From cancer fighter to tattoo artist: These KFT guys are storming the PGA Tour. The Korn Ferry Tour's graduating class of 2026 delivers stories that make even the most hardened golfer's heart beat faster – from surviving cancer to small-town idyll, body art, and youthful Sturm und Drang. 20 players have earned their PGA Tour card, proving that the path to the top can be anything but ordinary.
Leading the way is Ian Gilligan, whose dramatic story is almost unparalleled: At just 15 years old, he was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. After seven months of chemotherapy, he fought his way back to the course, transferred to college in Florida, and was ranked number 4 in the PGA Tour University Rankings. Eight years later, he has now made it – his second professional season brings him directly to the PGA Tour. An incredible story that shows what's truly inside you.
Rising Stars
There's Ross Steelman, the overall number 1, whose left arm boasts a 25-hour tattoo session – dragons, tiger eyes, and impressive landscapes included. Or Blades Brown, who, at just 19 years old, makes history as the youngest graduate ever to secure a Tour card. He ventured into professional golf as a high school junior and triumphed with his ninth-place finish in the KFT standings.
Also among them is Hunter Eichhorn, who hails from Carney, Michigan, a town with just 182 residents, and learned golf on an "honor-box" course. Álvaro Ortiz, the 30-year-old Mexican, celebrates a family milestone with his win on the Korn Ferry Tour, having previously reached the Masters in 2019. The imposing presence of Tommy Morrison (2.06 meters) and Sandy Scott, whose wife plays on the Ladies European Tour, also provide plenty to talk about.
Ready for 2027: The Future Awaits
These guys were recently at PGA Tour headquarters for orientation – just a short break before getting down to business. The leading 20 from the Korn Ferry Tour have secured automatic promotion for the 2027 season. Blades Brown will even be part of the 2027 TGL line-up at The Bay Golf Club, alongside Ryan Fox, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee, and Ludvig Åberg. Things are really heating up on the greens!
