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Monday qualifiers: WM Phoenix Open

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Monday Qualifiers

The WM Phoenix Open offers a Monday qualifier and three spots in the field at TPC Scottsdale. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The WM Phoenix Open offers a Monday qualifier and three spots in the field at TPC Scottsdale. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Jim Knous, Nicolo Galletti, Patton Kizzire earn spots at TPC Scottsdale



    Written by Staff @PGATOUR

    Monday's open qualifier for the WM Phoenix Open delivered on the drama, as Jim Knous, Nicolo Galletti and Patton Kizzire earned tee times at one of golf's most raucous events via a 4-for-3 twilight playoff.

    In contrast to a standard PGA TOUR Monday qualifier (which offers four spots), just three spots in the WM Phoenix Open were available on Monday. Knous, Galletti, Kizzire and Jacob Bridgeman matched scores of 7-under 64, requiring overtime to settle things. All four players made par on the first extra hole; Bridgeman was the odd man out after finding tree trouble off the tee on the second extra hole and failing to make par.

    Kizzire is a two-time TOUR winner with 225 TOUR starts under his belt, while Galletti will make his TOUR debut. Knous has made 43 prior TOUR starts but currently holds no status on either the TOUR or Korn Ferry Tour. Therein lies the beauty of a Monday qualifier, and this week's iteration was no exception.

    Monday's WM Phoenix Open qualifier was contested at Pinnacle Peak Country Club, after eight pre-qualifiers were played to determine Monday's field. In all, 102 players began Monday's qualifier for just three WM Phoenix Open berths. Those who advanced will sleep soundly Monday night, before they gear up to compete at TPC Scottsdale's famed Stadium Course beginning on Thursday.

    Here's a capsule look at the three Monday qualifiers for this week's WM Phoenix Open:

    Jim Knous (7-under 64, advanced via playoff)

    Age: 34
    Hometown: Basalt, Colorado
    Alma mater: Colorado School of Mines
    PGA TOUR starts: 43
    Cuts made: 20
    Best PGA TOUR finish: T10, 2018 Fortinet Championship

    Notes: Made seven birdies in a bogey-free qualifying round to earn spot in playoff ... Will make his first TOUR start since the 2022 Wyndham Championship ... First earned TOUR card via the 2018 Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Struggled with injuries on TOUR for parts of three seasons before losing his card after the 2022 season, then lost Korn Ferry Tour status with a No. 196 finish on the 2023 season-long standings ... Shared the 54-hole lead at TOUR's 2021 Fortinet Championship ... Made his TOUR debut at 2017 WM Phoenix Open, into which he also Monday qualified ... In his college years, would drive from Colorado to Arizona with friends to attend the WM Phoenix Open, even partaking in the event's famed Saturday morning "breakfast club" tradition, arriving at 5 a.m. and racing to the 16th hole ... Goes by the nickname "Hard K."

    Nicolo Galletti (7-under 64, advanced via playoff)


    Nicolo Galletti Monday qualifies for WM Phoenix Open, first PGA TOUR


    Age: 29
    Hometown: Berkeley, California (resides in Phoenix, Arizona)
    Alma mater: Arizona State
    PGA TOUR starts: 0

    Notes: Will make his PGA TOUR debut after carding seven birdies against zero bogeys in qualifying round, then making birdie on second playoff hole ... Has made 44 career starts on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica; finished No. 34 on the circuit's season-long Totalplay Cup in both 2020-21 and 2022 ... Will assume role as local hero this week after playing collegiately at Arizona State from 2013 to 2017 ... Found great success on the Outlaw Tour during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

    Patton Kizzire (7-under 64, advanced via playoff)

    Age: 37
    Hometown: Montgomery, Alabama (resides in St. Simons Island, Georgia)
    Alma mater: Auburn University
    PGA TOUR starts: 225
    Cuts made: 133
    Best PGA TOUR finish: Win, 2017 World Wide Technology Championship, 2018 Sony Open in Hawaii

    Notes: Made six birdies and an eagle against one bogey in qualifying round to earn spot in playoff ... Playing this season on conditional PGA TOUR status after finishing No. 128 on last year's FedExCup Fall ... Has made two TOUR starts to date in 2024, including a T13 at Sony Open in Hawaii ... After falling just short of retaining exempt TOUR status at The RSM Classic last fall, vowed to turn the experience into a positive. He is on the right track ... Has made eight prior starts at the WM Phoenix Open, highlighted by a T10 in 2022.