Book Review: Tales from Q School: Inside Golf's Fifth Major

John Feinstein's "Tales from Q School: Inside Golf's Fifth Major," isn't a new book; it was published in 2007, but it was my first read - and compelling enough that I would encourage anyone to who hasn't read it to take a look. Feinstein has written a number of golf-related books and he writes like an insider, sharing small but fascinating details that perhaps only a golfer could love.

"Tales from Q School" follows the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament (otherwise known as "Q School," where veterans and hopefuls grapple through six rounds of golf for 30 slots available on the PGA Tour. Upstarts and college stars battle it out with Tour players who have slipped backwards on the money list (the top 125 retain their cards for the following year) and must rely on sponsor exemptions to get a pass to play.

Because the book is a few years old, it's almost more fascinating to read because you know where some of these individuals are today. Steve Stricker did not qualify in 2005, yet today he's number two in the world behind Tiger Woods, who he successfully paired with in the recent President's Cup. Other stars of Q-School that year included Hunter Mahan and the winner, J.B. Holmes, who both are currently solid players on tour.

You could almost picture a movie being made from these player accounts - as for some, their dreams are realized while others are crushed. Nerves take over for many players who appear to have a lock on a spot, balls suddenly spraying into water hazards, traps, etc. There is also interesting commentary from current tour players who now seem light years away from Q-School, and names like Casey Martin, who once dominated the headlines when he challenged the PGA for the right to use a cart due to a degenerative leg condition.

The Golf Channel will cover the 2009 Q-School Finals in just a few weeks (and their coverage irks many players who feel like their golf lives are at stake in this tournament and the coverage isn't welcome). Now that I truly have a good understanding of how Q-School works, how players make it to the PGA and lose their standing on the PGA, sponsor exemptions, the Nationwide Tour, the mini tours, and so many other pieces of information that I've heard tossed around but never fully grasped, I'm really looking forward to watching it.

For a fascinating read about the many players whose names you might not recognize (along with some you definitely will) and their journey to golf's big leagues, pick up a copy of Feinstein's book. You'll be glad you did.