Everybody knows that the PGA Tour is a professional golfing association that hosts tournaments for the best golfers all over the world. But every year, the number of golfers on the Tour varies as professional players gain or lose their PGA Tour cards.
That means to compete on the Tour, a golfer must meet certain requirements.
So let’s find out what those requirements are and how a player can go about achieving a PGA Tour card.
Table of Contents
About the PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is one of the most prestigious and oldest golf tours in the world. It was founded back in 1916, making it one of the oldest professional sports tours today.
Not many know this but the Tour actually began as a small, regional affair and has since blossomed into a global phenomenon. Today, the PGA Tour includes tournaments not only in the United States, but also Canada, Europe, and Asia.
The PGA Tour has a pretty long history. Some of the greatest golfers in the world have competed on the Tour – the list includes Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer.
Over the years, the Tour has seen its share of ups and downs. But through it all, the prestigious tournament has remained one of the most respected and popular golf tours of the world.
The PGA Tour is organized into various tournaments and events. Each event has its own set of rules and regulations, as well as prize money for the winners.
In addition to the standard tournament events, there are also other special tournaments. For example, the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, Senior Tour Championship, and The Players Championship.
All of these events provide professional golfers the chance to compete against some of the best players in the world.
In addition to that, the PGA Tour is also known for its commitment to charity and giving back. Over the years, it has donated millions of dollars to various causes and organizations around the globe. This generosity, no doubt, has helped people in need and made a positive impact in many communities.
How Do Players Qualify for a PGA Tour Card
To obtain a PGA Tour card, a golfer must first meet the eligibility requirements. These include being a professional golfer and gaining a certain level of playing ability.
The PGA also has a set of standards that players must meet to maintain their Tour card, including things like upholding the image of the Tour and adhering to its professional code of conduct.
Once a player has met the eligibility requirements, they must then qualify through one of several routes. The most common route is via the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament (Q-school).
In this tournament, players compete on a 72-hole golf course over four days and the top25 finishers earn their Tour cards.
Alternatively, players also get the opportunity to qualify by finishing in the top 150 on the PGA Tour money list or in the top 75 on the Web.com Tour money list for that season.
These Tour cards are valid for one year and must be renewed each year through one of the ways mentioned above. Players can make their way into some Tour events through Monday qualifiers, invitations, and sponsors’ exemptions as well.
When on the PGA Tour, golfers are paid a guaranteed sum amount of money each year. How much they earn depends on how many tournaments they participate in and their finish position in those events.
Players are also eligible for various bonuses based on their performance throughout the season, including things like top 10 finishes or winning certain tournaments.
Finally, players who end the season in the top 125 of the FedEx Cup standings are eligible to compete in the next year’s playoffs. They must then finish as one of the top 30 after four playoff events to qualify for The Tour Championship.
This is where all season-long points and prize money culminates and can potentially determine who is crowned the FedEx Cup champion.
Altogether, obtaining a PGA Tour card and competing on the Tour can be a long and challenging process, but it opens up many opportunities for professional golfers around the world.
How Many Players On PGA Tour Each Year?
The PGA Tour is a highly competitive golfing event that includes some of the best, world-class players. Each year, the Tour brings together a varying number of professional golfers competing in its events.
For example, according to pgatour.com, there were 155 players on the Tour at the beginning of the 2018 season. However, the number can now vary based on a player’s performance and how they qualify for the Tour.
Similarly, according to wikipedia.org, there were 153 players on the tour as of October 2017. Once again, how many professional golfers throughout the year depends as players join and leave the Tour.
In any given year, there are generally around 150–200 professional golfers competing on the PGA Tour. This includes some of the top names in golf as well as up-and-coming players looking to make their mark.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the PGA Tour is one of the most competitive and prestigious golfing events in the world. To qualify for a Tour card, players must meet certain eligibility requirements.
As for the number of professional golfers on the Tour, this number varies each year but generally falls between 150 and 200 players. So you see how competitive professional golfing events can be. Becoming a part of the PGA Tour requires not only skill but also dedication and hard work.
