golf tours explained

How the PGA Tour Works: A Guide for Fans

The PGA Tour is the premier golf tour in the world, and it’s a dream come true for many professional golfers to compete on it. But how does the PGA Tour work? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the structure of the tour, how players qualify for tournaments, and how the money is distributed. We’ll also discuss some of the biggest challenges facing the PGA Tour today.

History of the PGA Tour

The PGA Tour is the world’s premier professional golf tour. It was founded in 1916 as the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA of America). The PGA Tour is a non-profit organization that oversees the operation of the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, and a number of other professional golf tournaments.

The PGA Tour is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The tour’s commissioner is Jay Monahan. The tour’s season runs from January to August, with tournaments held in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

The PGA Tour is divided into four tours: the PGA Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour Champions, and the PGA Tour Latinoamrica. The PGA Tour is the highest level of professional golf in the world. The Korn Ferry Tour is the second-highest level of professional golf. The PGA Tour Champions is a tour for professional golfers who are 50 years of age or older. The PGA Tour Latinoamrica is a tour for professional golfers from Latin America.

The PGA Tour is the most popular professional golf tour in the world. In 2019, the tour had an average viewership of 2.3 million viewers per event. The tour’s most popular event is the Masters Tournament, which is held annually at Augusta National Golf Club. The Masters Tournament is the only major golf tournament that is not held on a rotation of courses.

The PGA Tour has a long and storied history. It has produced some of the greatest golfers of all time, including Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods, and Rory McIlroy. The PGA Tour is a major part of the fabric of American culture. It is a sport that is enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.

How the PGA Tour is Organized

The PGA Tour is organized into four tours: the PGA Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour Champions, and the PGA Tour Latinoamrica. The PGA Tour is the highest level of professional golf in the world. The Korn Ferry Tour is the second-highest level of professional golf. The PGA Tour Champions is a tour for professional golfers who are 50 years of age or older. The PGA Tour Latinoamrica is a tour for professional golfers from Latin America.

The PGA Tour is governed by the PGA of America. The PGA of America is a non-profit organization that represents professional golfers in the United States. The PGA of America is responsible for setting the rules and regulations for the PGA Tour, as well as for overseeing the operation of the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, and a number of other professional golf tournaments.

The PGA Tour is operated by the PGA Tour, Inc. The PGA Tour, Inc. is a for-profit corporation that is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour, Inc. is owned by the PGA of America.

The PGA Tour is funded by a variety of sources, including television rights fees, sponsorships, and merchandise sales. The tour’s television rights fees are the most significant source of revenue. The PGA Tour has a long-term television contract with CBS and NBC. The tour also has a number of other sponsorships, including a partnership with FedEx.

The PGA Tour is a major economic driver in the United States. The tour generates billions of dollars in revenue each year. The tour also creates thousands of jobs. The tour’s economic impact is felt in a number of ways, including tourism, hospitality, and retail sales.

The PGA Tour is a global brand. The tour’s events are broadcast in more than 200 countries and territories. The tour’s players are some of the most recognizable athletes in the world. The PGA Tour is a major ambassador for the sport of golf.

The PGA Tour is a vital part of the golf industry. The tour provides a platform for professional golfers to compete and earn money. The tour also helps to grow the game of golf. The PGA Tour is a major part of American culture. It is a sport that is enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds.

How the PGA Tour Schedule Works

The PGA Tour schedule is a complex and ever-changing beast. With over 40 events each year, it can be difficult to keep track of everything that’s going on. But if you’re a fan of golf, it’s important to know how the schedule works so you can make sure to catch all the action.

The PGA Tour season typically runs from January to August, with a break in the middle for the FedEx Cup playoffs. The schedule is divided into four “legs”:

• The Fall Series: This is a series of events that take place in the fall, after the of the FedEx Cup playoffs.
• The West Coast Swing: This is a series of events that take place in the west coast of the United States, in the early part of the year.
• The Florida Swing: This is a series of events that take place in Florida, in the late winter and early spring.
• The Summer Series: This is a series of events that take place in the summer, in the United States and Europe.

The schedule is also divided into different “tours.” The main tour is the PGA Tour, but there are also the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour Champions, and the LPGA Tour. Each tour has its own schedule of events, and the players on each tour compete for different prizes.

The PGA Tour schedule is constantly being adjusted and updated, so it’s important to check the website regularly for the latest information.

How the PGA Tour Makes Money

The PGA Tour is a non-profit organization, but it still generates a lot of money. In 2019, the PGA Tour generated over $1 billion in revenue.

The PGA Tour makes money from a variety of sources, including:

• TV rights fees: The PGA Tour sells the rights to broadcast its events to networks around the world. These fees are a major source of revenue for the PGA Tour.
• Ticket sales: The PGA Tour sells tickets to its events, which is another major source of revenue.
• Merchandise sales: The PGA Tour sells merchandise at its events, such as hats, shirts, and other souvenirs. This is another significant source of revenue.
• Sponsorship: The PGA Tour sells sponsorships for its events, such as title sponsors and on-course sponsors. These sponsorships are a major source of revenue for the PGA Tour.

The PGA Tour uses its revenue to cover its operating expenses, such as prize money, tournament costs, and employee salaries. It also uses its revenue to invest in its future, such as developing new tournaments and growing the game of golf.

The PGA Tour is a major economic force in the United States. It generates billions of dollars in revenue each year, and it supports thousands of jobs. It is also a major contributor to the tourism industry, as fans from all over the world travel to the United States to watch the PGA Tour events.

The PGA Tour is a complex and ever-changing organization, but it is also a major economic force in the United States. It generates billions of dollars in revenue each year, and it supports thousands of jobs. It is also a major contributor to the tourism industry, as fans from all over the world travel to the United States to watch the PGA Tour events.

Q: How many tournaments are there on the PGA Tour?

A: There are 48 official PGA Tour events each year, including the four major championships. The season runs from January to August, with the FedEx Cup Playoffs taking place in September and October.

Q: How do players qualify for the PGA Tour?

A: There are a number of ways to qualify for the PGA Tour, including:

• Exemptions: Players who have won a PGA Tour event in the past are exempt from qualifying for the following year.
• Tour Championship: The top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings at the end of the season earn automatic exemptions for the following year.
• Web.com Tour: The top 25 players in the Web.com Tour regular-season standings earn PGA Tour cards for the following year.
• Q-School: Players who do not qualify for the PGA Tour through other methods can compete in Q-School, a three-stage tournament that determines who will earn PGA Tour cards for the following year.

Q: What is the difference between the PGA Tour and the European Tour?

A: The PGA Tour is a professional golf tour in the United States and Canada, while the European Tour is a professional golf tour in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The two tours are the two largest and most prestigious in the world.

Q: How much money do PGA Tour players make?

A: The average PGA Tour player earns around \$1.5 million per year, but the top players can earn much more. In 2021, the winner of the FedEx Cup Playoffs earned over \$15 million.

Q: What is the most prestigious tournament on the PGA Tour?

A: The most prestigious tournament on the PGA Tour is the Masters Tournament, which is held annually at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The Masters is considered to be the most difficult major championship to win.

Q: Who is the greatest golfer of all time?

A: There is no definitive answer to this question, as different people have different opinions on who the greatest golfer of all time is. Some of the most commonly mentioned golfers include Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Arnold Palmer.

The PGA Tour is a professional golf tour that consists of 50 events in the United States and Canada. It is the most prestigious golf tour in the world, and its members are considered to be the best golfers in the world. The tour is organized by the PGA of America, and it is governed by a set of rules and regulations.

The tour is divided into four seasons: the fall, winter, spring, and summer. Each season consists of a number of tournaments, and the players who earn the most money during the season are awarded a number of prizes. The top prize is the FedEx Cup, which is awarded to the player who earns the most points during the season.

The PGA Tour is a major source of revenue for the PGA of America, and it also helps to promote the game of golf. The tour is broadcast on television all over the world, and it attracts a large number of spectators. The tour also helps to raise money for charity.

the PGA Tour is a major force in the world of golf. It is the most prestigious golf tour in the world, and it helps to promote the game of golf. The tour is also a major source of revenue for the PGA of America, and it helps to raise money for charity.

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How Does The PGA Tour Work? [Season Explained]

Not to be confused with the USGA and the PGA , the PGA Tour is the biggest professional golf tour in the world, with the best golfers competing each week for iconic trophies and huge prize money.

So how does it actually work? In this article, we’ll walk you through the PGA Tour season and how it works.

How Does The PGA Tour Work?

Table of Contents

How Does The PGA Tour Season Work?

The PGA Tour season runs from September until August the following year and features a total of 47 FedEx Cup events.

44 of the scheduled events are part of the regular season and include the four major events, as well as The Players Championship.

The final 3 events of the season are known as the FedEx Cup Playoffs, where the PGA Tour golfer with the highest number of FedEx Cup points will be crowned the FedEx Cup champion.

The season starts in September and each week the number of golfers competing varies between 144 and 156 . Not every week is a full PGA Tour event, with FedEx Cup points available, however, most weeks will have a golf tournament.

Each PGA Tour event, as part of the regular FedEx Cup season, is worth points. These points go towards the final standings and help players rise or fall in the rankings.

Most official PGA Tour events are worth 500 points to the winner, with points decreasing depending on the player’s finishing position for the tournament. This also includes a co-sanctioned event on the DP World Tour (European Tour), the Scottish Open, which is worth 500 points.

Points are given out to any player that makes the cut, with 2nd place gaining 300 points, and 3rd place picking up 190 points, reducing all the way down to the bottom of the field who made the cut.

There’s also a few PGA Tour events where the 1st place receives 550 points. The following events are 550-point events:

• World Golf Championships events
• Sentry Tournament of Champions (which includes the longest par 5 on the tour )
• The Genesis Invitational
• Arnold Palmer Invitational
• Memorial Tournament

Other golf tournaments which aren’t seen as full PGA Tour events on the schedule are only worth 300 points for the winner and are part of the strategic alliance between both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. These events include:

• Barbasol Championship
• Barracuda Championship

The most amount of points available to the winner in the regular season is at the majors and The Players Championship.

The Open Championship, US Open Championship , PGA Championship and The Masters tournament are all worth 600 FedEx Cup points, as well as the “5th” major and flagship event on the PGA Tour, The Players Championship.

Each week professional golfers will compete to try and gain as many FedEx Cup points as possible. After the final event in the regular season, the PGA Tour will then go into the FedEx Cup Playoffs in early August.

Although the top 125 players in the rankings will keep their tour cards for the next season, only the top 70 will progress to the first of 3 events in the Playoffs. Those outside the top 125 for the season will lose their full playing rights on the PGA Tour for next season.

The points system for the Playoffs is different to the regular season, with far more on offer and a greater emphasis on good scoring late on the season.

The winner of the first Playoff event will gain 2000 points (4 times as many as a regular season event). The top 50 players in the rankings after this tournament played will move on to the second event which is also worth 2000 points to the winner.

Finally, the top 30 players in the standings will progress to the Tour Championship for the FedEx Cup Playoffs Finale. The Tour Championship is different to the other season-ending golf events, in that it starts with a staggered start using Starting Strokes.

Starting Strokes means that players will start round 1 on a score based on how they’re sitting in the final top 30 rankings. The leading player in the FedEx Cup rankings will start at 10 under for the Tour Championship before even hitting a shot. Number 2 in the standings at 8 under, and so on, all the way down to the bottom 5 players who’ll start on even par.

Like other professional tournaments, after four rounds , the golfer who comes out top of the rankings will be crowned the FedEx Cup Champion, which includes a huge prize bonus.

What Are The PGA Tour Standings?

The PGA Tour has a rankings system which runs throughout the season and is known as the FedEx Cup Standings.

These rankings are used to keep track of which professional golfers are playing well and having a good season, compared to others who might be struggling to get good results.

Each week, players will earn points based on how well they did in tournaments played, with better results earning more points.

At the end of the season, the number of FedEx Cup points a player has, will determine whether or not they keep their playing rights for next season and whether they’ll be eligible for the end-of-season Playoff events.

Those players ranked in the top 125 of the rankings will be guaranteed a PGA Tour card for next season. Those outside the top 125, will most likely end up playing on the Korn Ferry Tour (the 2nd tier tour to the PGA Tour) or they will need to go through PGA Tour qualifying.

Those within the top 70 in the rankings will be eligible to progress to the final Playoff events.

Final Thoughts

The PGA Tour is the place every single golfer dreams of reaching. It’s the biggest and best tour in the world, with the best golfers competing week in and week out in some of the most prestigious tournaments.

The FedEx Cup is the main element of the PGA Tour and with that comes very lucrative returns, but as a result, PGA Tour cards are very difficult to come by.

The PGA Tour is set up to provide drama all year long but puts an emphasis on having a great finish to the season. With so many points on offer at the final PGA tournaments, as long as a player qualifies in the top 70, they can very easily have a run and end up becoming FedEx Cup champion.

Is the Masters part of the PGA Tour?

The Masters is an official PGA Tour event during the regular season with full FedEx Cup points available, however, it is organised by Augusta National Golf Club and not the PGA Tour.

Are the majors part of the PGA Tour?

All four of the major championships are part of the PGA Tour and all have 600 points on the offer to the winners. Each major is organised by a separate organisation, but the events are still included in the PGA Tour season.

Founder, Editor

Ed is the founder and editor at EEE Golf. He’s been playing golf for over 20 years, competing in many top amateur events. He’s played courses all over the world and played with some of the best players in the game. His aim is to help educate people about the game of golf and give insights into the sport he loves most.

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Major golf tournaments explained.

There’s a tangible buzz in the air when a major golf tournament is on the horizon. Trending topics light up social media. News feeds begin to highlight the event, the course, and all of the players in the field.  And of course, the ever so popular topic of ‘will Tiger win and beat Jack’ always resurfaces in weeks leading right up to these events.

Regardless of all the media buzz that comes with these increasingly popular golf events, have you ever really stopped to think about how the majors came about, why they’re so important to the golf community, and the storied history behind each tournament?

We’re here to help break it down for you, and explain why these events take over the world’s stage for four exciting weeks every year.

What are the Major Golf Tournaments?

There are four major golf tournaments played on the PGA TOUR every season, and they represent the most prestigious events in the game. Here are the four majors presented in order of their playing date each year.

• The Masters – The Masters is typically played in the second week of April and is hosted by invitation only at the renowned Augusta National Golf Club. The tournament was established in 1934 and the winner of this tournament receives the coveted Green Jacket, a huge purse, as well as some serious TOUR exemptions. No matter what else a player has done in his career, if you’re a Masters winner, you’re considered to have accomplished one of the greatest feats in all of golf. Viewed by millions of fans every year, the Masters Tournament is widely considered to be one of most prestigious and anticipated events in all of professional sports (here is a quick look 10 fun facts about the Masters and at our 10 favorite Masters moments).
• The U.S. Open – Hosted by the USGA, this major is held in the third week of June and is played at different location in the U.S each year. Unlike the invite-only Masters, a spot in the U.S. Open is accessible to any professional (or amateur) with an up-to-date men’s USGA Handicap Index at 1.4 or below. However, players do need to be either fully exempt or compete successfully in the qualifying round leading up to the event in order to earn a spot at the Open. The U.S. Open first took place in 1895 at Newport Country Club in Newport, RI, and was originally played as a one day 36-hole competition.  How’s that for a full day’s work?
• The Open Championship –  Hosted by the R&A (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club), The Open Championship is played every year during the 3 rd week of July on a links-style course at one of nine different locations in the United Kingdom. Established in 1860, this famous major event began awarding its winners the Challenge Belt, which Young Tom Morris won quite often. Soon after, the belt became Medals and then eventually evolved to the famous Claret Jug.
• The PGA Championship – The PGA Championship is the final major of the season and is hosted each year by the PGA of America. The event is played in the third or fourth week of August (right before the  FedExCup Playoffs  begin) and is held at various locations around the United States. The PGA Championship’s history dates back to 1916 when it was originally a match-play event (from 1916-1957) until evolving into a stroke play event in 1958. Tiger Woods and Bob May hold the tournament current record for finishing at 18 under par.

What’s the Significance?

Similar to the grand stages of the Ryder Cup, President’s Cup and the WGC events, the major golf tournaments offer the golf world a “super bowl” type atmosphere four times per year featuring both past winners and exciting new challengers. A major win, although the dollar prize is less than the Players Championship and most WGC events, will certainly give any player’s career a significant boost. Aside from earning a five year TOUR exemption, winning a major event often comes with huge sponsorship deals, additional Hall of Fame considerations, and plenty of other accolades that set a winner apart from the average TOUR player. Becoming a “major champion” is a common goal of just about every TOUR player, and the reason they practice with so much focus leading up to one of the four major golf tournaments.

Originally, professional golf only consisted of two British majors (The Open Championship and the Amateur Championship) and two U.S. Majors (The U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur). Shortly after these initial tournaments gained success, the Masters and the PGA Championship stepped in to create today’s coveted list of four. Before the Masters was founded, Bobby Jones successfully completed the first Grand Slam of Golf, meaning that he won all the majors in that calendar year. Tiger Woods has come close to matching that feat, consecutively winning four majors in a row, with the final win being the Masters in the next calendar year. It was a conversation between Arnold Palmer and golf writer Bob Drum in the early 1960’s that led to the concept of the modern day Grand Slam of Golf.

It can truly be said that some of the greatest moments in golf’s history have occurred at major events throughout the years. With that said, what are some of your favorite major event memories? Share them with us in your comments below.

( Cover Photo Credit  & Top Photo Credit )

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Understanding The PGA Tour

The PGA tour is golf’s biggest stage and is the go-to if you are trying to watch the best golfers in the world face off. This association was founded all the way back in 1929 and remains the worlds leader in mens golf.

What Does PGA Stand For?

PGA stand for professional golfers association. The PGA is the main organizer for the main professional golf tours for male golfers in North America.

How Does The PGA Tour Work?

The PGA tour works by organizing a number or golf tournaments throughout the year. These tournaments include the best golfers in the world and play using stroke play format.

This means each of the golfers will play individually and will add up their total strokes after playing four rounds on the tournament course.

Throughout the year players are awarded points based on how they place in the tournaments. At the end of the PGA season, a winner is named based on the total points accumulated over the year.

Throughout the year there are four major tournaments. These tournaments are far and away the largest tournaments of the year and have significantly larger purses than the other tournaments played throughout the year.

Which PGA Tournaments Are Majors?

Each year the PGA will host four tournaments that are considered majors. These four tournaments are The Masters , The U.S Open , The Open Championship (The British Open), The USPGA Championship .

The masters each played each year at Augusta National Golf Club while the other majors have a rotation of courses or choose a new course each year.

How do pga players get paid?

If you are a golfer in the PGA you are paid a percentage of the tournament purse based on which pace you finish. Though, only some of the golfers in a tournament will finish high enough

For example, in the U.S open golfers who finished 1-60 we paid a portion of the purse while any golfers that finished out of this range did not get paid.

If you finish first place you are likely to receive roughly 17% of the total purse. This means if you won the players championship in 2020 which has a purse of 15 million you would walk away with 2.55 million dollars.

There are also other ways for golfer to get paid. You will notice that every golfer on tour has a specific brand of golf clubs they use as well as, a specific set of clothing. This is because these are all sponsorships.

Golfers are paid to use the brands of big golf companies in order to promote their product to the viewers of the sport. And just like with purses the better golfer you are the more money you will get for your sponsorship.

How do pga points work?

PGA points or Fedexcup points are a season-long accumulation of points. These determine which golfer played the best over the course of the season.

Points are awarded to golfers that finish in the top 85 positions of any given PGA tournament. The higher your position the higher your points rewarded.

The number of points given out also varies in which tournament you play. For example, the masters would be worth more than a regular PGA tour event.

Near the end of the year there are several fed ex cup playoff tournaments. These include 125 of the top fedex cup point leaders. These tournaments are worth more points than any other tournament throughout the year.

How do PGA tournaments work?

PGA tournaments work by playing a four rounds over the course of four days with a stroke play scoring system.

Over the first two days all the golfers will play two rounds. Typically the top 70 golfers then continue on while the rest are cut from the tournament.

The top 70 golfers then play two more rounds of stroke play. Once all four rounds are down the golfer with the lowest amount of strokes over the four days is the winner.

Conclusion Understanding The PGA Tour

We hope this guide to understanding the PGA has been helpful in you finding the answers you need. Do you have any more questions regarding the PGA or anything else we covered in this article? If so please be sure to reach out in the comments below.

If you liked this article and are interested in reading more please check out our guide to understanding tee time in golf or understanding GIR in golf .

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How Do Golf Tournaments Work?

If you are a higher handicapper, you may be reluctant to enter a golf tournament. I understand. You fear that you are not good enough to compete. I know the feeling well, but the reality is competitions are fun and give us amateurs a chance to experience what the pros do every week.

In this post, we are covering the question of how do golf tournaments work? We will touch on the various formats of golf competitions and explain how a high handicapper can compete against a low handicap player in the same event.

Golf Tournament Formats

How many rounds are professional tournaments, how does the cut work in a tour event, can amateurs accept prize money, final thoughts, related articles, introduction to golf tournaments.

A standard professional golf tournament is played as a 72-hole strokeplay tournament. Conversely, your average weekend club competition is battled out over 18-holes using the Stableford format.

There are various formats that a tournament may employ to make the event more exciting and competitive, which will cover later on in the article.

Although numerous golf scoring formats exist, tournament organizers, it is rare to play in an event that doesn’t use Stableford or strokeplay. Here is a list of the various scoring formats that a golf tournament could have.

Strokeplay tournaments are commonly associated with professionals who play this format more than anything else. Every shot counts in strokeplay, and the player with the lowest score at the end of the tournament wins.

If the event is over multiple days, your scores will be added together from each round.

If you are playing in an amateur tournament, you will subtract your handicap from your final score. The lowest net score in the competition wins. For example, if you are a 16 handicap and shoot 85, your net score will be 69, which is a good day out.

The most common scoring format for amateur golf tournaments is the Stableford or points system. The Barracuda Championship is the only fixture on the PGA Tour where this format is employed.

Golf Monthly’s Roderick Easdale explains that points are awarded every hole according to your adjusted score based on your handicap.

If you stroke the hole, you get three points for a par, two for a bogey, and one for a double bogey. Unlike strokeplay, the aim of Stableford is to rack up as many points as possible.

I have also played in many Stableford tournaments that are team-based. In these tournament’s you add your partner’s total points to yours, and the team with the most points wins.

Matchplay is a rare format in amateur and professional golf. It requires a round-robin or knockout structure and a few free days in the schedule. The USGA describes matchplay as a form of golf where a player competes in a head-to-head match against their opponent.

The player with the lowest score wins the hole and goes one up. If you are playing an 18-hole match and are 10-up with 8-holes to play, the match is over, as there are not enough holes remaining for your opponent to come back and win.

This format is typically only used in events that last multiple days or leagues played throughout a season.

Both the US and British Amateur are matchplay events, and the WGC Dell Technologies Championship is the only PGA tour event using this format.

Skins is not a common tournament format. But as Golfweek’s Brian Hill explains, it has long been prominent among amateurs looking to make a buck off their buddies. However, in 1983 the first professional skins match was televised featuring Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Gary Player.

Each hole is assigned a monetary value otherwise known as “a skin.” Like matchplay, the player with the lowest score at the end of the hole wins the skin. If nobody wins the “skin” the value can either be carried over to the next hole or erased.

The player at the end of the tournament with the most skins is the winner.

Better Ball

Betterball is a format designed for teams and commonly used in amateur tournaments. Stableford is the scoring system of choice for this format.

If you are playing a two-ball better ball, you and your partner will take the score with the most points on each hole. For example, if you score a 4/3 and your partner a 5/2. Then your team will take the three points.

You can also play a four-ball better ball, where you take the best score out of your group. The team with the most points at the end of the tournament wins.

Scramble tournaments only impact your tee and approach shots. With this format, you take the best-positioned tee shot out of the four players in your group. From there, everyone plays their own ball, but the golfer with the best score carries the team.

As is the case with better ball golf, you will use the Stableford scoring format, so the team with the most points wins.

Foursomes is a format that we only enjoy during the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and the Zurich Classic. Most of us amateurs will never get the chance to play in a foursomes tournament.

How it works is simple, you get paired with another player, and you hit alternate shots. If you hit the tee shot, your partner hits the approach, and you stroke the putt.

If you are playing in an amateur foursomes tournament, you will need to address your handicaps. All it takes is to add your handicap to your partners and divide it by two, and you will have your team handicap.

Depending on the tournament organizers, you may use the Strokeplay or Stableford scoring format for foursomes. If you are playing Stableford, you record the points you made on each hole based on your handicap. If this is the format you are playing, then the pair with the most points wins.

However, if you are playing strokeplay, you need to deduct your team’s handicap from your gross score at the end of the tournament. In this case, the team with the lowest score wins.

Shotgun Start

Although a shotgun start is not a format per se, it is worth knowing how it works. When you see that a tournament has a shotgun start, the group in the field tees off at the same designated time from different holes.

Assuming there are eighteen four-balls in the field, each group will tee off on separate holes. The four players from group one tee off on the first hole, while the four players from group two tee off the second, and so on.

Golf Tournament Categories

Now that you have a better understanding of the different competition formats. Let us look at the various categories of golf tournaments. At the top of the pyramid are professional events such as those on the PGA and European Tour’s.

The next category is Pro-Am tournaments where a professional partners with an amateur, and finally amateur tournaments, where most of us fit in.

Professional golf tournaments are played over four rounds of 18-holes. These events tend to start on a Thursday and finish on a Sunday. Except for the WGC Dell Technologies Championship, played over five days. The event tees off on a Wednesday and concludes on Sunday.

Strokeplay tournaments feature between 132 and 154 participants. However, after 36-holes, the field is cut to the top 70, who will play for the remainder of the event.

According to the R&A Rule 3-1 , an amateur golfer cannot play for prize money. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t win tournament-sponsored prizes. For example, if the first prize in your tournament is a new Callaway Epic driver, there is no problem in you keeping it.

We set off asking the question of how do golf tournaments work? And our research has exposed that there are multiple answers. The functionality of a golf tournament depends on whether it is an amateur or professional event and the format is used.

While most amateur tournaments use Stableford, we see that most professional competitions are strokeplay events where every shot counts. Now that you have a better understanding of golf tournaments, are you ready to play in the next event at your course?

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Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.

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PGA Tour explained

The PGA Tour (stylized as PGA TOUR by its officials) is the organizer of professional golf tours in North America. It organizes most of the events on the flagship annual series of tournaments also known as the PGA Tour, as well as the PGA Tour Champions (age 50 and older) and the Korn Ferry Tour (for professional players who have not yet qualified to play on the PGA Tour), as well as the PGA Tour Canada , PGA Tour Latinoamérica , and formerly the PGA Tour China . The PGA Tour is a nonprofit organization [2] headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida , a suburb southeast of Jacksonville. [3]

Originally established by the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America), it was spun off in December 1968 into a separate organization for tour players, as opposed to club professionals , the focal members of today's PGA of America. Originally the "Tournament Players Division", it adopted the name "PGA Tour" in 1975 and runs most of the week-to-week professional golf events on the tournament known as the PGA Tour, including The Players Championship , hosted at TPC Sawgrass ; the FedEx Cup , with its finale at The Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club ; and the biennial Presidents Cup . The remaining events on the PGA Tour are run by different organizations, as are the U.S.-based LPGA Tour for women and other men's and women's professional tours around the world.

The roots of the modern PGA Tour stretch back to April 10, 1916, when the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) was formed. [4] The modern tour recognizes wins from this era as "PGA Tour" victories despite the formal founding of the tour as a separate entity coming much later.

By 1916, several prestigious golf tournaments offering prize money to the winner had been established in America, including the North and South Open , the Metropolitan Open , the Shawnee Open , the Western Open and the national championship, the U.S. Open . They formed the initial schedule of what came to be known much later as the "PGA Tour", with the addition of the PGA Championship in 1916. The Open Championship in the UK, the oldest golf tournament in the world founded in 1860, would become a PGA Tour event much later in 1995. All Open Championship wins dating back to 1860 were retroactively recognized as PGA Tour victories in 2002. [5]

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, various state open tournaments began, many organized by sections of the PGA. Tournaments recognized as PGA Tour wins from this era include the California Open , Connecticut Open , Florida Open , Maryland Open , Massachusetts Open , New Jersey State Open , New York State Open , Ohio Open , Oklahoma Open , Oregon Open , Pennsylvania Open Championship , Utah Open , Virginia Open and the Wisconsin State Open . This legacy lives on with the modern PGA Tour as the Valero Texas Open dates back to this era of state opens on the tour.

The tour, then known informally as "The Circuit" for professional golfers in the PGA, [6] became more formalized in 1929. A tournament committee was formed, consisting of Tommy Armour , Al Espinosa and J.J. Patterson. [1]

In 1930, Bob Harlow was hired as manager of the PGA Tournament Bureau and worked to formalize a year-round schedule of tournaments. [7]

In 1945, Byron Nelson enjoyed a record-breaking year, winning 18 PGA tournaments out of the 30 he played, including 11 in a row that he played in. Both records are yet to be beaten. The Byron Nelson , which became the first PGA Tour event to be named for a professional golfer in 1968, is played annually near Dallas as of 2024.

Throughout the 1950s, despite injuries from a car crash, star player Ben Hogan won 10 PGA Tour tournaments, including 6 major championships and three times at his hometown tournament in Forth Worth, Texas the Colonial National Invitation . Younger working class player Arnold Palmer won 13 PGA Tour tournaments, becoming a crowd favorite and TV star including capturing his first Masters Tournament on CBS in 1958. Sam Snead was dominant on his way to a record-setting 82 PGA Tour career victories.

Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus were the dominant players of the 1960s, with Palmer winning 43 titles and Nicklaus winning 30.

With an increase of revenue in the late 1960s due to expanded television coverage, a dispute arose between the touring professionals and the PGA of America on how to distribute the windfall. The tour players wanted larger purses, where the PGA desired the money to go to the general fund to help grow the game at the local level. [8] [9] Following the final major in July 1968 at the PGA Championship , several leading tour pros voiced their dissatisfaction with the venue and the abundance of club pros in the field. [10] The increased friction resulted in a new entity in August, what would eventually become the PGA Tour. [11] [12] [13] [14] Tournament players formed their own organization, American Professional Golfers, Inc. (APG), independent of the PGA of America. [15] [16] [17] Its headquarters were in New York City. [12]

After several months, [18] a compromise was reached in December: the tour players agreed to abolish the APG and form the PGA "Tournament Players Division", a fully autonomous division under the supervision of a new 10-member Tournament Policy Board. [19] [20] [21] [22] The board consisted of four tour players, three PGA of America executives, and three outside members, initially business executives. [20] [21] [23]

Joseph Dey , the recently retired USGA executive director, was selected by the board as the tour's first commissioner in January 1969 and agreed to a five-year contract. [24] [25] He was succeeded by tour player Deane Beman in early 1974, [26] who served for twenty years.

Jack Nicklaus continued his dominance, winning 38 titles.

The tour's name officially changed to the "PGA Tour" in 1975. [27] [28] In 1978 the PGA Tour "removed its restriction on women." [29] However, no women have joined the tour since this date.

Without the tour players, the PGA of America became primarily an association of club professionals , but retained control of two significant events; the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup . The former was an established major championship , but the latter was an obscure match play team event which was not particularly popular with golf fans, due to predictable dominance by the United States. With the addition of players from continental Europe in 1979 and expanded television coverage, it became very competitive and evolved into the premier international team event, lately dominated by Europe. Both events are very important revenue streams for the PGA of America.

In late August 1981, the PGA Tour had a marketing dispute with the PGA of America and officially changed its name to the TPA Tour , for the "Tournament Players Association". [30] [31] The disputed issues were resolved within seven months and the tour's name was changed back to the "PGA Tour" in March 1982. [32] [33]

The Official World Golf Ranking was introduced in 1986, with the PGA Tour competing with the European Tour for the top golfers, including the world number one .

Tim Finchem became the third commissioner in June 1994 and continued for over 22 years; on January 1, 2017, he was succeeded by Jay Monahan. [34]

As Tiger Woods emerged as a dominant player, TV ratings and revenues soared for the tour.

In 1999, the tour began play of the World Golf Championships and the Tour Championship .

Tiger Woods continued his dominance of the tour in the 2000s, winning 57 of his 82 career titles.

Three of the four majors had settled into a pattern of play in eight weeks between June and August. In the past, this had threatened to make the last months of the season anticlimactic, as some of the very top players competed less from that point on. In response, the PGA Tour introduced a new format in 2007, the FedEx Cup . From January through mid-August players competed in "regular season" events and earn FedEx Cup points, in addition to prize money. At the end of the regular season, the top 125 FedEx Cup points winners are eligible to compete in the "playoffs", four events taking place from mid-August to mid-September. The field sizes for these events are reduced from 125 to 100 to 70 and finally the traditional 30 for the Tour Championship. Additional FedEx Cup points are earned in these events. At the end of the championship, the top point winner is the season champion. To put this new system into place, the PGA Tour has made significant changes to the traditional schedule.

In 2007, The Players Championship moved to May so as to have a marquee event in five consecutive months. The Tour Championship moved to mid-September, with an international team event ( Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup ) following at the end of September. The schedule was tweaked slightly in both 2008 and 2009. After the third FedEx Cup playoff event, the BMW Championship , the Tour takes a full week off. In 2008, the break came before the Ryder Cup, with the Tour Championship the week after that. In 2009, the break was followed by the Tour Championship, with the Presidents Cup taking place two weeks after that.

2007 saw the introduction of a tournament in Mexico, an alternate event staged the same week as the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship . [35] A tournament in Puerto Rico was introduced in 2008 as an alternate event staged opposite the WGC-CA Championship .

The Tour continues through the fall, with the focus on the scramble of the less successful players to earn enough money to retain their tour cards. A circuit known as the Fall Series , originally with seven tournaments but now with four, was introduced in 2007. In its inaugural year, its events were held in seven consecutive weeks, starting the week after the Tour Championship. As was the case for the FedEx Cup playoff schedule, the Fall Series schedule was also tweaked in 2008 and 2009. The first 2008 Fall Series event was held opposite the Ryder Cup, and the Fall Series took a week off for the Tour Championship before continuing with its remaining six events.

In 2008, the PGA Tour Policy Board approved a change in the number of players that will make the cut. The cut will continue to be low 70 professionals and ties, unless that results in a post-cut field of more than 78 players. Under that circumstance, the cut score will be selected to make a field as close to 70 players as possible without exceeding 78. Players who are cut in such circumstances but who have placed 70th or worse will get credit for making the cut and will earn official money and FedEx Cup points. This policy affected two of the first three events with cuts, the Sony Open in Hawaii and the Buick Invitational . In late February, the Policy Board announced a revised cut policy, effective beginning with the Honda Classic . The new policy calls for 36-hole cut to the low 70 professionals and ties and, if that cut results in more than 78 players, a second 54-hole cut to the low 70 professionals and ties. Those who do not survive the 54-hole cut were designated as MDF (made the cut, did not finish). [36] For the 2020 season, the cut line was reduced to 65 plus ties and eliminated the 54-hole cut.

The Fall Series saw major changes for 2009, with one of its events moving to May and another dropping off the schedule entirely. It returned to its original start date of the week after the Tour Championship. Then, as in 2008, it took a week off, this time for the Presidents Cup. It then continued with events in three consecutive weeks, took another week off for the HSBC Champions (now elevated to World Golf Championships status), and concluded the week after that.

The Fall Series was reduced to four events, all held after the Tour Championship, for 2011. [37] This followed the move of the Viking Classic into the regular season as an alternate event.

The 2013 season , which was the last before the tour transitioned to a schedule spanning two calendar years, had 40 official-money events in 38 weeks, including three alternate events played the same week as a higher-status tournament. The other event that is considered part of the 2013 season is the biennial Presidents Cup , matching a team of golfers representing the US with an "International" team consisting of non-European players [38] (Europeans instead play in the Ryder Cup , held in even-numbered years). [39]

Before the transition, the Tour held a group of events known as the PGA Tour Fall Series , which provided a final opportunity for golfers to make the top 125 in season earnings and thereby retain their Tour cards. With the change to an October-to-September season, several of the former Fall Series events will now open the season. The Tour also sanctions two events in Asia during that part of the year:

• The CIMB Classic , a limited-field event held in Malaysia and the Tour's first sanctioned event in Southeast Asia. The field is limited to 40 players—the top-25 available players in the final FedEx Cup standings, the top ten available Asian players and five sponsor's exemptions, with at least one place reserved for a Malaysian player. The 2013 edition, which was part of the 2014 season, was the first as an official-money event. [40]
• The WGC-HSBC Champions , traditionally held the week after the Malaysia tournament. Despite its elevation to World Golf Championships status in 2009, it initially was not an official-money event. [41] Starting in 2010, if the event was won by a PGA Tour member, it counted as an official win and carried the three-year exemption of the other WGCs. [42] Starting in 2013, the HSBC Champions became an official money event, and wins are official for Tour and non-Tour members alike. [43]

On March 20, 2012, the tour announced radical changes to the tour's season and qualifying process. [44] [45] Further details of these changes relating to the Fall Series were announced on June 26, [46] with the remaining details announced on July 10. [47] One of the final details received a minor tweak, effective for the 2013 season only, on September 11. [48]

First, the 2013 season was the last to be conducted entirely within a calendar year. Since the 2014 season, the season starts in October of the previous calendar year, shortly after the Tour Championship. [47] The tournaments in the now season-opening Fall Series are awarded full FedEx Cup points. [46]

As a result of the schedule change, the qualifying school no longer grants playing rights on the PGA Tour, but only privileges on the Korn Ferry Tour . [47]

The criterion for retaining tour cards at the end of the season also changed. Through 2012, the top 125 players on the money list at the end of the PGA Tour season retained their tour cards. For the 2013 season only, the top 125 players on both the money list and the FedEx Cup points list at the end of the FedEx Cup regular season in August retained their cards. [48] The tour also said that it would decide at a later time whether to keep this aspect of the qualifying system in place in future seasons. [48]

Otherwise, the planned move by the tour to have the top 125 players on the FedEx Cup points list retain their tour cards took effect with the 2014 season. The next 75 players on the points list, along with the top 75 on the money list of the Korn Ferry Tour at the end of that tour's regular season, are eligible to play a series of three tournaments in September known as the Korn Ferry Tour Finals . The Finals field, however, is not expected to consist of all 150 players, as some of the PGA Tour players will be exempt by other criteria, such as a tournament win in the previous two years. [49] A total of 50 PGA Tour cards for the next season is awarded at the end of the Finals.

The 25 leading money winners during the Korn Ferry Tour regular season receive cards, and total money earned during the Finals determines the remaining 25 card earners. [50] For all 50 new card earners, their positions on the PGA Tour's priority order for purposes of tournament are based on money earned in the Finals. College players who turn professional can enter the series if their earnings are equivalent to a top-200 PGA Tour or top-75 Korn Ferry Tour finish.

In addition, the leading money winners on the Korn Ferry Tour in both the regular season and Finals receive automatic invitations to The Players Championship (note that if a golfer tops both money lists, only one Players invitation is awarded). [50]

Finally, two events held in Asia after the end of the PGA Tour's current regular season – the CIMB Classic in Malaysia and the HSBC Champions , a World Golf Championships event held in China – became full PGA Tour events, with official prize money, for the first time. Before 2013, neither event had full PGA Tour status despite being sanctioned by the Tour. Wins in the CIMB Classic were not classified as official PGA Tour wins, and HSBC Champions victories were official wins only for current PGA Tour members. Money earned in these events did not count as official PGA Tour earnings for any purpose.

In June 2022, the PGA Tour suspended seventeen players who played in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event. Monahan wrote in a memo to the tour's membership that any players that take part in future LIV Golf events will be subjected to the same punishment. [51] PGA Tour members that joined LIV Golf included major champions Brooks Koepka , Bryson DeChambeau , Patrick Reed , Dustin Johnson , and Phil Mickelson . [52] [53] [54]

In July 2022, it was reported that the US Department of Justice was investigating the PGA Tour to determine if it engaged in anti-competitive behavior with LIV Golf . In late 2021, the PGA Tour had begun speaking with White House officials and members of Congress to express concerns over LIV Golf. The tour paid over $400,000 to the firm DLA Piper to lobby lawmakers on their behalf for various topics including LIV Golf proposals. [55] The tour had previously been investigated in the early 1990s but despite tour policies having been found to be in violation of antitrust laws, no further action was taken. [56] [57]

In August 2022, eleven players who had joined LIV Golf filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour to challenge their suspensions. [58] Three players failed to obtain a temporary restraining order to allow them to participate in the FedEx Cup playoffs. The trial for the main case was scheduled to begin in September 2023. [59]

On June 6, 2023, the PGA Tour, PGA European Tour , and LIV Golf announced that they would enter into an agreement to merge their commercial rights into a single, for-profit entity. The Saudi Public Investment Fund —which funded LIV Golf—will initially serve as the "exclusive investor" in the entity and have right of first refusal for future investments, while the PGA Tour will appoint the majority of its board members and have its commissioner Jay Monahan act as CEO. The agreement does not impact the three entities' administrative oversight over their events, hence the PGA Tour as a sanctioning entity will remain a 501(c)6 non-profit organization. The agreement ends all pending litigation between the organizations, and there are plans for a "fair and objective" process to readmit players blacklisted by the PGA Tour for defecting to LIV. [60] [61] [62] [63]

The announcement was met with shock from players (who did not learn of the agreement until it was officially announced), with media outlets describing them as having felt "betrayed" by the decision. [64]

The deadline for completing the deal was December 31, 2023, although it was reported that the parties were attempting to negotiate an extension. [65] Concurrently, the PGA Tour was negotiating with another investor, Strategic Sports Group, which is a consortium of professional sports owners—including Tom Werner , Arthur Blank , Steve Cohen , Wyc Grousbeck , Thomas S. Ricketts , and others—led by Fenway Sports Group . [66] On January 31, 2024, the PGA Tour announced that it had agreed to a $3 billion investment by Strategic Sports Group into its for-profit arm, PGA Tour Enterprises. The consortium will pay $1.5 billion initially, and then a second $1.5 billion following the conclusion of negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund. In addition, active players will be given an opportunity to receive grants of equity in PGA Tour Enterprises. [67]

Tournaments

Most members of the tour play between 20 and 30 tournaments in the season. The geography of the tour is determined by climate. It starts in Hawaii in January and spends most of its first two months in California and Arizona during what is known as the "West Coast Swing" and then moves to the American Southeast for the "Southern Swing". Each swing culminates in a significant tour event. In April, tour events begin to drift north. The summer months are spent mainly in the Northeast and the Midwest, and in the fall (autumn) the tour heads south again.

In most of the regular events on tour, the field is either 132, 144 or 156 players, depending on time of year (and available daylight hours). All players making the cut earn money for the tournament with the winner usually receiving 18% of the total purse.

In the event that the PGA Tour cannot guarantee four rounds of play, the PGA Tour can shorten an event to 54 holes. A 54-hole event is still considered official, with full points and monies awarded. Any tournament stopped before 54 holes can be completed is reverted to the 36-hole score and the win is considered unofficial, notably Adam Scott at the 2005 Nissan Open .

• Tournament of Champions , first played in 1953
• Sony Open in Hawaii , first played in 1965
• Desert Classic , first played in 1960
• Farmers Insurance Open , first played in 1952
• AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, first played in 1937
• Phoenix Open , first played in 1932
• Los Angeles Open , first played in 1926
• Mexico Open , first played in 1944
• Cognizant Classic , first played in 1972
• Arnold Palmer Invitational , first played in 1966
• Puerto Rico Open , first played in 2008
• The Players Championship , first played in 1974
• Valspar Championship , first played in 2000
• Houston Open , first played in 1946
• Valero Texas Open , first played in 1922
• Masters Tournament , first played in 1934
• Corales Puntacana Championship , first played in 2016
• RBC Heritage , first played in 1969
• Zurich Classic of New Orleans , first played in 1938
• The Byron Nelson , first played in 1944
• Wells Fargo Championship , first played in 2003
• Myrtle Beach Classic , first played in 2024
• PGA Championship , first played in 1916
• Colonial National Invitation , first played in 1946
• Canadian Open , first played in 1904
• Memorial Tournament , first played in 1976
• U.S. Open , first played in 1895
• Travelers Championship , first played in 1952
• Rocket Mortgage Classic , first played in 2019
• John Deere Classic , first played in 1971
• Scottish Open , first played in 1972
• ISCO Championship , first played in 2015
• The Open Championship , first played in 1860
• Reno–Tahoe Open , first played in 1999
• 3M Open , first played in 2019
• Golf at the Summer Olympics (no official prize money)
• Wyndham Championship , first played in 1938
• St. Jude Championship , first played in 1958
• BMW Championship , first played in 2007
• Procore Championship , first played in 2007
• Ryder Cup , first played in 1927 (no official prize money)
• Presidents Cup , first played in 1994 (no official prize money)
• Sanderson Farms Championship , first played in 1968
• Shriners Children's Open , first played in 1983
• Zozo Championship , first played in 2019
• World Wide Technology Championship , first played in 2007
• Bermuda Championship , first played in 2019
• RSM Classic , first played in 2010
• Tour Championship , first played in 1987
• Hero World Challenge , first played in 2000
• Father/Son Challenge , first played in 1995

Tours operated by the PGA Tour

The PGA Tour does not run any of the four major championships ( Masters , PGA Championship , U.S. Open , The Open ), [68] or the Ryder Cup . The PGA of America , not the PGA Tour, runs the PGA Championship and the Senior PGA Championship , and co-organizes the Ryder Cup with Ryder Cup Europe, a company controlled by the PGA European Tour . Additionally, the PGA Tour is not involved with the women's golf tours in the U.S., which are mostly controlled by the LPGA . The PGA Tour is also not the governing body for the game of golf in the United States; this, instead, is the role of the United States Golf Association (USGA), which organizes the U.S. Open . What the PGA Tour does organize are the remaining 43 (in 2009) week-to-week events, including The Players Championship and the FedEx Cup events, as well as the biennial Presidents Cup . It also runs the main tournaments on five other tours: PGA Tour Champions , the Korn Ferry Tour (formerly known as Web.com Tour [69] ), PGA Tour Canada , PGA Tour China , and PGA Tour Latinoamérica . [70]

The PGA Tour operates six tours. Three of them are primarily contested in the U.S., and the other three are international developmental tours centered on a specific country or region.

• Some events take place outside the United States: Canada, South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Dominican Republic, Bermuda and the U.S. possession of Puerto Rico host one sole-sanctioned event each year; Mexico hosts two. The events in Puerto Rico, Bermuda and the Dominican Republic are alternate events held opposite World Golf Championships tournaments and therefore have weaker fields than regular Tour events. In addition, China hosts a World Golf Championships event and the United Kingdom hosts a major championship.
• As of 2016, one regular tournament is held in Canada, and one of the senior majors is held in the UK, the rest in the US.
• As of 2014, Colombia, Panama, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and Canada host one tournament each.
• As of 2014, nine Latin American countries host tournaments.
• Historically known as the "Canadian Tour", it was taken over by the PGA Tour in November 2012. [71] The 2013 season, the first under PGA Tour operation, began with a qualifying school in California, followed by nine tournaments in Canada.
• Launched in 2014, it is independent of the former China Tour, which folded after its 2009 season.

The PGA Tour also conducts an annual Qualifying Tournament, known colloquially as "Q-School" and held over six rounds each fall. Before 2013, the official name of the tournament was the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament ; it is now officially the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament. Through the 2012 edition, the top-25 finishers, including ties, received privileges to play on the following year's PGA Tour. Remaining finishers in the top 75, plus ties, received full privileges on the Korn Ferry Tour . Since 2013, all competitors who made the final phase of Q-School earned status on the Korn Ferry Tour at the start of the following season, with high finishers receiving additional rights as follows: [72]

• On the Korn Ferry Tour, a "reshuffle" refers to a reordering of the tour's eligibility list, which determines the players who can enter tournaments. After four tournaments, and every fourth tournament thereafter until the Korn Ferry Tour Finals , players are re-ranked according to their tour earnings on the season. However, the ranking position of players who are exempt from a "reshuffle" does not change.
• Those who finish 2nd through 10th (including ties) are exempt until the third reshuffle of the following season (first 12 events).
• The medalist (top finisher) has full playing privileges for the entire regular season, which carries with it automatic entry to the Tour Finals.

Since 2013, 50 Korn Ferry Tour golfers earn privileges during the next PGA Tour season, which now begins the month after the Tour Finals. The top 25 money winners over the regular season (i.e., before the Tour Finals) receive PGA Tour cards, as do the top 25 money winners in the Finals. The priority position of all 50 golfers on the PGA Tour is based on money earned during the Tour Finals, except that the regular season money leader shares equal status with the Finals money leader. In addition, a golfer who wins three events on that tour in a calendar year earns a "performance promotion" (informally a "battlefield promotion") which garners PGA Tour privileges for the remainder of the year plus the following full season. [73]

At the end of each year, the top 125 in FedEx Cup points (top 125 on the money list before 2013) receive a tour card for the following season, which gives them exemption from qualifying for most of the next year's tournaments. However, at some events, known as invitationals, exemptions apply only to the previous year's top 70 players. Since 2013, players who are ranked between 126 and 200 in FedEx Cup points (and are not already exempt by other means) are eligible for entry in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, where they can regain their PGA Tour privileges. Non-exempt players who finish 126th–150th in the FedEx Cup but fail to regain their PGA Tour cards are given conditional PGA Tour status for the season and are fully exempt on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Winning a PGA Tour event provides a tour card for a minimum of two years, with an extra year added for each additional win with a maximum of five years. Winning a World Golf Championships event, The Tour Championship , the Arnold Palmer Invitational , or the Memorial Tournament provides a three-year exemption. Winners of the major championships , The Players Championship , and the FedEx Cup earn a five-year exemption. Other types of exemptions include lifetime exemptions for players with twenty wins on the tour; one-time, one-year exemptions for players in the top fifty on the career money earnings list who are not otherwise exempt; two-time, one-year exemptions for players in the top twenty-five on the career money list; and medical exemptions for players who have been injured or are going through a family crisis, which give them an opportunity to regain their tour card after a period out of the tour. In 2015, the PGA Tour added a clause which would freeze an exemption for those required to perform military service in their native countries in response to South Korea's Bae Sang-moon having to leave the Tour for that reason. Once a player wins a PGA Tour event, he will have at minimum past champion status should he fail to retain PGA Tour privileges.

Non-members can play their way into the PGA Tour by finishing the equivalent or better of 125th in FedEx Cup points. Those who fail but fall within the top 200 in current season points are eligible for the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. During the season, non-members can earn Special Temporary Member status by exceeding the equivalent of 150th in the previous season's FedEx Cup. Special Temporary Members receive unlimited sponsor exemptions, while non-members are limited to seven per season and twelve total events. [74]

Similar to other major league sports, there is no rule that limits PGA Tour players to "men only". In 1938, Babe Zaharias became the first woman to compete in a PGA Tour event. In 1945, Zaharias became the first and only woman to make a cut in a PGA Tour event. In 2003, Annika Sörenstam and Suzy Whaley played in PGA Tour events, and Michelle Wie did so in each year from 2004 through 2008. In 2011, Isabelle Beisiegel became the first woman to earn a Tour card on a "men's" professional golf tour, the Canadian Tour, now PGA Tour Canada . [75]

The LPGA Tour like all other women's sports, is limited to female participants only, except for mixed tournaments.

An organization called the PGA European Tour , separate from both the PGA Tour and the PGA of America, runs a tour, mostly in Europe, but with events throughout the world outside of North America. Several other regional tours are around the world. However, the PGA Tour, European Tour, and many of the regional tours co-sponsor the World Golf Championships. These, along with the major championships, usually count toward the official money lists of each tour as well as the Official World Golf Ranking .

Charity fundraising

The PGA Tour places a strong emphasis on charity fundraising, usually on behalf of local charities in cities where events are staged. [76] With the exception of a few older events, PGA Tour rules require all Tour events to be non-profit; the Tour itself is also a non-profit company. In 2005, it started a campaign to push its all-time fundraising tally past one billion dollars ("Drive to a Billion"), and it reached that mark one week before the end of the season. However, monies raised for charities derive from the tournaments' positive revenues (if any), and not any actual monetary donation from the PGA Tour, whose purse monies and expenses are guaranteed. The number of charities which receive benefits from PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions and Korn Ferry Tour events is estimated at over 2,000. In 2009, the total raised for charity was some $108 million. [77] The organization announced to have generated $180 million for charities in 2017 through the tournaments of its six tours. [78]

Media coverage

The PGA Tour's broadcast television rights are held by CBS Sports and NBC Sports , under contracts most recently renewed in 2020 to last through 2030. While it considered invoking an option to opt out of its broadcast television contracts in 2017, the PGA Tour ultimately decided against doing so. Golf Channel (which, since the acquisition of NBC Universal by Golf Channel owner Comcast , is a division of NBC Sports) has served as the pay television rightsholder of the PGA Tour since 2007. Under the contracts, CBS broadcasts weekend coverage for an average of 20 events per-season, and NBC broadcasts weekend coverage for an average of 10 events per-season. Golf Channel broadcasts early-round and weekend morning coverage of all events, as well as weekend coverage of events not broadcast on terrestrial television, and primetime encores of all events. [79] [80] [81]

On March 9, 2020, the PGA Tour announced that it had reached an agreement to renew its contracts with CBS and NBC, which expired after the 2020–21 season, through 2030, maintaining most of the existing broadcast arrangements, but with the rights to the final three events of the FedEx Cup playoffs now alternating between CBS and NBC annually. [82] [83] A notable change in production under the new contract is that the PGA Tour now controls the on-site production and infrastructure for all media partners, although each individual broadcaster continues to employ their own on-air talent and personnel. [84]

Tournaments typically featured in NBC's package include marquee events such as The Players Championship , and the biennial Presidents Cup event. The 2011 contract granted more extensive digital rights, as well as the ability for NBC to broadcast supplemental coverage of events on Golf Channel during its broadcast windows. [85] Until 2022, coverage of the final three FedEx Cup playoff tournaments was also exclusive to NBC.

The PGA Tour operates a streaming service known as PGA Tour Live , which carries early-round coverage of events preceding Golf Channel television coverage, including featured groups. The service is offered as a subscription basis; until 2019, it was operated by BAMTech (formerly MLB Advanced Media), and for a period, was also carried as part of ESPN+ . From 2019 to 2021, it has been operated under NBC Sports' subscription streaming platform NBC Sports Gold , adding featured holes coverage during Golf Channel's windows. Since 2017, following a pilot at the end of the 2016 season, portions of the PGA Tour Live coverage are also carried for free via the PGA Tour's Twitter account. [86] [87] Under the 2022–2030 contract, the service moved back to ESPN+.

In 2005, the PGA Tour reached a deal with XM Satellite Radio to co-produce a channel, the PGA Tour Network (now Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio ), featuring event coverage, and talk programming relating to golf (which, since 2013, has also included audio simulcasts of selected Golf Channel programs). Its contract with Sirius XM was renewed through 2021. [88] [89] [90]

International

The PGA Tour is also covered extensively outside the United States. In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports was the main broadcaster of the tour for a number of years up to 2006. Setanta Sports won exclusive UK and Ireland rights for six years from 2007 for a reported cost of £103 million. The deal includes Champions Tour and the Nationwide Tour events, but like the U.S. television deals it does not include the major championships, and unlike the U.S. deal, it does not include the World Golf Championships. Setanta set up the Setanta Golf channel to present its coverage. [91] On June 23, 2009, Setanta's UK arm went into administration and ceased broadcasting.

Eurosport picked up the television rights for the remainder of the 2009 season. [92] Sky Sports regained the TV rights with an eight-year deal from 2010 to 2017. [93] In South Korea, SBS , which has been the tour's exclusive TV broadcaster in that country since the mid-1990s, agreed in 2009 to extend its contract with the PGA Tour through 2019. As a part of that deal, it became sponsor of the season's opening tournament, a winners-only event that was renamed the SBS Championship effective in 2010. [94] In 2011 however, Korean automobile manufacturer Hyundai took over the title sponsorship, but SBS still remains a sponsor of the event. [95]

In June 2018, it was announced that Eurosport's parent company Discovery Inc. had acquired exclusive international media rights to the PGA Tour outside of the United States, beginning 2019, under a 12-year, US$2 billion deal. The contract covers Discovery's international channels (including Eurosport), sub-licensing arrangements with local broadcasters, and development of an international PGA Tour over the top subscription service—which was unveiled in October under the brand GolfTV . The service will replace PGA Tour Live in international markets as existing rights lapse, beginning with Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia and Spain in January 2019. [96] [97] [98] GolfTV also acquired rights to the Ryder Cup and European Tour in selected markets, and signed a deal with Tiger Woods to develop original content centered upon him. [99] [100]

Priority ranking system

The PGA Tour maintains a priority ranking system that is used to select the fields for most tournaments on tour. Below is the 2016–17 [101] ranking system, in order of priority.

• Winner of PGA Championship or U.S. Open prior to 1970 or in the last five seasons and the current season
• Winner of The Players Championship in the last five seasons and the current season
• Winners of the Masters Tournament in the last five seasons and the current season
• Winners of The Open Championship in the last five seasons and the current season
• Winners of the Tour Championship in the last three seasons and the current season
• Winners of World Golf Championships events in the last three seasons and the current season
• Winners of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial Tournament in the last three seasons and the current season, beginning with the 2015 winners
• Leader from the final FedExCup Points List in each of the last five seasons
• Leaders from the final PGA Tour Money List prior to 2017 for the subsequent five seasons
• Winners of PGA Tour co-sponsored or approved tournaments, whose victories are considered official, within the last two seasons, or during the current season; winners receive an additional season of exemption for each additional win, up to five seasons
• Career earnings

A. Players among the top 50 in career earnings as of the end of the preceding season may elect to use a one-time exemption for the next season

B. Players among the Top 25 in career earnings as of the end of the preceding season may elect to use this special one-time exemption for the next season

• Sponsor exemptions (a maximum of eight, which may include amateurs with handicaps of 0 or less), on the following basis:

A. Not less than two sponsor invitees shall be PGA Tour members not otherwise exempt.

B. Not less than two of the 2016 Top Finishers of the Web.com Tour, if not all can otherwise be accommodated.

• Two international players designated by the Commissioner.
• The current PGA Club Professional Champion up to six open events (3 must be opposite The Open Championship and World Golf Championships events), in addition to any sponsor selections. The exemption does not apply to open, limited-field events.
• PGA Section Champion or Player of the Year of the Section in which the tournament is played.
• Four low scorers at Open Qualifying which shall normally be held on Monday of tournament week.
• Past champions of the particular event being contested that week, if cosponsored by the PGA Tour and the same tournament organizer (not title sponsor), as follows:

A. Winners prior to July 28, 1970: unlimited exemptions for such events.

B. Winners after Jan. 1, 2000: five seasons of exemptions for such events.

• Life Members (who have been active members of the PGA Tour for 15 years and have won at least 20 co-sponsored events).
• Top 125 on the previous season's FedExCup points list.
• Top 125 on previous season's Official Money List through the Wyndham Championship
• Players who finished greater than or equal to top 125 on the 2015–16 PGA Tour Official Season FedExCup Points List or top 125 on the 2015–16 Official Season Money List through the Wyndham Championship as non-members
• Major Medical Extension: If granted by the Commissioner, if not otherwise eligible, and if needed to fill the field, Special Medical Extension
• Leading Money Winner from the previous season's Top 25 regular season players using combined money earned on the Official Web.com Tour Regular Season Money List and Web.com Tour Finals Money List, Leading Money Winner from the previous season's Web.com Tour Finals and Three-Time Winners from previous season Web.com Tour.
• Leading money winner from Web.com Tour medical
• Top 10 and ties, not otherwise exempt, among professionals from the previous open tournament whose victory has official status are exempt into the next open tournament whose victory has official status.
• Top Finishers of the Web.com Tour
• Top Finishers from the Web.com Tour medical
• Players winning three Web.com Tour events in the current season
• Minor medical extension
• Twenty-five finishers beyond 125th place on prior season's FedExCup Points List (126–150)
• Nonexempt, major medical/family crisis
• The following categories are reordered after the end of calendar year tournament, The Players, and the majors, based on FedEx Cup points the previous season, and then if necessary, career earnings, for players outside 150th on the FedEx Cup points list.

Past Champions - Players who have won a PGA Tour event.

Special Temporary Members - Non-members who scored more points than 150th place in the previous year's FedEx Cup points list.

Team Tournament Winners - Players who have won a team tournament.

Veteran Members - Players with over 150 cuts made in the PGA Tour. Ordered by money won in career.

Some tournaments deviate from this system; for example, the Phoenix Open has only five sponsor exemptions and three Monday qualifying spots, while invitational tournaments such as the Arnold Palmer Invitational , Memorial Tournament , and Dean & DeLuca Invitational have completely different eligibility categories.

Event categories

• The Sentry Tournament of Champions , the first tournament of the calendar year, has a field consisting of winners from the previous season's competition only. This results in a field much smaller than any other tournament except for The Tour Championship , with no cut after 36 holes of play.
• The Players Championship is the only event, apart from the majors and the World Golf Championships, which attracts entries from almost all of the world's elite golfers. It is the designated OWGR flagship event for the PGA Tour and awards 80 OWGR points to its winner. Only major championships can be awarded more OWGR points. For purposes of the FedEx Cup standings, The Players has had an identical point allocation to that of the majors since the Cup was instituted in 2007 .
• Its position in the schedule, which influences the number of leading players that choose to enter.
• Its age and the distinction of its past champions.
• The repute of the course on which it is played.
• The AT&T Byron Nelson, named after Byron Nelson , was until 2007 the only current event named after a PGA Tour golfer.
• The Arnold Palmer Invitational , formerly the Bay Hill Invitational, closely identified with Arnold Palmer and played at a resort he owned.
• The Genesis Invitational , identified with Tiger Woods through his foundation as of 2020.
• The Charles Schwab Challenge , identified with Ben Hogan .
• The Memorial Tournament , founded by Jack Nicklaus , played on a course he designed, and annually honoring a selected "legend".

PGA Tour University

In June 2020, the PGA Tour announced the creation of PGA Tour University, a scheme to create pathways for collegiate golfers to join development tours operated by the PGA Tour. At its start, it planned to award Korn Ferry Tour cards to the top five collegiate golfers in the United States, and playing status on the PGA Tour Canada , PGA Tour Latinoamérica , or PGA Tour China to the golfers ranked no. 6 through 15. The eligibility for these rankings was limited to seniors, as an incentive to encourage the top golfers to stay in college. [103]

The PGA Tour University system was modified in November 2022, and beginning in 2023 the top-ranked collegiate golfer would immediately be awarded membership on the PGA Tour. Golf Magazine stated this change was a response to LIV Golf , which had recruited Eugenio Chacarra and David Puig directly from college in the preceding few months. [104] Ludvig Åberg of Texas Tech University topped the PGA Tour University rankings after the conclusion of the 2023 NCAA D-I National Championship, and so became the first player to receive a PGA Tour card through the university ranking system. [105] In October 2023, following the World Team Amateur Championship in Dubai, Gordon Sargent reached the 20-point threshold and became the first ever player to earn PGA Tour card through PGA Tour University Accelerated program. [106] He is eligible to take up the membership following the conclusion of 2024 NCAA Division I Championship but elected to defer his membership and return for his senior year at Vanderbilt . [107]

In 2024, PGA Tour University gave PGA Tour Americas cards to golfers who finished 11th-25th (up from 20th) in the rankings and entry into the second stage of PGA Tour Q School. Those 6th through 10th are conditionally exempt on the Korn Ferry Tour , fully exempt on PGA Tour Americas, and earn entry into the second stage of Q School. Players ranked 2nd to 5th are fully exempt on the Korn Ferry Tour, can earn unlimited PGA Tour sponsor exemptions, and are entered into the final stage of PGA Tour Q School. The top player is fully exempt on the PGA Tour for the remainder of the current season and all of the next season. The Division II Jack Nicklaus Award winner also earns status on PGA Tour Americas.

Money list winners

Multiple money list titles.

The following players have won more than one money list title through 2023:

• 10: Tiger Woods
• 8: Jack Nicklaus
• 5: Ben Hogan , Tom Watson
• 4: Arnold Palmer
• 3: Sam Snead , Curtis Strange , Greg Norman , Vijay Singh , Justin Thomas
• 2: Byron Nelson , Julius Boros , Billy Casper , Tom Kite , Nick Price , Rory McIlroy , Scottie Scheffler

Player and rookie of the year awards

Pga tour player of the year.

The PGA Tour Player of the Year award, [108] also known as the Jack Nicklaus Trophy , is administered by the PGA Tour and was introduced in 1990; the recipient is selected by the tour players by ballot, although the results are not released other than to say who has won. More often than not the same player wins both awards; in fact, as seen in the table below, the PGA and PGA Tour Players of the Year have been the same every year from 1992 through 2018.

PGA Player of the Year

The PGA Player of the Year award dates back to 1948 (originally named the PGA Golfer of the Year ) and is awarded by the PGA of America . Since 1982 the winner has been selected using a points system with points awarded for wins, money list position and scoring average. [109]

Rookie of the Year

The Rookie of the Year award was also introduced in 1990. [110] Players are eligible in their first season of PGA Tour membership if they competed in less than seven events from any prior season. Several of the winners had a good deal of international success before their PGA Tour rookie season, and some have been in their thirties when they won the award.

PGA Tour Courage Award

In March 2012, a new award, the PGA Tour Courage Award , was introduced in replacement of the defunct Comeback Player of the Year award. [111]

Multiple Player of the Year Awards

The following players have won more than one PGA Player of the Year Award through 2022:

• 11: Tiger Woods
• 6: Tom Watson
• 5: Jack Nicklaus
• 4: Ben Hogan
• 2: Julius Boros , Billy Casper , Brooks Koepka , Rory McIlroy , Arnold Palmer , Nick Price , Justin Thomas

The following players have won more than one PGA Tour Player of the Year Award through 2022 (first awarded in 1990):

• 3: Rory McIlroy
• 2: Fred Couples , Dustin Johnson , Nick Price

Career money leaders

The top ten career money leaders on the tour as of the 2022–23 season, are as follows:

A complete list updated weekly is available on the PGA Tour's website. [114] Phil Mickelson ($96.9M) and Dustin Johnson ($75.4M) were dropped from this list after being suspended from the tour.

Due to increases in prize funds over the years, this list consists entirely of current players. The figures are not the players' complete career prize money as they do not include FedEx Cup bonuses, winnings from unofficial money events, or earnings on other tours such as the European Tour. In addition, elite golfers often earn several times as much from endorsements and golf-related business interests as they do from prize money.

Commissioners

• Golf in the United States
• Professional golf tours
• List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins
• List of golfers with most wins in one PGA Tour event
• Most PGA Tour wins in a year
• Vardon Trophy

Notes and References

• News: PGA War On . Toledo Blade . Ohio . Associated Press . June 15, 1967 . 42 . December 30, 2020 . April 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220416233253/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ezRPAAAAIBAJ&pg=5768%2C4121358 . live .
• The PGA Tour: A Not-For-Profit Money Machine . Burke . Monte . . May 8, 2013 . August 1, 2018.
• Web site: Foster + Partners Unveils Its Stunning Design of the New PGA Tour Headquarters . Mafi . Nick . January 19, 2018 . Architectural Digest . October 31, 2018 . November 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181101095432/https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/foster-partners-unveils-design-new-pga-tour-headquarters . live .
• News: Many Pro Golfers Join Association; Seventy-five Class A Men Admitted – Tournament Plans Discussed . . 1916-04-11 . 2022-02-17 . February 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220212171203/https://www.nytimes.com/1916/04/11/archives/many-pro-golfers-join-association-seventyfive-class-a-men-admitted.html . live .
• News: Lavner . Ryan . PGA Tour Recognizes British Open Wins . Golf Channel . 2002-09-10 . 2022-02-17 . February 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220212171205/https://www.golfchannel.com/article/associated-press/pga-tour-recognizes-british-open-wins . live .
• Web site: 1920's Golf History . 1920-30.com . 2022-02-17 . May 29, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120529184648/http://www.1920-30.com/sports/golf-history.html . live .
• Web site: Tour History & Chronology . PGA Tour Media Guide . 2022-02-17 . February 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220212171201/https://www.pgatourmediaguide.com/intro/tour-history-chronology . live .
• Web site: Professionals' split was a good thing for the game . PGA Tour . Awtrey . Stan . February 11, 2009 . August 30, 2013 . June 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130606140915/http://www.pgatour.com/news/2009/02/11/awtrey_column.html . live .
• News: Feud sours picture at Open . Spartanburg Herald . South Carolina . Associated Press . June 14, 1967 . 14 . December 30, 2020 . July 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210703025444/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zIUsAAAAIBAJ&pg=7079%2C2315360 . live .
• News: Touring pros studying break . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington . Associated Press . July 23, 1968 . 12 . December 30, 2020 . July 2, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210702222755/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XLdWAAAAIBAJ&pg=7340%2C2276885 . live .
• News: Golf tour pros break with PGA . The Palm Beach Post . McCarthy . Denis . August 14, 1968 . 19 .
• News: Rebel golfers number 205: pros form APG . Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon . Associated Press . Green . Bob . August 20, 1968 . 3B . December 30, 2020 . July 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210703014516/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y6hVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5464%2C4294626 . live .
• News: Touring golf pros set up own shop . Milwaukee Journal . press dispatches . August 20, 1968 . 11 .
• News: Rebel touring pros organize to battle for tournament, television jackpot . The Palm Beach Post . Associated Press . August 20, 1968 . 15.
• The revolt of the touring pros . Sports Illustrated . Mulvoy . Mark . September 2, 1968 . 20.
• Rebuttal to a searing attack . Sports Illustrated . Nicklaus . Jack . Jack Nicklaus . September 16, 1968 . 30.
• News: Making an impact: Golf 1895–2004 . USA Today . January 8, 2004 . August 13, 2012 . November 3, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081103052438/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/pga/2004-01-08-timeline_x.htm . live .
• News: PGA, sponsors eye settlement . Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon . Associated Press . September 6, 1968 . 3B . December 30, 2020 . July 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210703025919/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E61VAAAAIBAJ&pg=5478%2C1350727 . live .
• Web site: History: 1960–69 . PGA of America . August 30, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080127202642/http://www.pga.com/pgaofamerica/history/1960-1969.html . January 27, 2008.
• News: Tour golfers, PGA settle fuss over tourney control . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington . Associated Press . December 14, 1968 . 15 . December 30, 2020 . July 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210703012413/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dbVWAAAAIBAJ&pg=7296%2C5214308 . live .
• News: Pro golf struggle is settled; PGA forms tourney group . Milwaukee Journal . December 14, 1968 . 18.
• News: Dispute in U.S. settled . Glasgow Herald . Scotland, U.K. . December 16, 1968 . 5 . December 30, 2020 . July 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210703051134/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NX9AAAAAIBAJ&pg=6678,2714213 . live .
• News: A year later and, peace on golf tour . Daytona Beach Morning Journal . Florida . Associated Press . August 5, 1969 . 8 . December 30, 2020 . July 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210703010043/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3HcjAAAAIBAJ&pg=1308%2C915344 . live .
• News: Dey named new czar of pro golf . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington . Associated Press . January 23, 1969 . 12 . December 30, 2020 . July 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210703014153/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C7dWAAAAIBAJ&pg=7126,2622018 . live .
• News: Dey named new player commissioner . Lodi News-Sentinel . California . United Press International . January 23, 1969 . 10 . December 30, 2020 . July 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210703044023/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i-AzAAAAIBAJ&pg=7355,1877719 . live .
• News: Beman faces change, challenge in golf . Lakeland Ledger . Florida . Associated Press . January 6, 1974 . 6C . December 30, 2020 . July 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210703030243/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cxpXAAAAIBAJ&pg=5191,1358221 . live .
• Web site: History: 1970–79 . PGA of America . August 13, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080127202647/http://www.pga.com/pgaofamerica/history/1970-1979.html . January 27, 2008.
• News: November 30, 2012 . Q-School timeline: History of golf's most grueling event . 2021-02-21 . Golf Channel . June 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210618010002/https://www.golfchannel.com/article/golftalkcentral/q-school-timeline-history-golfs-most-grueling-event . live .
• News: Woodson . Rick . 1979-03-28 . Male pro challenging the 'L' in LPGA . 59 . The San Bernardino County Sun . 2021-07-04 . July 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185135/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80757283/male-pro-challenging-the/ . live .
• Web site: Pro Golf Tour Changes Name . June 18, 2008 . August 31, 1981 . The New York Times .
• News: Touring pros get new name – TPA . Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. August 31, 1981. 2B. December 30, 2020. July 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210703010950/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RRVWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2111%2C8850250. live.
• News: Tour Changes Its Name Again . The New York Times . March 20, 1982 . June 17, 2008 .
• News: Professional golf gets a new look . Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. March 20, 1982. H10. December 30, 2020. July 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210703052907/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6vwuAAAAIBAJ&pg=1245%2C4101878. live.
• Web site: November 7, 2016. Monahan appointed as PGA Tour's next Commissioner . PGA Tour. January 8, 2017. January 9, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170109113211/http://www.pgatour.com/news/2016/11/07/jay-monahan-next-pga-tour-commissioner.html. live.
• Web site: PGA Tour to conduct official-money event in Mexico . PGA Tour . January 13, 2006 . May 18, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080108160330/http://www.pgatour.com/info/company/story/9163568/ . January 8, 2008 . dead.
• PGA Tour Policy Board makes immediate changes to cut policy . PGA Tour . February 28, 2008 . August 30, 2013.
• Web site: 2010-12-03 . Tour releases 2011 schedule . 2024-05-02 . NBC Sports . en-US.
• Web site: The Presidents Cup 2024 at Royal Montreal . 2024-04-24 . Voyages.golf.
• What is the Difference Between the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup? . Golf Magazine . Connor . Eck . August 9, 2016 . 2024-04-24.
• First Tour-sanctioned event in Southeast Asia set for October . PGA Tour . March 3, 2010 . August 30, 2013.
• News: China gets World Golf Championship with asterisk . Associated Press . Golf Magazine . April 29, 2009 . September 30, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090603034548/http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1894510,00.html . June 3, 2009 . dead .
• Web site: HSBC Champions, Round 1 Notebook, HSBC Champions and PGA Tour eligibility . PGA Tour . August 30, 2013 . June 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150610224750/http://www.pgatour.com/news/2010/11/04/rd1-notebook.html . live .
• Web site: 2012-11-04 . HSBC Champions added as official PGA Tour event . 2024-04-24 . wkyc.com.
• News: PGA Tour announces changes . ESPN . March 21, 2012 . March 23, 2012 . March 23, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120323024458/http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/7714944/pga-tour-changes-schedule-qualifying-process . live .
• News: Decoding tour's schedule changes . Bob . Harig . ESPN . March 21, 2012 . March 23, 2012 . March 23, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120323055659/http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/7712436/decoding-pga-tour-scheduling-changes-2012-season . live .
• Fall Series events to offer full FedExCup points . PGA Tour . June 26, 2012 . August 30, 2013.
• News: PGA Tour finalizes controversial makeover as Qualifying School gone after six-decade run . Steve . Elling . CBS Sports: Eye on Golf . July 10, 2012 . July 10, 2012 . July 12, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120712033637/http://www.cbssports.com/golf/blog/eye-on-golf/19552949/pga-tour-finalizes-controversial-makeover-as-qualifying-school-gone-after-six-decade-run . live .
• News: Notes: Consistency becomes even more important in 2013 . Associated Press . PGA Tour . September 11, 2012 . August 30, 2013 . September 18, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150918231618/http://www.pgatour.com/news/2012/09/11/notebookap.html . live .
• News: Top 25 assured of PGA Tour card . Associated Press . ESPN . July 10, 2012 . July 11, 2012 . July 11, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120711162945/http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/8147517/top-25-webcom-tour-assured-getting-pga-card-new-system-does-away-q-school . live .
• Web site: Web.com impact expanded with qualifying changes . John . Dell . PGA Tour . July 10, 2012 . August 30, 2013 . May 18, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518070321/http://www.pgatour.com/webcom/news/2012/07/10/tourqualifying.html . live .
• News: 2022-06-09 . PGA Tour suspends LIV golfers from all events . 2022-08-09 . ESPN . Mark . Schlabach . June 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220609143746/https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/34063037/pga-tour-suspends-all-players-taking-part-first-liv-golf-tournament . live .
• News: David . Close . Amy . Woodyatt . Sammy . Mngqosini . Dustin Johnson resigns from PGA Tour to play in LIV Golf series, as Phil Mickelson returns to golf to play in event . 2022-08-09 . CNN . August 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220809171840/https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/07/sport/phil-mickelson-liv-golf-intl-spt/index.html . live .
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The Alliance of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour: Here’s What to Know

The details of the partnership are far from complete, according to a document outlining the framework of the deal.

By Kevin Draper

The PGA Tour, the world’s pre-eminent professional golf league, and LIV Golf, a Saudi-funded upstart whose emergence over the past year and a half has cleaved the sport in two, have agreed to join forces.

The pact is complicated and incomplete: A document submitted to Congress and obtained by The New York Times includes only a handful of binding commitments . But numerous golfers hate it, and for the moment they are directing their wrath at the architects of the deal. Let’s start from the beginning.

What are the PGA Tour and LIV Golf?

The PGA Tour holds tournaments nearly every weekend, mostly in the United States but also in other countries in North America, Europe and Asia, with prize pools worth millions of dollars. The tour has been the home to practically every male golfer you can name: Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and so on.

It has relationships with, but is separate from, the organizations that stage men’s golf’s four majors: the Masters Tournament, the P.G.A. Championship, the U.S. Open and the British Open. (The L.P.G.A., which runs the women’s tour, is separate.)

LIV Golf began in late 2021 with the former PGA Tour player Greg Norman as its commissioner and billions of dollars in backing from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, which is known as the Public Investment Fund. LIV lured several PGA Tour players, including the major champions Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka, with massive purses and guaranteed payouts that far surpassed what they could earn on the established circuit.

LIV promised a sharp break from golf’s fusty traditionalism, starting with its name, which, when pronounced, rhymes with “give” but is actually the Roman numeral for 54, the number of holes played in each tournament. LIV had music blaring at its events, looser dress codes and team competitions — and tournaments that lasted three days instead of four. Further, and of particular appeal to potential players, while the PGA Tour tournaments cut golfers with the worst scores after two rounds, LIV did not cut anyone.

What was the relationship between the leagues before the deal?

Acrimonious, to put it lightly. Players who joined LIV were forced to resign from the PGA Tour — and its European equivalent, the DP World Tour — under the threat of suspension and fines. LIV sued the PGA Tour, and the PGA Tour countersued, litigation that is technically continuing (though the deal is supposed to resolve it).

PGA Tour supporters and other critics of LIV said the venture was simply an attempt by the Saudi government to distract attention from its human rights record, while LIV supporters said the PGA Tour was a monopoly that used inappropriate strong-arm tactics to protect its position in big-time sports.

And yet now they are combining?

It seems so. The PGA Tour and LIV announced on June 6 the creation of a new entity that would combine their assets, as well as those of the DP World Tour, and radically change golf’s governance.

The PGA Tour would remain a nonprofit organization and would retain full control over how its tournaments are played. But all of the PGA Tour’s commercial business and rights — such as the extremely lucrative rights to televise its tournaments — would be owned by a new, yet unnamed, for-profit entity that is currently called “NewCo.” NewCo will also own LIV as well as the commercial and business rights of the DP World Tour.

The board of directors for the new for-profit entity would be led by Yasir al-Rumayyan, who is the governor of the Public Investment Fund and also oversees LIV. Three other members of the board’s executive committee would be current members of the PGA Tour’s board, and the tour would appoint the majority of the board and hold a majority voting interest, effectively controlling it.

What have they agreed on?

Not much, it turns out. The PGA Tour’s tentative deal with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund includes only a handful of binding commitments, such as a nondisparagement agreement and a pledge to dismiss acrimonious litigation. (The sides have already moved to end their legal fights .) What it does not include is a clear path of what lies ahead for the tours: Many of the most consequential details about the future of men’s professional golf have not been resolved, and were left to be negotiated by the end of the year.

Most crucially, the tour and the wealth fund must still come to terms on the values of the assets that each will contribute to their planned partnership. Bankers and lawyers have spent recent weeks beginning the valuation process, but a five-page framework agreement obtained by The New York Times includes no substantive details of projected figures or even the size of an anticipated cash investment from the wealth fund.

And one issue the two parties had agreed on has been removed. The framework agreement included a nonsolicitation clause, which said the PGA Tour and LIV Golf would not “enter into any contract, agreement or understanding with” any “players who are members of the other’s tour or organization.” But the two sides, facing pressure from the Justice Department, decided to abandon that clause .

When does this take effect?

First, the idea also has to be approved by the PGA Tour’s policy board, what it calls its board of directors, which includes some people who were left out of the secret negotiations for this deal in the spring.

The policy board is made up of five independent directors, including Ed Herlihy and Jimmy Dunne, who helped negotiate the deal. The board also includes five players: Patrick Cantlay, Charley Hoffman, Peter Malnati, Rory McIlroy and Webb Simpson.

Jay Monahan, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, said on June 6 that there was only a “framework agreement” and not a “definitive agreement,” with many details still to be decided. The definitive agreement needs a vote before it can go forward.

And for the rest of 2023, all the tours will remain separate, and all their tournaments will continue as scheduled.

And after that?

Who knows? This is how Monahan answered questions about what golf might look like in the future on the day the alliance was revealed.

Will LIV continue to exist as a separate golf league? “I don’t want to make any statements or make any predictions.”

Will LIV golfers go back to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour? “We will work cooperatively to establish a fair and objective process for any players who desire to reapply for membership with the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour,” Monahan wrote in a letter to players.

Will PGA Tour players, many of whom spurned LIV and its huge paydays, receive compensation? Will LIV players somehow be forced to give up the money they were guaranteed? “I think those are all the serious conversations that we’re going to have,” Monahan told reporters.

How do players feel about all of this?

Broadly, LIV players seem to think they have gained a major victory, and they are probably right. They got their cake (huge paydays) and can eat it (a pathway to returning to the PGA Tour), too.

Mickelson, the first major player to leave for LIV, tweeted that it was an “awesome day today.” Koepka took a jab at Brandel Chamblee, a former professional golfer and current television commentator, who has been vocally anti-LIV.

Many PGA Tour players were less jubilant. They were blindsided by the news, learning of the agreement when the public did, and they did not seem to understand why the tour waged a legal war against LIV and a war of morality against Saudi money, only to invite the wolf into the henhouse.

On the day the news broke, Monahan met with a group of players in Toronto at the Canadian Open, which was set to start in two days, and afterward told reporters it was “intense, certainly heated.”

Johnson Wagner, a PGA Tour player, said on the Golf Channel that some players at the meeting called for Monahan’s resignation.

“There were many moments where certain players were calling for new leadership of the PGA Tour, and even got a couple standing ovations,” he said. “I think the most powerful moment was when a player quoted Commissioner Monahan from the 3M Open in Minnesota last year when he said, ‘As long as I’m commissioner of the PGA Tour, no player that took LIV money will ever play the PGA Tour again.’”

Wagner estimated that 90 percent of the players in the meeting were against the merger.

McIlroy, perhaps the most influential PGA Tour player not named Tiger Woods, said he was reluctantly in favor of the agreement. McIlroy said he had “come to terms” with Saudi money in golf. “Honestly, I’ve just resigned myself to the fact that this is, you know, this is what’s going to happen,” he said.

I see a photo of former President Trump up there. Is he involved in this?

Yes, though not directly. The Trump Organization owns golf courses around the world, and Donald J. Trump has for years sought to host major tournaments on its properties. Those efforts suffered a setback after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, as the golf establishment distanced itself from the former president. Most significantly, the P.G.A. of America pulled the 2022 P.G.A. Championship from the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J.

But Trump had cultivated unusually close ties to Saudi Arabia while president, and Saudi-backed LIV had no problem embracing him. Last year, two LIV events were held at Trump courses, and this year it will be three.

Trump’s son Eric said that the agreement between LIV and the PGA Tour was a “wonderful thing for the game of golf” and that he expected tournaments to continue to be held at Trump-owned courses. He declined to comment on whether the Trump family played any role in bringing the two parties together.

If the PGA Tour was so against LIV and Saudi money, what changed?

“Listen, circumstances change, and they’ve been changing a lot over the last couple years,” Monahan said.

Get it? No?

“What changed? I looked at where we were at that point in time, and it was the right point in time to have a conversation,” Monahan said.

Between the lines, Monahan made it sound like the agreement came down to money and competition, as it often does. To compete with LIV, the PGA Tour has enhanced purses, supported the DP World Tour financially and pursued extremely expensive litigation. “We’ve had to invest back in our business through our reserves,” Monahan said.

He also said the ability to “take the competitor off of the board” while retaining control was significant.

Can anybody else stop the deal from going through?

The Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission or the European Commission could certainly try.

For about a year, the Justice Department has been investigating the tight-knit relationship between the PGA Tour and other powerful entities in golf. Among its questions is whether the organizations have exerted improper influence over the Official World Golf Rankings, which determine players’ eligibility for certain events and can be an important factor in their success and income.

As part of their deal, LIV and the PGA Tour agreed to drop their dueling lawsuits, but doing so would not necessarily change the Justice Department’s inquiry. If there were any illegal conduct by the PGA Tour, a merger would not prevent the PGA Tour from being punished for it.

“The announcement of a merger doesn’t forgive past sins,” said Bill Baer, who led the Justice Department’s antitrust division during the Obama administration.

The federal government, through the Justice Department and the F.T.C., also reviews more than 1,000 mergers for approval each year, and the European Commission reviews them for the European Union. Without a definitive agreement, it is not clear whether this might be the type of combination regulators could block or whether they would try to do so.

Saudi Arabia seems to have grand sports ambitions. Will it always remain a junior partner to the PGA Tour in golf?

As always, Saudi Arabia has the perfect vehicle to gain more control: money.

The Public Investment Fund will invest “billions,” according to its governor, al-Rumayyan, into the new for-profit entity. It will also hold “the exclusive right to further invest in the new entity, including a right of first refusal on any capital that may be invested in the new entity, including into the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and DP World Tour,” according to the release announcing the agreement.

If the Public Investment Fund invests more money, it will surely demand more board seats and greater voting rights, further tilting control of men’s professional golf toward the kingdom.

Kevin Draper is an investigative reporter on the Sports desk, where he has written about workplace harassment and discrimination, sexual misconduct, doping, league investigations and high-profile court cases. More about Kevin Draper

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Trials of a Paralympian :  Christie Raleigh Crossley has trained for most of her life to be an Olympic swimmer. After surviving two car crashes and a brain tumor, she is finally going for gold .

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Pga tour moves up tee times for final round of tour championship.

• Rex Hoggard ,
• Rex Hoggard

ATLANTA — The PGA Tour has moved up final round tee times Sunday at the Tour Championship in an attempt to avoid the potential for inclement weather.

Final-round tee times at East Lake will begin at 10:15 a.m. ET with the final group scheduled to tee off at 1 p.m., an hour earlier than originally scheduled.

Golf Channel’s “Pregame” coverage will begin at 10:30 a.m. ET with live final-round action starting at 11 a.m. Coverage will switch to NBC at 1 p.m.

Sunday’s forecast calls for a 45% chance of scattered thunderstorms. Play was delayed an hour and 35 minutes Friday because of inclement weather.

Tour Championship

East Lake Golf Club

Best golf courses near St. Petersburg, FL

Below, you’ll find a list of courses near St. Petersburg, FL. There are 30 courses within a 15-mile radius of St. Petersburg, 19 of which are public courses and 11 are private courses. There are 25 18-hole courses and 5 nine-hole layouts.

The above has been curated through Golf Digest’s Places to Play course database, where we have collected star ratings and reviews from our 1,900 course-ranking panelists. Join our community by signing up for Golf Digest+ and rate the courses you’ve visited recently.

Belleair Country Club: West

Belleair, fl.

The Pelican Golf Club: Pelican

Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club: Bardmoor

St. Petersburg Country Club: Saint Petersburg

Saint petersburg, fl.

Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club: Palma Ceia

Vinoy Golf Club

Clearwater Country Club: Clearwater

Clearwater, fl.

Pinecrest Golf Club: Pinecrest

Buffalo Creek Golf Course: Buffalo Creek GC

Palmetto, fl.

Rocky Point Golf Course: Rocky Point

Cove Cay Golf Club: Cove Cay

Mangrove Bay Golf Course: Mangrove Bay

Largo Golf Course: Largo

Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club: Isla Del Sol

Mainlands Golf Club: Mainlands

Pinellas park, fl.

Treasure Bay Golf & Tennis: Treasure Island

Treasure island, fl.

Pasadena Yacht & Country Club: Pasadena

Gulfport, fl.

Belleair Country Club: East

Palm Hill Country Club: Palm Hill

Moccasin Wallow Golf Club: Moccasin Wallow

Bay Palms Golf Complex: North Palms

Bayou Club: Bayou

Twin Brooks Golf Course: Twin Brooks

Riverside Club Golf & Marina Community: Riverside

East Bay Golf Club: East Bay

Find more courses near St. Petersburg, FL

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