A huge number of players perform to the best of their abilities on the PGA Tour. But how many golfers are on the PGA Tour? There are the more successful golfers who participate only in a few high-profile events while the others compete in the PGA Tour.
In 2021, about 200 players were allowed on the PGA Tour. But this number changes from one year to the next – it actually depends on how many golfers qualify, how many leave the Tour, and how many retire.
One thing is for certain though that earning that spot, that PGA Tour card is an exceptional achievement. And only the best of the best are able to get to that level!
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How Many Golfers Are on the PGA Tour?
A bunch of professional players compete every week on the PGA Tour. But there is a set number of golfers allowed to participate in this prestigious, world-renowned competition. During the start of the PGA Tour season, 144 players is the limit. But in the summer, the limit increases to 156 golfers.
These numbers vary from one tournament to another (Majors, World Golf Championship, etc.). For those, the limit is usually smaller where only top professionals are allowed to compete. This includes world-class golfers from the Asian and European Tours.
As for all the Major championships, they decide the number of players that get to participate.
Which Golfers Play on the PGA Tour?
Here’s some very interesting PGA Tour information coming your way. The PGA Tour is always on the lookout for top-class players. These golfers compete for the esteemed trophy and who takes it home depends on the player’s exemption status.
125 seasoned golfers receive complete PGA Tour exemption, which just means that they can choose to participate in any of the PGA Tour events or skip whichever they don’t want to play. These professionals are a part of around 20 to 30 events each year, it all depends on them.
Then there’s also conditional membership in the PGA Tour. This is for players who take part in only some events every year. More often than not, this happens when a few of the top 125 are not playing.
For Major championships, Tour golfers compete with each other while the ones that rank lower have a more limited status. Meaning the latter get to participate only in secondary events. In this case, the cup points and prize money are on the lower side. Regardless, these players are justified in considering themselves lucky since they get to show what they’re worth.
Golfers from other professional tournaments are also invited to the PGA Tour. Such as those that have competed in the DP World Tour Championship or players that have stood out in a WGC or Major event.
How to Compete on the PGA Tour?
If you’ve got the PGA Tour card, that’s like getting nominated for an Oscar. That means earning the card requires dedication, hard work, and a certain level of luck as well. The top 125 PGA Tour golfers from one season are given full access to the complete schedule of the professional, prestigious tournament.
After the PGA Tour, it’s the Korn Ferry Tour that ranks the highest. Over here, the top 30 players receive the PGA Tour card for the following season.
Then there’s the DP World Tour as well that gives first-rate golfers the opportunity to win the PGA Tour card for the upcoming season. The lucky ones are the top 10 players.
PGA Tour’s Q-School allows the top 5 golfers of the Final Stage to earn the PGA Tour card.
Another source includes the PGA Tour University Velocity Global Ranking (the #1 ranking player). Or the top-spot golfer in the PGA Tour or any Major event within a certain time frame. Or if you’ve acquired sufficient points from sponsor exemptions.
What Are the Benefits of the PGA Tour Card?
The biggest advantage of a PGA Tour card is that it lets you be an official participant in all PGA Tour events. But the entry also depends on the ranking system of each tournament since the field is limited.
However, if you’re just about to quality, you have enough opportunities for earning your spot in a higher number of tournaments. For the majority of PGA Tour events, there’s a qualifying competition before the commencement of the actual, official tournament. This gives players a fair chance to use their skills to make their way into extra events.
As a PGA Tour card holder, you also welcome the possibility of signing endorsements and sponsorships. And that’s a huge financial leap since these types of advertising contracts are hugely profitable.
By participating in the PGA Tour events, you get to increase your chances of winning game-changing monetary funds and also amassing enough points for retaining the card.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Many Golfers Are Allowed on the PGA Tour?
144 players or 156 players – that’s the limit on the PGA Tour. But it can be anywhere between 180 and 120 golfers a season as well.
How Many Players Qualify for the PGA Tour Championship?
The top-ranking 30 players qualify for the PGA Tour Championship.
Do Professional Players Pay Fees to Participate in the PGA Tour?
There are no fees to be paid to participate in the PGA Tour, except for around $50 for the locker per tournament.
Conclusion
It’s no easy feat acquiring the PGA Tour card and even when you do, it’s equally challenging to retain it. Hundreds and thousands of pro-level golfers in the world and only 156 of them get to be a part of the PGA Tour. There are a good number of opportunities to participate yet the field size is limited and is not likely to change for a very, very long time.
