Missed tee time results in Tour pro being DQ'd from PGA Tour Q-School

Norman Xiong was disqualified from the final stage of PGA Tour Q-School on Friday after failing to appear for his second-round tee time at Sawgrass Country Club.

The American opened his tournament with a dismal 8-over-par 78 at TPC Sawgrass’ Dye’s Valley Course on Thursday, leaving him well off the pace in a field where only the top five finishers earn PGA Tour cards for the 2026 season.

Xiong was scheduled to tee off at 10:25am on Friday at Sawgrass Country Club but did not arrive, with the leaderboard later showing a DQ next to his name.

The 27-year-old has split his time between the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Americas in recent seasons. 

A former Haskins Award winner, Xiong claimed victories on the Korn Ferry Tour in both 2022 and 2023 and earned his PGA Tour card for the 2024 campaign.

However, an injury-interrupted season stalled his progress, and after returning in 2025 he made four cuts from eight starts on the PGA Tour, along with two cuts from six on the Korn Ferry Tour, leaving Q-School as his route back to full status.

Xiong is currently ranked 745th in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). 

Xiong was one of several players to exit the PGA Tour Q-School final stage early. 

Carson Young, Trey Mullinax, Robby Shelton and Braden Thornberry all withdrew after posting rounds in the 70s.

At the top of the leaderboard, Trevor Cone, AJ Ewart, John Pak, Michael Feagles and Kota Kaneko share the lead at 7-under-par, a position that would currently secure PGA Tour cards for 2026.

But there's still 36 holes to play. 

Five-time PGA Tour winner Camilo Villegas sits one shot back at 6-under, alongside former PGA Tour winner Adam Svensson.

In total, 27 players are within three shots of the lead as the tournament heads into the weekend.

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