Only an extraordinary chain of events stands between Karl Vilips and promotion to the PGA TOUR in 2025 as Cassie Porter enters the Epson Tour Championship with one hand on an LPGA Tour card.

In two of the most compelling golf tournaments of the year in which storylines fluctuate based on almost every shot, the Korn Ferry Tour and Epson Tour will crown 30 and 15 graduates respectively.

A total of 17 players have already earned enough points to guarantee their elevation from the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA TOUR, Vilips the next in line at No.18 for the 13 remaining cards to be handed out.

A winner in his fourth start on Tour having graduated from Stanford College in June, it would mark a meteoric rise for a young man who has been on a trajectory to the PGA TOUR from a very early age.

‘Koala Karl’ had won two US Kids World Championship titles before the age of 10 and now, at age 22, is almost assured of joining the PGA TOUR next season.

Porter, too, has been predicted to play at the highest level from a young age.

Runner-up at the Masters of the Amateurs in a playoff in 2020, Porter turned professional in 2001 at the age of 18.

She edged good friend Kelsey Bennett to win the WPGA Melbourne International in January 2023 and in her second year on the Epson Tour in the US, won the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in June.

That, along with three top-10 finishes throughout the season, has her placed 11th in the Race For The Card standings, the top 15 after this week’s Tour Championship to earn status on the LPGA Tour in 2025.

This week also represents a wonderful opportunity for a host of Aussies teeing it up in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

Along with Kiwi Order of Merit winner Kazuma Kobori, Daniel Gale, Brett Coletta, Matthew Griffin, David Micheluzzi, Jak Carter, Cameron John, Kade McBride, Lachlan Barker and Jordan Zunic are all playing one of the DP World Tour’s most iconic events by virtue of their performances on the 2023/2024 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season.

There are 13 Aussies – including 2013 champion Scott Hend – playing the Mercuries Taiwan Masters on the Asian Tour and Kirsten Rudgeley and Kelsey Bennett will be out to continue their recent good form at the Aramco Team Series event in China.

Round 1 tee times AEST

Ladies European Tour
Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF - Shenzhen
Mission Hills Resort (World Cup Cse), China
Australasians in the field: Kirsten Rudgeley, Kelsey Bennett

Defending champion: Xiyu Lin
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US1m
TV times: Live 3pm-7pm Friday on Fox Sports 505; Live 4pm-7pm Saturday; Live 5pm-8pm Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.

Epson Tour
Epson Tour Championship at Indian Wells
Indian Wells Golf Resort (Players Cse), Indian Wells, California
12:37am          Cassie Porter
1:10am*           Amelia Garvey (NZ)
5:18am*           Fiona Xu (NZ)

Defending champion: Auston Kim
Past Aussie winners: Kristie Smith (2010)
Prize money: $US287,500

LET Access Series
Iberdrola Calatayud Ladies Open
Gambito Golf Calatayud, Spain
Australasians in the field: Laura Hoskin (NZ)

Defending champion: Hannah Screen
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €45,000