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What Are the Requirements for a PGA Tour Card? 6 Ways to Earn One

Here are 6 ways to earn a PGA Tour card

• DESCRIPTION Ben Martin becomes Tour Bound
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In a lot of ways, getting a PGA Tour card is like winning the lottery. The path is simple, but the odds are against you. If you beat those odds, however, the payout is handsome.

To play as a member on the PGA Tour, you must have a PGA Tour card. Players earn their card by accomplishing one of several requirements. Here’s a breakdown of just how to earn a PGA Tour card, and six ways to snag one.

1. PGA Tour Q-School

PGA Tour Q-School used to be a direct path to the PGA Tour. Then Q-School stopped giving players PGA Tour cards, giving them status on the Korn Ferry Tour instead, where they could play for spots on the PGA Tour over the course of an entire season. But now, just like in years past, players can earn a PGA Tour card through Q-School and head straight to the PGA Tour. However, only the top five finishers from the final stage of Q-School earn PGA Tour cards and get to head directly to the PGA Tour.

Korn Ferry Tour: Strategies to Qualify and Challenges to Expect

2. Korn Ferry Tour Points

The most direct path to the PGA Tour is through the Korn Ferry Tour. While gaining Korn Ferry Tour status is no breeze in itself, once there, players have multiple avenues to earn their PGA Tour card.

There are 30 PGA Tour cards up for grabs through the Korn Ferry Tour each year. The top 30 players from the Korn Ferry Tour's season-long standings after the KFT Championship earn cards.

Getting into the Korn Ferry Tour is a process in itself, which can be accomplished through Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School , or via the Forme Tour , Mackenzie (Canadian) Tour, or the PGA Tour Latinoamerica.

3. Korn Ferry Tour Three-Win Promotion

Korn Ferry Tour players can jump directly to the PGA Tour through an exemption known as the Three-Win Promotion . This promotion is exactly what it sounds like, after three Korn Ferry Tour wins in one season, a player gains his PGA Tour card.

The three-win promotion has proven to be a tough route to the big tour, as only 12 players have accomplished the feat since 1997.

4. PGA Tour Special Temporary Membership

Players can bypass the Korn Ferry Tour and jump straight to the PGA Tour by gaining PGA Tour Special Temporary Membership, then parlaying that into a PGA Tour card.

The PGA Tour reserves a small number of spots each week for non-Tour members through sponsor exemptions and Monday qualifiers. Non-members who compete in PGA Tour events through these avenues and perform well enough can earn Special Temporary Membership by accumulating the amount of FedExCup points equal to the player who finished 150th on the FedExCup list the previous season.

Once a player has accepted Special Temporary Membership, they can accept unlimited sponsor exemptions into PGA Tour events and can earn their card by finishing in the top 125 of the FedExCup points list during the regular season.

Without Special Temporary Membership, non-members can only accept up to seven sponsor exemptions and compete in up to 12 PGA Tour events in a season.

Players on a Special Temporary Membership are not eligible for the FedExCup playoffs.

5. PGA Tour U Gets College Golfers to the PGA Tour

Through PGA Tour U , the PGA Tour has removed some hurdles for the top collegiate players who begin their transition into the professional ranks when their amateur careers end.

Top collegiate players in the final year of their college careers earn ranking points based on their performance in the NCAA Division I championship, PGA Tour events, major championships, and the Dubai Desert Classic. At the end of the season, five PGA Tour University first-team and second-team honorees are identified, along with 10 PGA Tour University third-team players. 

The top player earns PGA TOUR membership for the rest of the season, plus the followig season. The top five players earn Korm Ferry Tour membership for the rest of the season, a spot in the Final Stage of Q-School, and the opportunity to accept unlimited sponsor exemptions into PGA Tour events throug the following season.

Nos. 6-10 earn conditional Korn Ferry Tour status for the current season, an exemption into the North American portion of the PGA TOUR Americas schedule, and an exemption into Second Stage of Q-School.

The 10 third-team honorees get exemptions to the North America Swing of the PGA TOUR Americas and exemptions into the Second Stage of Q-School.

6. Win a PGA Tour Event or Major Championship

The fastest way to earn a PGA Tour card is also the least likely. Anybody who wins a PGA Tour event gets an immediate two-year PGA Tour exemption. This means that any non-member who gets into the field at a PGA Tour event via a sponsor exemption or Monday qualifier, and goes on to win that event, gets their PGA Tour card.

While yes, this path is extremely rare, it's exactly what Nick Dunlap did in 2024. He entered a PGA Tour event, the American Express, as an amateur, and despite the astronomica odds, won the tournament. Shortly after, Dunlap took advantage of his two-plus year PGA Tour exemption by turning pro.

Major champions get even more luxury, securing a five-year exemption to both the PGA Tour and European Tour. Three of the four major championships each year reserve spots for amateur players , meaning that theoretically an amateur could win the Masters, U.S. Open or Open Championship and secure their PGA Tour card for the next five years.

Benefits of a Tour Card

By having a PGA Tour card, a golfer can play in PGA Tour events. Many players also receive sponsor endorsements and advertising contracts. The PGA Tour card provides the player the opportunity to win large purses in tournaments . Players who make the cut in routine PGA Tour events generally cash at least a five-figure check, with that amount increasing with higher-stature events and major championships.

In 1965, the first PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament (called Q-School) was held and John Schlee won the event. In 1968 and 1969 and from 1975 to 1981, there were two tournaments each year.

Until 2013, Q-School was used to grant membership to the PGA Tour. From 2013 to 2023, Q-School served as a gateway to the Korn Ferry Tour, with PGA Tour Cards handed out through the Korn Ferry Tour regular season and finals.

Misconceptions

Many people think that if a player holds a PGA Tour Card, he can play in any event on the PGA tour. However, new PGA tour players are eligible for tournaments but players commit to tournaments based on their priority ranking. Players with lower priority rankings can only play an event when it's not already full by the time they have a chance to commit.

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College golfers can now earn PGA Tour cards before turning pro. Here's how

Michael Thorbjornsen smiles on the practice range during a practice round prior to the 122nd U.S. Open. The Stanford junior ranks first among amateurs in the PGA Tour's newly created PGA Tour Accelerated program that provides access to PGA Tour membership for college golfers.

Patrick Smith

For the first time, college and amateur golfers have a direct path to the PGA Tour based on their performance before turning professional. On Monday, at a regularly scheduled meeting ahead of this week’s RSM Classic, the PGA Tour Policy Board approved two measures providing new methods of access.

The first gives the top player in the final PGA Tour University Velocity Global Ranking full PGA Tour membership at the end of the college golf season in June. The change goes into effect next spring, allowing the No. 1 golfer in the 2022-23 ranking of college seniors— a spot currently held by Texas Tech’s Ludvig Aberg —to play as a fully exempt PGA Tour member through the end of 2023, including any fall events the tour conducts as it revises its schedule. Tour officials estimate the No. 1 player will be eligible to compete in 14 events starting with the RBC Canadian Open (June 8-11) and earn official FedEx Cup points.

MORE: Top college golfer explains why signing with agent now will pay dividends in spring

Additionally, the tour has created PGA Tour University Accelerated, a program for all college golfers that allows them to receive tour membership after earning a minimum number of points based off various performance benchmarks. Among them include earning national player-of-the-year honors, winning individual titles at various college and amateur tournaments, and playing in national team competitions and in PGA Tour events.

"Success at the highest levels of college and amateur golf has proven to be a strong indicator of a player's potential as a professional golfer,” Jay Moanahn, PGA Tour commissioner, said in a statement. “The first two classes of PGA Tour University alumni have shown us that these players are ready to compete and win immediately, and these two additions to the program further strengthen our commitment to college golf and will provide future stars with direct access to the PGA Tour.”

The changes are also seen as responses from the tour to keep top young players from being lured away by LIV Golf and its guaranteed contracts . This past summer, LIV signed reigning U.S. Amateur champion James Piot and a pair of college All-Americans in Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra and David Puig. In just his fifth start, Lopez-Chacarra won LIV Golf’s event in Bangkok, a claimed the $4 million first place prize money payout.

LIV also reported offered Texas senior Pierceson Coody, the No. 1 player in the 2022 PGA Tour University ranking, a lucrative contract that he said he turned down.

Ludvig Aberg, a senior at Texas Tech, is No. 1 in the latest PGA Tour University Velocity Global Ranking. If he holds the spot in the final ranking after June's NCAA Championship, he will earn a PGA Tour card for the remainder of 2023.

Octavio Passos

MORE: Why the PGA Tour needs to strengthen its ties to college golf

The adjustment in the PGA Tour University program, first implemented in the 2020-21 college season, doesn’t change the remaining rewards for players who finish in the top 20 of the final ranking in 2023. Nos. 2-5 will be exempt on the Korn Ferry Tour and into the final stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School while Nos. 6-10 receive conditional KFT membership. Nos. 6-20 also are exempt to play PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica and into the second stage of PGA Tour Q School. For the 2024 season and beyond, PGA Tour eligibility for PGA Tour University players has not yet been determined.

Tour officials noted that had the PGA Tour University ranking been in place prior to 2020, the players who would have ranked No. 1 would have included Jon Rahm (2016), Collin Morikawa (2019) and Sahith Theegala (2020).

Under the points structure created for PGA Tour Accelerated, three golfers since 2010 would have earned tour cards and been eligible to join the PGA Tour at the end of the college season: Patrick Cantlay (2012), Justin Thomas (2013) and Patrick Rodgers (2014).

Points for PGA Tour Accelerated can be earned with the following milestones:

• National college golf awards: Haskins, Hogan, Nicklaus D-I (3 points); top D-I freshman (2)
• Career-best World Amateur Golf Ranking: No. 1 = 5 points; No. 2 = 4; No. 3 = 3; No. 4 = 2; No. 5 = 1
• Tournament wins: D-I NCAA individual, U.S. Amateur, British Amateur (3 points); Western Amateur, European Amateur, Latin America Amateur, Asia-Pacific Amateur (2 points)
• Participation in a national team competition: Walker Cup (2 points); Palmer Cup, World Amateur Team Championship (1 point)
• Performance in official PGA Tour event or major championship (points accumulated for each of the following achievements): Made cut (1 point), top-10 finish (1 point), compete in major (1 point), made cut in major (1 point), top-20 in major (2 points)

The program begins retroactively, with the top three college players currently being Stanford junior Michael Thorbjornsen (12 points), Vanderbilt sophomore Gordon Sargent (10) and North Florida junior Nick Gabrelcik (4).

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Is It Really Just Top 70 Who Will Keep Their PGA Tour Cards in 2024?

By kathlene bissell | jul 12, 2023.

For the first time in 40 years, some high-earning PGA Tour players are going to be stressed about keeping their playing privileges. Next season, only the top 70 in FedEx points for this year will advance into 2024 in terms of being guaranteed a spot in any PGA Tour event.

However, it doesn’t mean those farther down the list won’t participate. It just means their guarantees or opportunities are different.

Those below 70 have five weeks, counting this one, to get inside that 70 number or their place at the PGA Tour table will go to someone else first. They will be farther down the money food chain. Except for exceptions.

For some, this looks serious. Right now, Justin Thomas is 70th. If he messes up between now and the Wyndham, just on the number alone, it looks like he could be in trouble. Adam Scott is 79th.  Gary Woodland is 98th. Jimmy Walker is 117th.

You’d think that some golfers, even major champions, have really heavy lifting to do, like Webb Simpson, who is mired in some kind of golf misery at a surprising 161st place. Francesco Molinari is 168th. PGA Tour Champions player Padraig Harrington is 172nd, but that is just for comparison because he mostly plays the older guys’ circuit now.

"However, some, like Jimmy Walker, aren’t so lucky. Walker is currently playing on a top 50 in career money exemption and really can’t afford to be this far down in the rankings…"

While it looks like doom and gloom, there are other forces at work here. Adam Scott, for instance, has exempt status for his victory at the Genesis Invitational. He doesn’t have to really grind this season.

But next year on the PGA Tour, he will need to.

Gary Woodland has another season or two on his exemption for winning the U.S. Open. But there’s a good chance he will miss out on the big cash grab at the FedEx Cup finale this year.

Francesco Molinari is in a similar situation. As a past British Open winner, he has a five-year exemption that works through next season. At that point, he can work to maintain his PGA Tour card or go back to the DP World Tour where he may never have to buy a glass of wine again because he’s the first and only Italian to win the British Open.

Similarly, for Justin Thomas. He just started working on his five-year exemption for winning last year’s PGA Championship. So, while he may want to get into the top 70 to advance in the FedEx Cup playoffs, it’s more of a matter of pride for him.  He doesn’t really have to worry about an exemption for 2024. He has one for that year and several that follow.

Webb Simpson has the golden ticket through 2026 from his victory at The Players, so even though he’s 161st, it doesn’t matter because he can play in any regular PGA Tour event and may qualify for some invitationals.

However, some, like Jimmy Walker, aren’t so lucky. Walker is currently playing on a top 50 in career money exemption and really can’t afford to be this far down in the rankings, although, with his pedigree as a past PGA Champion, it’s likely he will still make it onto the invitation list for many tournaments. Walker is now 44 and will be 45 in January. He may be biding his time until he can go to the original no-cut tour, PGA Tour Champions.

Padraig Harrington has made the jump to PGA Tour Champions but continues to straddle both Tours. He’s playing the Genesis Scottish Open this week, and as a former British Open champion, he’ll go on to Royal Liverpool the following week.

Harrington played on the PGA Tour from 2005 to 2022.

He is now a member of PGA Tour Champions with five victories in less than two full seasons. He’s a winner of three majors: the British Open twice and the PGA Championship once. He has won 15 tournaments in Europe and six in the U.S. and numerous in other countries. There’s a pretty good chance he can get an invitation to any PGA Tour event where he wants to play, whether he’s exempt or not.

However, regarding who is in the top 70 and who’s not, sometimes a top 70 isn’t really a top 70.  Sometimes, it’s infiltrated with major champs and players who have other kinds of exemptions, which is how many will find their way into tournaments next season and in subsequent years.

Steve Stricker's New Beer 'Strick 9'. dark. Next

So, from now on, Top 70 is important, but for some players, it’s not the only way they get into a tournament. There are plenty of different ways to secure playing spots, like being a past champion of an event.

But unless you are Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy, it can be hard to build a schedule without being top 70 or having a lengthy exemption for a victory.

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What Is A PGA Tour Card? (All You Need To Know)

Becoming a PGA Tour player is the pinnacle of professional golf. To be a part of this elite group, professionals need to work their way into earning a prestigious PGA Tour Card.

A PGA Tour Card is what players earn to play on the PGA tour. However, being able to play in a PGA tour event does not always require a PGA Tour Card.

Given that there are many nuisances to PGA Tour Cards and what they mean for eligibility, there are a lot of questions that surround what having a PGA Tour Cards actually means.

In the article below, we’ll cover how many cards are available, how golfers earn a card, can players lose their card, and so much more.

If you are interested in learning all there is to know about PGA Tour Cards, keep reading below for a complete guide!

How Do Players Get Their PGA Tour Cards?

New players need to work their way into the PGA Tour. This happens by playing in Korn Ferry Tour, a developmental league for rising stars as well as a league for players kicked out of the PGA tour due to poor play. The top 30 players in the Korn Ferry Tour will earn their PGA Tour Cards.

Current PGA Tour Card holders keep their PGA Tour Card from winning PGA tournaments, placing highly in the FedEx Cup rankings, or through exemptions by hitting certain milestones. There are also medical exemptions which protect players with an injury from losing their tour status.

Winning on tour is the best way to get and keep a PGA Tour Card. A great example of this is the PGA Championship.

Players who win the PGA Championship receive a lifelong exemption to play in the tournament.

PGA Tournament Champions also secure a spot in the Masters, Open Championship and US Open for the subsequent 5 years along with a PGA Tour card for the next 5 years.  

Winning on tour is tough, so many players rely on FedEx Cup  rankings to stay eligible.

FedEx Cup rankings take each players tournament performance to calculate their rankings, with wins and top finishes receiving a higher point value.

Is There An Actual PGA Tour Card?

Yes, PGA Tour players get a physical PGA Tour Card when they make it on tour. However, PGA Tour players do not need to show their card to enter events .

Tournament officials will know before the event who has qualified to play.

So, what does a PGA Tour card look like? It is a small, rectangular plastic issued to professional golfers who have earned their playing privileges for the PGA Tour.

The card typically features the PGA Tour logo prominently displayed, along with the player’s name, and other relevant information such as the player’s tour status and the year in which the card is valid.

How Many PGA Tour Cards Are There?

The number of active PGA Tour players can vary by definition. The best way to look at it is the number of available tour cards each year.

125 golfers will maintain their PGA Tour Cards each year along with 30 players from the Korn Ferry Tour being promoted up into the PGA Tour.

This means that there are 155 active tour players during a given golf season.

Does this mean that only 155 players are able to play in a PGA Tour event?

Well, not exactly.  There are other ways to play on tour which we will cover in the next section.  

Do You Need A PGA Tour Card To Play In A PGA Event?

You do not need a tour card to play in a PGA sponsored event. Player can play into tournaments by winning Monday qualifiers or earn exceptions through sponsors.

Monday qualifiers are essentially a mini day tournament where the top finishers are allowed to play in the tournament.

These spots for these qualifiers are typically reserved for players right outside of qualifying for the tour such as up and coming Korn Ferry players or prior PGA Tour Card holders.

Special exemptions are very different from qualifiers. The tournament sponsors essentially can pick individuals to play in their event.

Past winners or a local PGA Pro may be invited to play without the proper qualifications to enter the event.

Can Players Lose Their PGA Tour Card?

The unfortunate reality is that every year PGA Tour player lose their eligibility. You may wonder who gets to keep their PGA Tour Card each year.

As we covered above, PGA Tour status is determined by FedEx standings, promotion from the Korn Ferry Tour, or by PGA Tour tournament wins.

Players in the top 125 of the FedEx Cup are eligible for a PGA Tour Card. Golfers who fall outside the top 125 must work their way back into good standing.

Players that finish 126–150 in the standings are given conditional status on tour and full status on the Korn Ferry Tour. These players can play in PGA tour events if spots are available in the field.

How Much Does A PGA Tour Card Cost?

There is a lot of money to be made on the PGA Tour. Earning a PGA Tour Card is a green light to make some serious cash if you have the nerves to compete.

Given this ability to earn, you might think that the PGA Tour would charge its players a premium for the privilege of playing, but this is not the case.

There is no cost to be a member of the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour makes its money from TV contracts and sponsorship, not membership dues.

The PGA wants to have the best players in the world in their events. Charging golfers an entry fee is nothing compared to the earnings they receive from their TV deals and event sponsors.

Check out our article on PGA Tour Expenses if you are interested in learning more about what it costs to be a tour player.

Final Thoughts

Qualifying for a PGA Tour Card is tough work. Promotion from the Korn Ferry Tour is almost as challenging as competing in the PGA.

Players need to be dedicated to the game to earn the right to play on tour.

Keeping a card is equally as tough. Players need to continually perform at a high level to keep their PGA Tour Card or win a major championship to ensure longevity on tour, both of which are monumental accomplishments.

Once a player gets on tour the winnings can be extraordinary.

The PGA Tour is truly the best of the best and so are the winnings. Its no wonder why players work their whole lives to get on tour.

Hopefully you liked this article and found it informative. Check out our other  blog posts if you liked this one!

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How to get a PGA Tour Card: Requirements And Routes

In the realm of professional golf, the global elite competes fiercely on the prestigious stage of the PGA Tour. A PGA Tour card, the ultimate pass, opens the gateway to this world of excellence, allowing golfers to challenge the best, reap rewards, and showcase talents.

Yet, how does one secure a PGA Tour card? While numerous avenues exist, such as accruing FedEx Cup points and excelling in the Korn Ferry and DP World Tour, a comprehensive grasp is essential. 

Let’s navigate through the requirements and pathways to obtain your PGA Tour card.

I. What is a PGA Tour card?

A PGA Tour card is essentially a membership pass that grants professional golfers the right to participate in PGA Tour events throughout the season. It is a symbol of recognition for a golfer’s exceptional skill and hard work, allowing them to compete alongside some of the most accomplished names in the sport.

The journey to securing this card is both demanding and rewarding, encompassing various routes that cater to different skill levels and circumstances. 

II. How to get a PGA tour card?

Obtaining a PGA Tour card requires meeting specific criteria and demonstrating success in professional golf. Here are some ways to become a PGA tour player:

• Finish in the top 30 positions on the previous season’s Korn Ferry Tour finals.
• Get into the top 10 on the previous season’s DP World Tour.
• Finish within the top 5 at the Final Stage of Q-School.
• Achieve the number one ranking at the end of the PGA Tour University Velocity Global Ranking.
• Earn points through sponsor exemptions.
• Win a PGA Tour event or Major within a specified timeframe.

Here’s an overview of the pathways to access the 2024 PGA TOUR:

III. Understanding different routes to get a PGA Tour Card

Let’s delve into a comprehensive explanation of the different routes to acquiring a PGA Tour card to give you a clear understanding of the process:

1. Korn Ferry Tour

The Korn Ferry Tour emerges as a direct path when aiming for the prestigious PGA Tour. Achieving Korn Ferry Tour status is a substantial accomplishment, unlocking numerous routes to secure a PGA Tour card. Let’s delve into this journey, exploring its significance.

i) Korn Ferry Tour Points and Playoffs

Annually, the Korn Ferry Tour offers 30 coveted PGA Tour cards. The top 30 players from the points list of 2023, secure direct PGA Tour cards for 2024 PGA Tour. Their consistent performance marks them as prime contenders.

iI) Korn Ferry Tour Three-Win Promotion

For those who demonstrate exceptional dominance, the Korn Ferry Tour offers an intriguing shortcut to the PGA Tour: the Three-Win Promotion.

This exemption acknowledges an extraordinary achievement: clinching three Korn Ferry Tour victories within a single season. The reward for this exceptional feat is an instant elevation to the coveted PGA Tour.

While the Three-Win Promotion seems like a direct route, it’s no walk in the park. Only a select few have conquered this path, with a mere 12 players accomplishing this remarkable feat since 1997.

2. DP World Tour

In 2022, the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour formed a strategic alliance, establishing a fresh path for players to acquire PGA TOUR status through their DP World Tour performance.

In this partnership, the highest-ranked players in the Dubai rankings, who don’t already hold PGA TOUR status, get a chance to secure PGA TOUR cards. This collaborative initiative amplifies chances for players to ensure a smooth transition between the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, broadening their potential for golfing success.

3. Q-School

Players aiming for a PGA Tour card can go through Q-School. It involves Pre-Qualifying, First Stage, Second Stage, and Final Stage qualifying rounds. Top 5 and ties from the Final Stage get PGA Tour spots, while those outside the top 5 gain Korn Ferry Tour status.

4. PGA Tour University

The No. 1 player on the PGA TOUR University Velocity Global Ranking becomes a PGA TOUR member. Seniors who meet the criteria are included. 

Benchmarks for juniors, sophomores, and freshmen lead to PGA TOUR membership via the Accelerated program. These players earn FedExCup points, get into the Q-School Final Stage, and have a Korn Ferry Tour membership.

5. Sponsor Exemptions

Players without official status can gain a tour card through sponsor exemptions . With good results, they earn enough points for the next season. Young talents or amateurs with promise can benefit, like Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth.

6. Win a PGA Tour or Major Championship

Winning an event on the PGA Tour or a major championship automatically grants a PGA Tour card. 

A standard PGA Tour win comes with a 2-year exemption , while elevated events like World Golf Championships and the Tour Championship offer a 3-year exemption. Major championship winners earn exemptions to both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.

IV. Tour card exemptions

Players can also earn a PGA Tour card through various exemptions.

• Lifetime Exemption: Players with 20+ wins on PGA Tour
• Five-Year Exemption: Major winners, The Players Championship winners, and FedEx Cup winners
• Three-Year Exemption: Victors of specific tournaments (like the Korn Ferry tour)

V. How to get into Korn Ferry tour?

Now that the significance of Korn Ferry Tour wins in the journey to a PGA Tour card is apparent, the question of how to access this realm naturally arises. Entering the Korn Ferry Tour events involves diverse paths:

• Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School: This rigorous evaluation stands as a primary gateway. Players who excel in the Qualifying School secure their coveted spot on the Korn Ferry Tour.
• Forme Tour, Mackenzie (Canadian) Tour, or PGA Tour Latinoamerica: Triumph in these circuits holds the power to propel golfers onto the Korn Ferry Tour. These diverse routes provide multifaceted avenues for progression.

VI. Benefits of PGA Tour Card

Here’s a list of benefits that come with getting a PGA Tour card:

1. Access to Prestigious Tournaments

• Entry into major tournaments like The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship.
• Opportunity to compete on iconic courses and against the world’s top players.

2. Enhanced Visibility and Recognition

• Global recognition as the PGA Tour players.
• Increased fan base, media coverage, and social media following.

3. Financial Rewards

• Potential for substantial prize money even for mid-tier finishes.
• Opportunities for endorsement deals and sponsorships.

4. Exposure and Brand Building

• Opportunity to build a personal brand and expand off-course ventures.
• Public speaking engagements, golf clinics, and media appearances.

5. Competitive Edge

• Exposure to high-pressure situations builds mental fortitude.
• Playing among the best hones skills and develops a strong mindset.

6. Networking and Mentorship

• Interaction with seasoned professionals, coaches, and sponsors.
• Building valuable relationships that can impact one’s career.

In 2024, significant changes have been made to the requirements for obtaining a PGA Tour card. Previously, there were 50 Tour Cards available from Korn Ferry, with no tour cards coming from the DP World Tour. 

However, the new rules introduce additional routes to the PGA Tour, thereby expanding opportunities for players to qualify. This alteration signifies a shift in the PGA Tour card acquisition landscape, providing players with fresh avenues to pursue their aspirations.

About The Author

Jeff is a passionate golfer and a gear junkie. He loves experimenting with new golf clubs and is always looking for ways to improve his game. With a handicap of 8.5, he specializes in full swing, but more importantly, the short game!

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PGA Tour cards, huge LPGA payday, Transatlantic double: 8 things to watch for Sunday

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There's plenty of intrigue across the golf world Sunday.

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It may be the “offseason” but there’s plenty at stake as three of the world’s biggest global golf tours wrap up their seasons on Sunday.

The PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and DP World Tour all will play the final official rounds of the 2023 seasons at the RSM Classic , CME Group Tour Championship and DP World Tour Championship, respectively.

As each steams toward a climax for the season, storylines abound.

Here are the TK biggest storylines we’ll be watching Sunday, on what figures to be a jammed packed day of golf.

DP World Tour Championship

TV/Streaming: 1:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. ET – Golf Channel/Peacock

Viktor Hovland seeks a rare Transatlantic double

Viktor Hovland has been on an absolute tear since May. The Norwegian finished second at the PGA Championship and then doubled his career PGA Tour win total on his way to claiming the season-long FedEx Cup title.

While he can’t win the season-long Race to Dubai title and join Rory McIlroy as the only players to win both major tour’s order of merit in the same season (McIlroy clinched it after last week), he can accomplish something the Ulsterman hasn’t.

Viktor Hovland’s unique offseason reminds us why he’s easy to root for

Hovland, who enters the final round of the DP World Tour Championship one shot back of leader Matt Wallace, can become the first player since Henrik Stenson in 2013 to win the Transatlantic double , by capturing both the PGA Tour’s and European Tour’s Tour Championships.

“It’s been a crazy year,” Hovland said. “It kind of feels like it has been the off-season. I have had six weeks off.

“This is another big one and would be really nice to have on the resumé and I feel like I’m playing some good golf.”

It would also be his fourth worldwide win of 2023, tying him with Jon Rahm for the most.

Tommy Fleetwood looking for breakthrough victory

Very few golfers have played as well as Tommy Fleetwood over the past two seasons with less to show for it.

The Englishman and World No. 15 has 17 top-10s since the start of 2022, including his first win on the DP World Tour since 2019, but he is still searching for a PGA Tour win.

While he can’t accomplish that this week in Dubai, he could collect by far the biggest win of his career as he’ll start Sunday tied for second with Hovland at 15 under. Both golfers will chase Matt Wallace, we posted an immaculate, nine-birdie back nine 27 Saturday to grab the lead by one.

RSM Classic (PGA Tour)

TV/Streaming: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Golf Channel/Peacock

Ludvig Aberg in command for first PGA Tour win

Ludvig Aberg began Saturday in the lead by one at the RSM Classic. Ludvig Aberg shot 61 Saturday. Ludvig Aberg will still lead by one to begin Sunday.

Yea, you got that all right.

On a day of wild scoring at Sea Island, when the top four places on the leaderboard shot 61, 61, 60 and 62, Aberg hung on to pole position as the budding Swedish superstar seeks his first PGA Tour victory.

You may recall Aberg got his maiden DP World Tour victory earlier this year on the eve of the European Ryder Cup captain’s selections at the Omega European Masters. Now he’s got a chance to cap his rookie season on the PGA Tour with a victory as well.

That could also complicate what was seemingly a cut-and-dry PGA Tour Rookie of the Year decision.

Rookie of the Year debate

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After a debut campaign in which he racked up six top-10s, including five top-5s, Eric Cole enters the final round at Sea Island looking to lock up the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Player of the Year award.

The award was seemingly Cole’s for the taking entering the week as he was the only Rookie to make the field at the BMW Championship and secure spots in all of 2024’s Signature Events. However, an Aberg win might be enough to steal the award away from the former mini-tour legend.

The two will be paired together in the final group Sunday at Sea Island along with Mackenzie Hughes, who posted a 60 Saturday to sit solo third, one behind Cole at 19 under and two behind Aberg.

PGA Tour card crunch

For first time in RSM Classic history, PGA Tour cards will be secured or lost on Sunday .

With the Top 125 in the FedEx Cup Fall rankings retaining full status on the PGA Tour next year and top 150 retaining conditional status, it’s officially do-or-die Sunday in Georgia.

7 pros in danger of losing their PGA Tour cards at the RSM Classic this week

After three rounds, just one player, No. 128 Ryan Moore, has played his way into the top 125, moving up to 120th in the projected standings on the strength of his current tie for 8th.

Moore’s move has bumped Troy Merritt out of the projected Top 125, although Merritt being a past PGA Tour winner means he can play out of the past champion category next season if he chooses.

Another player to watch for is Peter Kuest, a special temporary member who entered the week needing to finish with more non-member FedEx Cup points than No. 125 on the final points list. He came into the week needing 155 points, likely meaning a share of third or better and he’ll enter the final round in a tie for eighth, five back of that position.

Kevin Tway has also made a big move up the projected standings, moving from 161st to 147th after a third-round 63 to share eighth as well.

Signature Event berths

A win this week gets a player into the first event of next season at the Sentry at Kapalua, but this is also the final event to finalize the “Next 10” players who will earn spots in the next two Signature events of 2024, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Invitational.

Heading into the week, the “Next 10” was Beau Hossler, Matt Kuchar, Hughes, Ben Griffin, Taylor Montgomery, Nick Hardy, Alex Smalley, Luke List, J.J. Spaun and Sam Ryder.

A win by Aberg would move him up to 54th and bump out Spaun. Ryder is in a good position to hang onto his spot as he is currently tied for fifth.

CME Group Tour Championship (LPGA)

TV/Streaming: 8:50 AM to 3 PM – ESPN+ Featured Group Coverage

1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – NBC/Peacock

Birdie-fest for $2 million

Tiburon Golf Club has become a race track as two players share a three-shot lead over the field at the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship.

Amy Yang and Nasa Hataoka are tied at the top at 21 under. The 72-hole record at the Tour Championship, which offers a $2 million first-place prize, was set just two years ago at 23 under.

The hidden meaning behind ESPN and LPGA’s promising new TV deal

Alison Lee started the third round tied with Hataoka for the lead and shot 68, but that wasn’t enough to keep pace with Hataoka’s 65 or Yang’s 64 and she now finds herself as the closest pursuer at 18 under.

LPGA Player of the Year race

Lilia Vu has all but locked up the LPGA’s player of the year race as she has a chance to add to her already impressive four wins on the season.

Celine Boutier was the only player who could challenge the World No. 1, but Boutier will enter the final round trailing by 14 shots in a tie for 35th. Meanwhile, Vu heads into Sunday in joint seventh, but still seven shots off the pace.

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Staff picks: who wins the open championship on sunday, billy horschel leading open with hat maneuver he was 'blasted' for, shane lowry gets 'massive, massive' break when wayward shot hits open marshal, 2 rookies were struggling. then came shane lowry's memorable gesture.

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at [email protected] .

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'It all adds up' - Ewen Ferguson on what big weekend in Open could do for his PGA Tour card bid

‘If I know who's just ahead of me, I know who I need to beat and I'm always thinking about it’

Bogey-free rounds on Saturdays in majors never go wrong. In Ewen Ferguson’s case, his one in the 152nd Open could end up getting him over the line in his bid to be playing alongside Bob MacIntyre on the PGA Tour next season.

Boosted by his recent win in the BMW International Open in Munich, the Bearsden man has entered the second half of the DP World Tour season in the reckoning to be among the latest group of ten players to secure cards for the US circuit off the Race to Dubai Rankings.

“Absolutely,” declared Ferguson, who signed for a one-under 70 for a four-over total, to being asked how important a big weekend for him in the season’s final major could be as far as his end goal for this season is concerned. “It all adds up, like making the cut, what is it, 10,000 points? I don't know how many points are up for grabs compared to the regular events, which is 3,000.

“It's so big. It's in the back of my mind I'm playing for them, I'm trying, can I get up there. If I know who's just ahead of me, I know who I need to beat and I'm always thinking about it.

“Yeah, a PGA Tour card is my ultimate goal and I'd love to be there. Not that I don't enjoy playing on the DP World Tour; I do love that, too, but I’m just trying to push and get better all the time.”

After his second round, having initially felt he’d be coming up one short of making the cut before making it through with a shot to spare after scores soared in the high winds later in the day, Ferguson had talked about how his “body was broken”.

Asked about his recovery process, the three-time DP World Tour winner said: “Ice bath last night and physio. Had Therabody on my legs, trying to squeeze out all the lactic acid.”

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Laurie canter returned to dp world tour after stint with liv and won and could earn a 2025 pga tour card — but will he be allowed to play there, share this article.

TROON, Scotland – Not even the rain that fell as he played the back nine at  Royal Troon Golf Club could dampen the spirits of Laurie Canter after shooting 1-under 70 in the third round of the 152 nd British Open . Canter smiled wide at the thought of earning a PGA Tour card through the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai standings.

“That would be awesome, wouldn’t it? To play on the PGA Tour is something I would love to do at some point,” he said.

Canter, a 34-year-old Englishman, is trying to do a first: go from LIV Golf to the DP World Tour and then earn a spot on the PGA Tour via a pathway opened for players last year to procure status on the PGA Tour with their play on the DP World Tour.

Before Canter could return to the DP World Tour, he had to pay his fines which he said LIV Golf took care of and totaled £725,000. How that money would be used, he didn’t know.

What Canter did next could be life-changing: he won the European Open in Germany and entered the week No. 13 in the DP World Tour Race to Dubai rankings. Ten PGA Tour cards are available to the highest-ranked players in the final Race to Dubai standings who don’t already hold Tour status for finishing in the top 125 of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The likes of Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Ludvig Aberg, Adam Scott and Tommy Fleetwood therefore wouldn’t count in the top 10, meaning he’s currently eighth, though there is a long way to go.

But even if he were to earn his PGA Tour card, Canter said he’s been notified that even though he’s a non-member (and thus not suspended) he’s ineligible for PGA Tour competition for playing on LIV.

Canter was a founding member of LIV Golf and played on the Cleeks in 2022. But he lost his roster spot in 2023 and played as a reserve. He managed to compete in 11 of the 14 events and finished 44 th in the standings. He lost out in a 3-for-2 playoff to join a team this season. Nevertheless, he played in the first two events this season at Mayakoba and Las Vegas, but has since returned to the DP World Tour.

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“It’s been amazing to come back and play full time on the DP World Tour, and I’m thankful I can do that,” Canter said Saturday. “In that respect I’m one of the lucky ones, and I’ll just keep chasing it the rest of the year and hopefully try and finish as high up the list as I can.”

Canter said he would be strictly playing the DP World Tour and honor its rules.

“Once the arbitration business, it was like them the rules,” Canter said of the legal battle that allowed the Euro Tour to be able to suspend and fine  LIV Golf  players who featured in conflicting events without permission.

Canter’s victory at the European Open, his first on the DP World Tour, has him in position to earn a PGA Tour card much the way that MacIntyre and Matthieu Pavon played their way onto the American-based circuit and parlayed status into victories as rookies this season. But the PGA Tour has blocked LIV golfers from playing on the tour and hasn’t been clear in sharing what the path back might be. Asked if he knew if he would be allowed to play on the PGA Tour should he earn his card, Canter said he was sent an email detailing that his dream to compete there would be deferred and his start date on the Tour would be backdated from his last unauthorized start. The Tour confirmed that to be accurate.

“I would have to serve a year from the time of my final LIV event,” he said. “That would be a year after this year’s LIV Las Vegas (in February during Super Bowl weekend).”

“I thought it was absurd,” he added. “I’ve never played on the PGA Tour.”

But thanks to his win in Germany, Canter may have to serve a suspension for his LIV participation anyway. Still, a Tour card has never seemed more possible.

“It’s kind of slightly moved the goal posts for me,” he said of being in the mix for one of the 10 cards through the Strategic Alliance between the two tours. “I’ve got something to aim for, and that would be great, yeah.”

Canter has a unique perspective having played both LIV and DP World Tour and he said there is room for both.

“I like both formats. Can I say that? Are you allowed to say that these days, like you actually like both things? I really do,” he said. “I think the four-round, what we grew up watching, the kind of hearty cuts, and you see (Max) Homa’s reaction yesterday, that’s awesome. As a professional when I see that, I think that’s amazing, that something like that still happens in golf. That should always be the staple of the big tournaments.

“But I love the LIV stuff. I love the three rounds, and you’re bringing a kind of different energy. I think it has the potential to be so exciting for fans, especially if the team thing can keep picking up some momentum. I really think it could be cool. I’m firmly on the middle of the fence because I actually like both.”

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Matteo Manassero's comeback now includes thoughts of PGA TOUR card

After second-round 63 at genesis scottish open, declared desire to play global schedule.

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NORTH BERWICK, Scotland – When his game was in a freefall and he dropped all the way to world No. 1,805, Matteo Manassero bounced between the Alps Tour and Challenge Tour as he tried to piece his game back together.

Today, he is eligible for majors again, will play for Italy in the upcoming Paris Olympics, and is 10th in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai Rankings – PGA TOUR Eligibility Ranking. If the season ended now, Manassero, 31, would earn a PGA TOUR card for 2025, affording him the luxury of playing the two biggest tours in the world simultaneously.

“There is such a long way to go still,” Manassero said with a laugh after shooting 63 to reach 10-under par, two behind leader Ludvig Åberg, at the Genesis Scottish Open on Friday. “But yeah, playing on both tours has been something I wanted to do since I nearly got my card for 2014-15, and it’s something I would like to do now.

“It’s an achievement that comes from an amazing season,” he continued, “and the guys that have done that step this year are doing well, so that proves a lot of things.”

Matthieu Pavon and Robert MacIntyre, each of whom got their PGA TOUR cards via the Race to Dubai Rankings, won this year’s Farmers Insurance Open and RBC Canadian Open, respectively.

Playing on the biggest stages once seemed like Manassero’s birthright. At 16, he finished T13 at the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry, where he played the first two rounds alongside then-59-year-old Tom Watson. He made the cut at the 2010 Masters, was among the top 30 in the world, and racked up four DP World Tour victories.

Then, as quickly as he arrived, Manassero vanished, a prodigy overcome by doubt. One bad week led to the next, and soon he lost his DP World Tour status. He made big changes, he said, in 2019, and while the game was slow to come back to him, it did return. He won twice on the Challenge Tour last season, and in March broke a nearly 11-year win drought with his fifth DP World Tour victory at the Jonsson Workwear Open in South Africa.

“Lots of people were supportive,” Manassero said. “There is not that much that people outside can do. It comes from you wanting to change things and taking the decisions at the end. It’s not simple. Like, ‘Why are you playing bad?’ It’s a lot of things.”

Matteo Manassero confidentially pours in 24-foot birdie at Genesis Scottish Open

At one point, Manassero called Francesco Molinari, the ne plus ultra of Italian golf, to ask if he had any ideas on how to cobble his game back together.

“He’s kind of a younger brother to me,” Molinari said after a second-round 69 got him to 5-under overall at The Renaissance Club. “When he came out in 2016, we spent a lot of time together, and then we sort of went separate ways. I don’t know everything he went through, but it’s incredible to see him back hitting the shots and playing like he was before all the tough times.

“There was a time when he started going downhill and he was looking for a coach, and he asked me for my advice,” Molinari continued. “He rebuilt himself on his own and needs the credit.”

(Manassero works with Søren Hansen, the Dane who coaches Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard.)

Cleaning up some of his first-round mistakes, Manassero carded eight birdies and just one bogey at The Renaissance Club on Friday. Now he’s got a chance to win for the second time this year.

He’s also back to playing majors again. Although he missed the cut at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst last month, more importantly, it was his first major start in nearly eight years. And he’s proud that his overall body of work this season – three top-10 finishes and his win – got him into next week’s Open Championship at Troon.

He’s no longer 16, but maybe that’s a good thing.

“It's much easier to put things in perspective after you've been through more difficult times,” he said. “… I know much more about me on the golf course, and I think I can handle myself a lot better, and enjoy more the good things that come, and be a little more prepared for the future.”

Cameron Morfit is a Staff Writer for the PGA TOUR. He has covered rodeo, arm-wrestling, and snowmobile hill climb in addition to a lot of golf. Follow Cameron Morfit on Twitter .