Thomas reached out with an encouraging message to those who made it through.

Justin Thomas shares his thoughts as 20 Korn Ferry Tour players earn PGA Tour cards

Stepping up from the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA Tour is no easy feat, and not everyone finds their footing straight away.

Just like in any sport, making the jump from amateur to professional can be a tough adjustment. Thomas has been through it himself and knows just how challenging that transition can be.

But he managed to find his stride early on, winning back-to-back CIMB Classic titles in 2015 and 2016. Then in 2017, five more wins helped establish him as a rising star on tour.

Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images

20 Players from the Korn Ferry Tour who have earned Their PGA Tour Card

Several players from this year’s graduating class are already familiar to golf fans.

Neal Shipley and Christo Lamprecht have built their profiles well before reaching the main stage, while Korn Ferry followers will know Chandler Blanchet’s story of persistence, finally earning his card on his fourth attempt.

Player	Korn Ferry Rank
Johnny Keefer	1
Chandler Blanchet	2
Austin Smotherman	3
Neal Shipley	4
Emilio Gonzalez	5
Hank Lebioda	6
Adrien Dumont de Chassart	7
S.H. Kim	8
Christo Lamprecht	9
Davis Chatfield	10
Zach Bauchou	11
Pierceson Coody	12
S.T. Lee	13
Jeffrey Kang	14
Kensei Hirata	15
Trace Crowe	16
John VanDerLaan	17
Zecheng Dou	18
Sudarshan Yellamaraju	19
Pontus Nyholm	20

The rest now face the challenge of proving themselves against the world’s top players and seeing if they can establish a long-term presence.

The real work is just beginning for this group, but recent trends suggest that many will adapt quickly, adding even more competition for established names trying to hold onto their positions.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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