PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Hayden Springer reached into his black Chrysler Voyager minivan and grabbed his 1-year-old daughter Annie. He smiled the smile of a father who missed holding his child all day and gave her a good squeeze.
But just over a month ago, on Nov. 13, his oldest daughter Sage died at age 3. She was prenatally diagnosed with Trisomy 18, a developmental disorder stemming from an extra chromosome.
“She’s a very special girl, and we miss her a lot,” Springer said. “She brought an immense amount of joy to our family and the people around her.”
In the midst of what has to be an incredibly difficult grieving process, Springer has managed to play some impressive golf this week at PGA Tour Q-School despite hardly playing for the last month. On Saturday, he shot 2-under 68 at Sawgrass Country Club to improve to 7-under 203, which has him T-5 and right on the cutline for one of the Tour cards being given for the top five and ties this week.
Springer entered the week with full Korn Ferry Tour status after topping the 2023 PGA Tour Canada’s season-long Fortinet Cup, but he’s well aware of what is at stake on Sunday.
“It’s life-changing,” said Springer, who began playing U.S. Kids events at age 8. “I’ve spent most of my life dreaming of playing on the PGA Tour. It’s a special opportunity to be here and have a chance.”
Here are four more things to know after the third round of the 2023 Q-School.