Emilio González emerged victorious at the Albertsons Boise Open presented by Chevron, earning his first Korn Ferry Tour title and securing PGA TOUR membership for the 2026 season. The announcement was made Sunday by the Korn Ferry Tour, confirming González as the fourth member of the Tour to achieve #TOURBound status this year.
Coming into the event, González had achieved six top-10 finishes in 20 starts throughout the season, including a notable runner-up result at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open. His win propelled him to fourth place on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Points List, guaranteeing one of the 20 coveted PGA TOUR cards handed out through this ranking system.
Career highlights and background of González
The 27-year-old golfer, originally from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is preparing for his rookie season on the PGA TOUR after competing sparingly before, including making the cut at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open where he finished tied for 74th. Earlier this year, González competed in his first major championship, the 2025 U.S. Open, thanks to going through open qualifying.
González is in his third season on the Korn Ferry Tour, having secured fully exempt status for the 2025 season by finishing 49th on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Points List. He earned his Korn Ferry Tour membership following a tied 24th place at the Final Stage of the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament, now called the PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry. Before joining the Korn Ferry Tour, González played on the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica during the 2020-21 and 2022 seasons.
Strong collegiate record and previous accomplishments
González developed his skills during four years at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, competing at the NCAA Division II level from 2016 to 2020. During his collegiate career, he earned seven wins, highlighted by a triumph at the 2018 Ryan Palmer Foundation Invitational. His remarkable consistency is reflected in three consecutive conference player of the year honors: Heartland Conference Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019, followed by Lone Star Conference Player of the Year in 2020.
Upcoming Korn Ferry Tour events and significance of the points list
The 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season will continue with its final stretch in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, starting with the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation from September 11-14. The season will conclude at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance from October 9-12, held at French Lick Golf Resort in French Lick, Indiana.
The top 20 players on the final points list will receive PGA TOUR cards for the 2026 season, but the player finishing first will also gain exemptions into prestigious tournaments including the 2026 PLAYERS Championship and the 2026 U.S. Open. González’s current position makes him a strong contender heading into these crucial events.
Looking ahead to González’s PGA TOUR rookie season
As González prepares to join the PGA TOUR in 2026, his victory at the Albertsons Boise Open marks an important milestone in his professional journey. His steady rise on the Korn Ferry Tour, coupled with his prior experience in major championships and collegiate achievements, sets a solid foundation for his rookie season. The golfing community will be watching closely as González takes on the world’s top golfers next year, representing Mexico and bringing momentum gained from his inspiring Korn Ferry Tour breakthrough.