PGA Tour says clerical error helped journeyman into KFT event, where he's seizing the opportunity

MJ Daffue reacts after making a putt on the 16th green during the second round of the Pinnacle Bank Championship.

Jay Biggerstaff

The PGA Tour has confirmed that a clerical error led to an ineligible player being allowed into this week’s Korn Ferry Tour Pinnacle Bank Championship, while leaving out another competitor who should have been in.

As first reported on X Friday by Monday Q Info, MJ Daffue had not earned enough points through his major medical exemption that ended with his last start in the PGA Tour’s ISCO Championship that was played opposite of the Genesis Scottish Open. However, as confirmed to Golf Digest by the tour on Friday, Daffue was still identified on the priority list as for “PGA Tour Members Not Exempt for Current PGA Tour Event,” which covers those in the 126-150 category. Daffue should have been playing off a reordered points list, and his standing there would not have qualified him for the Pinnacle Bank event.

The unfortunate golfer who didn’t make it into the field in Omaha, Neb., because of the error was second-year pro Rayhan Thomas, 25, who entered this week at 107th in the KFT points standings, and after two rounds played in the Pinnacle is projected to drop to 112th.

There is only one regular-season event remaining in the KFT season—next week in Boise, Idaho—with the final four tournaments comprising the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. The top 156 players gain access to the first event, with field reductions after each tournament. Currently, Thomas would qualify for the first three events, but not for the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, which features the top 75 players in the standings.

“There was an unfortunate error in the Priority Ranking for this week’s event, resulting in a player gaining access to the tournament through an incorrect category,” the tour said in a statement on Friday. “We have communicated this situation with the player [Thomas] who was impacted and are working to provide an equitable solution.”

Monday Q Info reported that Thomas, as the first alternate, remained at the Club at Indian Creek in Omaha during most of the first round before heading home to Oklahoma.

Where the story gets juicier: Daffue has thus far taken huge advantage of the error. The 36-year-old South African has shot 67-65 in Omaha to be tied for second at nine under, one shot off the lead, heading into the weekend. In 18 events this season, Daffue doesn’t have a top-10 finish, with three placings in the top 25. He entered the week 111th in KFT points and is right now projected to move up to 66th.

The PGA Tour’s error is reminiscent of an LPGA clerical mistake earlier this season, when the first alternates for three events were erroneously left out of fields because Sophia Popov was mistakenly given higher status while coming off leaves for injury and pregnancy.

Goodstorie

PGA Tour says clerical error helped journeyman into KFT event, where he’s seizing the opportunity

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