Getting the call-up as an alternate provides a second chance in sport – but you still have to go and seize the moment.
After falling short of finishing among the leading 24 players at Second Stage of Qualifying School in Spain earlier this month, Frederico Biondi Figueiredo thought his dreams of earning DP World Tour playing rights were over for this year.
The Brazilian, a winner at First Stage in Belgium, had agonisingly missed out on guaranteeing safe passage through to Final Stage in a ten-man play-off at Isla Canela Links.
The solace was that he had earned an alternate spot, with his fate in the hands of others – he would need another player to withdraw through injury or illness.
While many of those who had qualified would opt to stay in Spain, with a quick turnaround before Final Stage got under way, Biondi Figueiredo headed immediately home to Florida.
But while he seemingly had little or no hope of getting some positive news, he was proven wrong and was left celebrating a week later by navigating the six-round test of endurance to finish among the top 20 players at INFINITUM.
"I was in Jacksonville where I live for 12 hours," he said, recalling the rollercoaster of emotions in between missing out at Second Stage and competing at Final Stage.
"I flew back [to Spain] when I got the call that I had got in. Overall, it was a crazy week.
"Q-School is tough, every golfer knows that. It means a lot to everybody playing. Everybody is really good, so it is hard."
It’s so awesome to get it done and to have a job and a place to play, especially at a high level on the DP World Tour.
A winner of the NCAA individual championship in May 2023, Biondi finished second on the PGA TOUR University Rankings that year – behind future Ryder Cup star Ludvig Åberg.
He turned professional days later, foregoing his opportunity to play in the U.S. Open at LA Country Club and the Masters Tournament in 2024.
Since then, he has largely plied his trade on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR Americas with some initial fleeting appearances on the PGA TOUR, but he can now look forward to becoming a global golfer after earning DP World Tour playing rights for the 2026 Race to Dubai season.
“This year has been a huge progress in every aspect of my game,” said Biondi, who will tee it up at the season-opening BMW Australian PGA Championship.
“It’s so awesome to get it done and to have a job and a place to play, especially at a high level on the DP World Tour. It’s pretty special, for sure.”
