Sorting out the Pro Tours

As a young man, I wanted to play on the PGA Tour more than anything. Reserving a position on the Tour was a simple, clean and understandable process back then. Golfers registered their names for the PGA Tour Q-School, sent in their entry fee check and tried to play their way onto the Tour through three levels of qualifying. There were local, regional and national qualifiers, none of which were easy; however, for those who did play well enough – tada! They were in. Every PGA Tour regulation event had a Monday qualifier, where any golf pro or upper-level amateur could attempt to qualify for one of four open spots. Tournament sponsors also had a fixed number of exemptions they could offer to other invitees.

Each year, Tour players had to finish the fiscal year within the Top-125 in annual earnings to maintain their PGA Tour cards. This is still true today. Aside from that, I am very confused on what else they are doing to get on and maintain PGA Tour cards. It is all very confusing with the PGA Tour playoffs, LIV merger, Korn Ferry Tour exemptions and the new “PGA Tour University.” All the while, sponsor exemptions are still available for regular Tour events.