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The curious life of a PGA Tour rules official

As a trio of recognizable rules officials head to retirement, we talked to them about what they've seen—and heard—in their lengthy careers.

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 10: Matthew Fitzpatrick of England speaks to Rules Official Mark Russell before putting on the 15th hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 10, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR)

Keyur Khamar

Editor's Note: You can listen to this story as a podcast.

Suppose for a minute you’re a PGA Tour pro in contention on Sunday. Things are going smoothly until one loose shot causes your golf ball to wind up on a cart path. You know you get relief, but where you’re going to drop now possibly brings a grandstand into play. And wait, shouldn’t that be considered ground under repair?

Suddenly, you’re thinking about a lot more than winning a golf tournament. You’re worried about incurring a penalty. An embarrassing, possibly reputation damaging penalty. And at the very least, a very, very costly penalty.

With stakes that high, a player would like to be able to count on someone they can trust. Think of it as one of those phone-a-friend lifelines that can deliver the correct answer. And if you’ve played on the PGA Tour at all over the past four decades, it’s usually one of two people who will pick up the call.

Mark Russell and Slugger White haven’t always provided players with the news they want to hear, but as PGA Tour rules officials for a combined 80 years they’ve been the final answer to countless rulings over their lengthy careers.

Watch enough golf and you likely know them as the guys on the walkie talkies who come in when a rules dispute arises. Or as the guys who give players the ground rules at the start of a playoff. They’re also the guys who have to make the tough calls when it’s been raining for 12 straight hours and you’re wondering when they’ll start playing golf again.

In some ways, they are the equivalent of a referee in basketball or an umpire in baseball, but in other ways, their job is completely different. After all, a ref or an umpire doesn’t have to set up the court or the field since those dimensions are fixed. And while those guys chase around athletes with a whistle in their mouths, rules officials like Slugger White spend most of the time sitting on golf carts waiting to be summoned.

“I’ve had so many players, I’ll see them the first part of the week and I’ll say, ‘Have a great week!’ and they’ll say, ‘I hope I don’t see you!’" White says. "That would be great."

So what’s it like to be a rules official at the game’s highest level? How does it feel to hold a tour pro’s fate in the palm of your hand?

We examined the role of the rules official on golf’s biggest stage by talking with Russell and White, who have served as co-vice presidents of competition for the PGA Tour. We also spoke with one of their European Tour counterparts, John Paramor , to get a sense of what goes into this fun—but stressful—job and to hear some of their most memorable tour tales.

Coincidentally, all three, along with the European Tour’s Andy McFee, have decided to end their careers at around the same time, taking some 160 years of experience with them. Those men are all stepping aside, but their roles have by no means lost their importance. As long as there’s golf, there will be questions about the game’s rules. Plenty of questions.

Slugger White has been a familiar face at PGA Tour events the past four decades.

Sam Greenwood

If the PGA Tour’s old slogan is “These guys are good,” Mark Russell and Slugger Whites could be, “These guys are everywhere.” Slugger, with his trademark panama hat, is particularly noticeable on the golf course. But most of the time they’re relatively out of sight. Here’s how Paramor, who retired as the European Tour’s chief referee in 2020, puts it.

“It’s a bit like you’re an emergency doctor. You’re just sitting there with a radio, you have no idea what’s going to be called next. And when that radio does go off, there’s a little bit of anxiety. You think, ‘Oh my god, is this going to be the one I don’t know? Is this going to be the one that finishes my career?” said Paramour, who thought about playing professionally before caddying for a year on the European Tour and then becoming a rules official. “It can be a terrifying thing. Somebody said it’s hours and hours of boredom interspersed with complete panic.”

Also like a doctor, a good rules official needs a good bedside manner. The decisions being handed down throughout a tournament, even one made early in the week, can often be worth thousands, if not millions, of dollars.

RELATED: Meet John Paramor, ruler of the rules

All three acknowledge having some testy run-ins with players throughout their careers. It would be impossible not to even if those situations are rare. Respect of the players has to be earned for sure, but they say for the overwhelming majority of time, tour pros are a pleasure to deal with.

“You know, that’s the great thing about golf," said Russell, a former director of at Walt Disney World before taking a job with the PGA Tour in 1980. "It attracts the finest people. It’s a ladies and gentlemen’s game and it’s different than any other game. Less is better. That sets it apart right there. Four beats a five, and a three beats a four. All other games, how many points can I score? How many runs can I score? What can I do? But golf is such a game of honor because it would be so easy to fudge things and cheat if you wanted to.”

And that respect goes both ways. Most golf fans think of rules officials as ancillary characters, but when you’ve been around as long as these guys, you become part of the main cast.

“When I was 20 and I got on the European Tour, part of the mystique of getting on the European Tour was like, 'John Paramor is going to be one of the referees. I’m going to have a ruling off him at some point.'” And they actually are a massive part of the tour," Tommy Fleetwood said. “I think everybody has a pretty good relationship with them. And I think those guys who have put so much time into the game, they’re going to be missed.”

No matter how much time you put into the game, though, the rules of golf are tricky. Even for the people whose jobs revolve around them. Slugger White also spent four years on the PGA Tour as a player—back then he went by Carlton—and he says he's still learning.

"You think you know them until you get into them and then you find out you really didn’t know them," White said. "You kind of know the basics, but then you get into the decision book, and back then we had a decision book with 1,200 decisions. And you think, ‘1,200 decisions? And I have to know all these things?!’ So you think of situations and go through the book and kind of learn what you can when you can as fast as you can.”

You can prepare all you want, though. Golf will still present situations you’ve never seen before. Jon Paramor says he saw something for the first time while working his final European Tour event in August.

“We probably get two or three a year that we’ve never come across before," Paramor said. "Nor has anyone else. But that’s the beauty of the game.”

It’s also one of its quirks. At the 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Bryson DeChambeau made an unusual claim when he said his golf ball was resting near a hill of fire ants. PGA Tour rules official Ken Tackett showed up for a conversation that lasted more than three minutes, but ended with him not granting DeChambeau relief.

Paramor fondly recalls a similar situation involving Seve Ballesteros on the final hole of the 1994 Volvo Masters. Ballesteros was tied with Bernhard Langer, but in trouble after a wayward drive. With his ball up against a tree, Ballesteros claimed he should be granted relief from the sandy area he felt had been dug by an animal. Paramor disagreed and held firm against the golf legend.

“Well, during this sort of 20-minute ruling that I had with him, the hole itself had a smaller hole and I started probing it with my finger just to see if I could get any evidence from it," Paramor says. "And he put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'Be careful, it might bite.' Classic. Absolutely classic. Thankfully, it didn’t. But I was kind of giggling underneath it and trying not to burst out laughing.”

Rickie Fowler takes a penalty drop as Rules Official Slugger White watches on.

As a general rule for an official, the less interaction there has to be with players on the course, the smoother the golf tournament. But as much as these guys would like to sit still watching golf while working on their tans, that’s becoming more difficult to do.

Russell, White, and Paramor all agree they’ve become busier throughout tournament rounds in recent years. For two reasons, really. The younger generation of players seems to know less about the rules, even while playing for much more.

“These guys are playing for a lot of money," White says, "and the last thing they want to do is make a mistake that could be avoided for just a call that would take maybe a minute and a half out of their day to avoid that mistake.”

RELATED: Golf Digest's "My Shot" interview with Slugger White

It’s helped that the process has picked up in recent years. If a PGA Tour pro has a question, he tells the walking scorer, who radios the rules committee, which then sends in the closest rules official.There’s also a rules official always assigned to watching coverage of the event to monitor other issues that can surface.

To help players get a better grasp on the rules, Paramor says the European Tour started giving out tests to its players beginning in 2019. Those who fail twice get a 30-minute private tutorial with an official. The PGA Tour hasn’t implemented anything quite as official yet—but there was at least one effort to better educate the players. One failed attempt, that is.

“The players screamed they wanted a rules seminar so we put a rules seminar together and I think two players showed up," Russell said. "They’re all for that, until it happens. And then they’re not that interested. ‘Well, I was going to that rules seminar, but hell, I’m going to dinner tonight.’”

Russell says the recent rules changes have "dumbed things down" for the players. Still, there’s a lot that tour pros get wrong—especially because there’s a lot more they have to deal with compared to weekend hackers.

For instance, one situation that pops up often is around temporary immovable objects or TIOs. These are usually related to tournament-based structures such as grandstands or scoreboards.

Often, players will call on a rules official just to confirm they’re taking proper relief. Just don’t expect Justin Thomas to be one of those guys. It helps that Thomas grew up as the son of a PGA professional, but whatever the reason, Slugger has been impressed by both JT’s rules knowledge—and curiosity.

“Justin is the only one that really kind of, I mean, he talks about it during a playoff!" White said. "That’s when Jimmy Johnson (Thomas' caddie) says, ‘I have to put up with this all the time.’ It’s kind of funny. I even have to say, ‘Justin, you need to go ahead and think about what you’re doing here.’ And I have to walk away from him.”

Much as the recent rules changes have been well received, they’ve still been an adjustment—for both players and veteran officials like Russell.

“But it still short-circuits me to see people move loose impediments in bunkers and penalty areas and tap down things on their line," Russell said. "When you’ve been doing something for so long and you’re so dialed into that, next thing you know people are doing that and you’re like, ‘Woah, woah, woah. That’s right you can do that.’ But I think a lot of the rules changes were very good.”

Of course, one of the big differences between tour players and average golfers is they have officials nearby to help clear up any confusion about a rule. It’s a security blanket only to an extent, though, because the phone-a-friend doesn't always guarantee the correct answer. And Russell, White, and Paramor are all quick to admit the players aren’t the only ones who make mistakes.

When that does happen, the rules official must seek out the player to prevent it from happening again. That can lead to some uncomfortable exchanges, although Paramor couldn’t help but laugh about making a mistake in his final event.

“I can tell you that my last ever ruling was wrong," Paramor says with a chuckle. "I spent the entire week saying, ‘you’ve just got one week left, just don’t mess up,’ and I mess up on the last day. I can’t believe it. Anyway, I saw the player and he laughed about it. He could see the funny side. You know, my last day and I absolutely get it wrong.”

Ian Poulter gets a ride from European Tour chief referee John Paramor during a practice round.

Richard Heathcote

They say you never forget your first kiss, but Slugger White will never forget his first ruling. It doesn’t hurt that it happened to involve arguably the greatest golfer in history. Coincidentally, Jack Nicklaus had run into Slugger earlier in the week and had heard he had switched from being a player to a rules official. Now just a couple days later, they met face to face to determine whether Nicklaus was entitled to free relief from a spotty lie.

“So I get in the cart and these carts are old, you can hear me coming from four miles away," White recalls. "Jack is standing there and I said, ‘Can I help you, Jack?’ And he said, ‘yes, what is this?’ And it was a French drain, which we treat like ground under repair. And I always say he looked at me with those steely blue eyes and he said, ‘Are you sure?’ And I said, ‘I’m positive.’ He said, ‘OK, where do you drop it?” So he was comfortable and I was comfortable so I drove away and I thought that was an easy one, let’s worry about the hard ones later.”

Not surprisingly, Slugger has faced plenty of hard ones since. One that stands out for him involved Kevin Stadler in 2005. Stadler was among the leaders in Las Vegas to start the third round when he approached Slugger about a damaged club he discovered in his bag on the first hole.

"It was the most gut-wrenching one I ever had, yes it was," White said. "I knew what the end result was, and I let it play out, and. . . Kevin didn’t do anything. The rule has since changed to just a penalty situation and not a disqualification, but it made me ill.”

In a strange twist, one of Russell’s most memorable moments involved Kevin’s dad, 1982 Masters champ Craig Stadler, at Torrey Pines in 1987. Most golf fans have probably seen the clip of the Walrus kneeling on a towel to hit a shot from under a tree in the third round. Russell, who wasn’t notified of the possible infraction until after a TV viewer called in during the final round, had no choice but to rule Stadler had illegally built a stance. And since he had signed an incorrect scorecard the prior day, he had to be DQ’d.

“We really went to all lengths to see if we could get him out of that, but the way the rules are written there’s no way," Russell said. "He violated the rule. It still to this day amazes me that somebody didn’t say, ‘Woah, man, you need to call somebody before you do that!’ But Craig did it anyway, he didn’t want his pants to get dirty. Thus he was disqualified. I think he finished second or third in the tournament. But, yeah, that was a long afternoon too.”

RELATED: 13 rules of golf you should be taking advantage of

It doesn’t always end that way, though. In fact, all three are adamant they are not out to get the players. Here’s how Jon Paramor describes how he approaches a rules issue.

“I’ve often crossed swords with young referees coming along and saying, ‘I’m going out there to penalize someone,'" Paramor says. "And I’ve said, ‘No, you’re going out there to save someone from penalty.’ That’s what our job is.”

Which is why Slugger begins every on-course player interaction with the same five words: “How can I help you.” And contrary to how some tour pros may feel, officials work hard to make sure all players get treated the same when it comes to rulings.

“I always look at a situation where the ball doesn’t have a face on it," White said. "It’s just a ball and a situation and you just go with what’s in front of you. And I think most of these guys know when a guy like myself or Mark Russell or some of the older guys, when we walk in there, they know we’ve been around enough that the respect is still there. They might know the name and they know they’re going to get a fair shake.”

And as Russell is well aware of, sometimes rulings have nothing to do with the ball. With just a few holes to go in the 2011 Players Championship, Russell was alerted that K.J. Choi’s caddie, Andy Prodger, had been using something to test the wind. So when Choi finished his round tied for the lead with David Toms, Russell arrived on the scene. After learning Prodger had just been tossing a handkerchief in the air to test the breeze, the playoff went on and Choi wound up claiming the biggest title of his career.

“So it was a huge relief to me that it was not a rules infraction and we could continue the playoff," Russell said. "We had how many millions watching that all over the world, a huge, huge crowd there at Sawgrass and everyone was waiting on that playoff. And I’m going to go in there and disqualify this guy? That was an intense time.”

Golf fans weren’t even aware that happened, but such is the nature of the gig. Here’s PGA Tour senior VP and chief of operations Tyler Dennis, himself a former rules official, on the harsh reality of the job.

“If everything goes right, and well, and there’s no problems, you’ve done your job and nobody thanks you," Dennis said. "They just kind of go, ‘great tournament.’ It’s only when things go wrong when you’re suddenly in the limelight.”

Russell, White, and Paramor are certainly familiar with such situations, but perhaps none more so than Paramor, who came under scrutiny for handing out a rare slow play penalty during the 2014 Masters. Making the situation even more explosive was the fact it was A 14-year-old named Tianlang Guan who was docked a stroke during the second round.

Paramor took plenty of heat for the ruling, even getting an earful from one of Guan’s playing partners, two-time Masters champ Ben Crenshaw. But he stands by the decision he made that day with the help of Fred Ridley, who was then chairman of the competition committee at Augusta National. If anything, in fact, Paramor says he was lenient with Guan.

So why was a teenager slapped with a slow play penalty at the world’s biggest tournament while older players avoid the same fate? According to Paramor, it’s because they know how to work the system.

“They’re not getting the penalties because basically by the time they’ve had their first bad time, they know exactly what they have to do," Paramor said. "They just take it to the edge all the time, which I feel is very dangerous because there’s always going to be a point in time where you want a few more seconds on a shot, and if you’re going to take it to the brink all the time, then you’ve lost that chance.”

All are happy with the new penalty and fine structures that have been set up on both the PGA Tour and European Tour and believe slow play will get better. But it will remain an uncomfortable conversation with any sluggish player, no matter their age.

“Well, it’s no fun, but it’s what we do," Russell said. "I didn’t get a bad time, you did. I didn’t get out of position, you did. I’ve told guys, ‘Listen, I don’t want to hear it. All we hear about is pace of play, pace of play, and if we do something about it, you guys get angry! You guys are on the clock, alright.’”

--------------------

Being on call to settle rules disputes and speed up play is only part of the job of a rules official. Setting up a golf course for a PGA Tour event falls under the rules committee as well and is a process that takes months and involves various staff members working with the venue. Along with one of the tour’s agronomists, a rules official will get to a tournament site a week in advance to begin final preparations before more rules officials arrive to finish the process.

That’s when potential tees and pin positions are mapped out, while possible problem areas such as ground-under-repair get marked. If the rules committee has done its job well, it’s anticipated a host of problems before they even arise.

Weather, of course, plays an important role as well. In addition to causing delay in play, a decision that falls under the purview of the rules committee, the forecast is also a factor in determining tees and pin positions.

“Our meteorologist keeps us totally dialed in," Russell said. "If we’re going to have a stiff wind and a long hole with forced carry, we’re probably going to move those tees up so that players can carry it the distance they need to. We want to set it up as difficult as it can possibly play, but fair. Golf is hard enough to play as is without adding a lot of things in there. I mean, you can put the hole in the middle of the green and some guys are going to still make bogey. It’s hard, you know?”

Some processes aren’t quite as sophisticated. Take when there’s a playoff. A rules official will simply write numbers on pieces of paper, fold them up, and place them in a hat to be drawn in the order of which player posted his 72-hole score first. According to Russell, there’s never been a mishap but he’s gotten some pushback through the years.

“I remember Ken Thompson who years ago was the CEO of Wachovia and on our board at one time, he was amazed because he was with me running the playoff at the Wachovia tournament and he said, ‘This is the way you do this? Are you kidding me?! You guys need like a coin or something like that to make it a little more official," Russell said. "But we found out over the years we just fold those things up and put them in a hat, let people draw. And Daniel Berger told me one time, ‘I saw which numbers were.’ And I said, ‘There’s no way you saw which numbers. I folded it four times, I don’t want to hear that.’”

The rules crew makes tee times for the field, makes sure each group has a walking scorer, makes sure all bunkers are properly raked, and even makes snacks for the players. OK, so not that last part, but you get the point. There’s a LOT of work that goes into putting on and running a professional golf tournament.

“Those two gentlemen, Mark Russell and Slugger White, have really been the bedrock of the PGA Tour to be honest for more than 40 years," Dennis said. "In Slugger’s case, he played on the tour before that so he’s been part of the heart and soul of what we do. Fans know them, but in a lot of ways, they’re also the unsung heroes behind the scenes, and they have done a remarkable job.”

You can tell how much these guys love their jobs, because, well, they can’t let them go. Despite being retired, all three are staying involved with their respective tours in some way. When I spoke to Slugger, he was already preparing to be on site at the American Express, his first of a handful of PGA Tour stops in 2021. And no matter how many tournaments he’s worked, there’s always some brushing up to do.

“I’m going to Palm Springs a week from Monday and I’ll spend probably the next 10 or 12 days just leafing through going rule by rule so my mind doesn’t go soft on me," White said. "You kind of go to mush if you’re not careful and I want to be sharp when I get out there.”

None will miss the constant travel, or those days when the rain won’t stop, or even the pressure of making an important, perhaps unpopular, call with the cameras rolling. Still, the gig has its perks.

“Why did I stay so long? I don’t know," Paramor said. "Probably because I’m absolutely useless at doing anything else. And actually, it’s the best job in the world. So why would you give up the best job in the world?”

They’re also continuing to stick around to ensure a smooth transition to a new guard of rules guardians. The PGA Tour is losing the retiring Dillard Pruitt and John Lillvis as well, but Russell and White know the operation has been left in good hands—because they had a hand in finding their replacements.

Gary Young will lead the PGA Tour’s Rules and Competition department with Steve Rintoul, John Mutch, Stephen Cox and Ken Tackett moving into the roles of senior tournament director under him. They may not be household names yet—but in this job, notoriety isn’t necessarily a good thing.

It’ll be nice for Russell, White and Paramor to not have to enforce things like TIOs or pace of play anymore, but don’t expect them to stop thinking about how to address such problems—even as they transition from a golf cart inside the ropes to the living room couch.

“You know, listen," Russell said. "When we’ve got 156 players in summertime, I mean, we’ve got 26 groups on 18 holes. If anyone can figure out a way on how that’s going to play fast, please call me.”

He's serious. Because retirement or not, the game goes on. And as long as these guys are paying attention, they’ll want to make it better.

Of course, now they’ll be on the clock more with more free time to play the sport they love. Although, funny enough, Slugger says he’s a lot looser with the rules in his regular game.

“Well I have to," Slugger said. "They might not invite me back to play!”

More from Golf Digest

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How much is PGA Tour loyalty actually worth? Pros find out this week

T he official word arrived on the last day of January, but it was not exactly news. The PGA Tour had finalized a deal with the Strategic Sports Group for an immediate investment of $1.5 billion into a new, for-profit entity named PGA Tour Enterprises. The names involved were not new - the likes of Steve Cohan, John Henry, Fenway Sports Group, etc., had been reportedly interested for months - but one major addendum was: an equity program.

Now, about three months after the announcement, PGA Tour players are about to find out what their loyalty has been worth. On Wednesday, 193 Tour members will receive an email notifying them of the current value of award grants this program has earmarked for them, be it tens of millions of dollars, or none at all. Eligible recipients will receive a letter from Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who is the CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises. The Tour intends to keep the list of award recipients confidential.

"It's really about making sure that our players know the PGA Tour is the best place to compete and showing them how much the Tour appreciates them being loyal," Jason Gore, the Tour's chief player officer, said in one of six informational videos the Tour produced for the membership, which were also viewed by GOLF.com.

In the age of LIV Golf offering mega-millions in contracts to elite golfers, these figures matter, particularly for PGA Tour loyalists who passed on incredibly valuable, guaranteed contracts that would be worth more than PGA Tour Enterprises equity could ever offer them.

How much players decide to talk about their individual equity will be up to them, but as you will read below, the total value of each grant will be different for each player. On the day that specific criteria was announced, it was a discussion topic kicking around everyone's head.

Which equity group am I in? Wait, which equity group is he in?

So, how does it work?

The Tour has announced these equity grants under one specific word: opportunity. Xander Schauffele will not receive a life-size, $50 million check. Players will not see their bank account immediately increase. (In fact, as we’ll explain below, it will take quite some time before that happens.) They will strictly receive a capital interest award for a specific piece of PGA Tour Enterprises. Based on a myriad of factors, players will be ranked via a specific number of "membership units" they deserve, akin to stake in a company, the value of which will vest over a specific amount of time. In other words, high-performing players will receive a greater stake in PGA Tour Enterprises, which is what SSG is investing in and hoping to grow the value of over time.

How much value are we talking?

Even if 193 players receive grants, they will not be shared equally. Nick Taylor and Tiger Woods are not going to receive the same cut. The recipients are sectioned into four groups, with Group 1 seeing $750 million in value doled out to 36 players. That's a little more than 80% of the prize going to just a few dozen, which grabbed headlines when it was first reported . In this group will be the kind of players who have rated well in the Player Impact Program, won many tournaments and won important tournaments - like Signature Events or player-hosted invitationals - with an emphasis on the last five years.

A major factor in determining who is in Group 1 and who isn't was a metric called Career Points, which emphasizes consistency as a Tour member and success throughout a player's career. Players receive points based on the amount of years they were a PGA Tour member (playing in 15+ events), the amount of times they reached the Tour Championship, their amount of official Tour victories and even extra points for prominent victories (majors, Players Championships, WGCs, FedEx Cup titles, etc.).

For example, some back of the envelope math tallies up 528 Career Points for Woods, and just 199 for Rory McIlroy. Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas have both tallied a similar number just shy of 100. All four players are expected to be part of Group 1 and will all receive significant awards, but the difference in Career Points is expected to derive some difference in the value. Bottom line: Woods will receive the greatest grant valuation (potentially by a wide margin) and McIlroy's will be second.

What if you're not a premier player?

The PGA Tour is successful because of those top 36 players, but it is rooted in the existence of many other members who back-fill the fields of the greatest golfing stage, week-in and week-out. An extra $75 million of value will be issued to a total of 64 players considered "steady performers and up-and-comers.” The individual totals of those grants will pale in comparison to the Group 1 grants, and will be based on FedEx Cup points earned over the last three years. Finally, Group 3 members, a total of 57 players, will earn from a pile of $30 million based on tournaments won, career money and amount of times finishing in the top 125 of the FedEx Cup. And Group 4 members, who are considered "past legends," will see 36 players receive their share of $75 million based, again, on Career Points.

Recipients must be ELIGIBLE

This rules out LIV golfers from earning any of the initial grants, despite some of them helping build the Tour into what it is today. In an alternate universe, Phil Mickelson would have earned the second-highest award grant (behind only Woods), but he will receive nothing because he is not eligible. He is a lifetime member of the PGA Tour but has incurred hefty suspensions from his involvement with LIV Golf. (It is worth wondering: Does this injection of investment and new, for-profit company exist without Mickelson's help forming LIV Golf? Probably not.)

Even in a world where the PGA Tour comes to an agreement with the Saudi PIF on further investment, this chunk of value will be earmarked for the 193 players who built the popularity of the Tour and continue deriving future value for it, all while remaining loyal. Does it include space for a grant for players like Chesson Hadley, who famously stated he would like to be rewarded for his decision to stay loyal? Hadley has won zero times in the last decade, so he would be hoping for one of the 57 Group 3 grants, which isn’t necessarily likely.

Another important point of eligibility is that players must be living. Thirty-six players will receive "Past legends" grants, which cannot be awarded to players posthumously. Jack Nicklaus is bound to receive an award. Arnold Palmer cannot.

Players must WORK to receive their grant value

It's going to be a long time before any Tour players receive the monetary value from these equity grants. The initial grants will vest on an eight-year timeline; 50% of the grant value will vest after four years, with an extra 25% vesting after six years and the final 25% vesting after eight years, but only if players follow the rules. In a world where the PGA Tour and the Saudi PIF do not come to an agreement, Tour players who would leave for LIV (or other unauthorized events) will forfeit any unvested equity.

In order for the equity to vest, players must "provide services" each year of the vesting schedule. To most, those services are simple: just play PGA Tour events. Fully-exempt players who play 15 or more Tour events annually will meet that year's requirement. Competing on the Korn Ferry Tour and the Champions Tour also suffices, with DP World Tour events being approved on a case-by-case basis. In other words, if a fully-healthy McIlroy plays 14 Tour events and the BMW PGA Championship, he would need an approval for that DP World Tour event to count as one of his 15. (It probably would.)

But what if, say, McIlroy gets hurt before reaching his 15-event threshold in 2027? He (and players in similar situations, like those lacking Tour status or being over the age of 60) could make up for an under-15-event total by performing a Service Event. Things such as meeting with Tour sponsors or filming a documentary with the Tour, all of which are approved by the Tour. (There is some slight wiggle room in these requirements, where a player could make up for falling just short one year by doing more in the following year.) The Tour has tried to make it simple: play your golf, and your equity will vest. If life changes and circumstances arise, there are other ways to meet requirements.

Players cannot cash out for years (and they will be taxed)

Players can sell their equity only when it is vested, but they will also be taxed on those vesting dates.

Lance Stover, senior vice president of New Ventures at the Tour, explained a bit of the dollars and cents here: “As with all forms of compensation … at each vesting milestone [years 4, 6 and 8 after the initial grants], players will be responsible for paying federal and state income taxes at ordinary income tax rates on the fair market value of the vested awards at the time of vesting.” So players will begin to be taxed on the value of their equity four years from now.

Importantly, the implication - of both the investment from SSG and from equity dished to players - is that PGA Tour Enterprises will continue to increase in value as the Tour moves forward. Almost all major sports leagues and franchises have seen their valuations skyrocket in recent years, and there’s little reason to suggest the PGA Tour would experience anything different, even if TV ratings have dipped in the first part of 2024.

The initial SSG investment valued the PGA Tour at $12.3 billion, and there is clearly still room for future investment from the Saudi PIF . The Tour’s television rights deal runs through 2030, but negotiations for the next deal will begin in just a few years. All of these things can impact the valuation of PGA Tour Enterprises at the point at which player equity would vest.

But … there's more coming

Keen mathematicians will see that, of the $1.5 billion investment from SSG, only $930 million is devoted to initial grants. Where is the extra $600 million going? More grants are on the way.

Beginning in 2025, each PGA Tour season will see additional grants awarded to the top performers on Tour - $100 million in grant value will be issued to roughly 20 players each year, based on Career Points (explained above) and Player Impact Program results that year. So someone like, say, Ludvig Aberg , who didn’t play on the PGA Tour during many of the years that formed this initial grant offering, will likely fare well with good performances in the years to come.

The OTHER big idea here

The PGA Tour wants players to be rewarded for their loyalty, to maintain that loyalty, but also to begin thinking like an owner. Like player-owners, who are focused on the Tour with the actions they make and the words they say. The Tour wants all its constituents rowing in the same direction.

"Owners are motivated to think beyond their personal performance week-to-week and year-to-year," Gore said in one of the videos. "They have a broader perspective of how their actions can impact the long term health and performance of the Tour in a positive way. One that meets the needs of our fans at every turn. It's no longer a what's in it for me as much as it should be what's in it for the growth of the Tour, which of course could bring more equity value to the players in the long run. It's a virtuous cycle if we can get it right."

The post How much is PGA Tour loyalty actually worth? Pros find out this week appeared first on Golf .

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PGA TOUR Tech Stack

PGA TOUR uses 8 technology products and services including Figma, Selenium, CDW, and more. Explore PGA TOUR 's tech stack below.

Figma Design
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PWA Miscellaneous
iOS Programming Languages
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Media & News

Pga tour launches pga tour u accelerated program..

When the PGA Tour announced the PGA Tour U Accelerated program in which a college player can earn his tour card by winning enough amateur tournaments and awards before his senior year, I knew I had a chance.

Apr 18, 2024 | www.golfdigest.com

Del Cabo Event Design partners with PGA Tour.

Del Cabo Events collaborated with the World Wide Technology Championship | PGA TOUR on the golf front to create a spectacular experience.

Apr 16, 2024 | tendenciaelartedeviajar.com

PGA Tour closes offices in Florida, United States.

The PGA Tour moves from Florida to Texas for a couple of events before the Masters Tournament.

Mar 30, 2024 | sports.yahoo.com

PGA Tour expands offices to Texas, United States.

Pga tour recognized as best way forward for the european tour group at dp world tour and challenge tour..

Some, of course, will continue to question why he brought the Saudis to golf's table and then didn't do a deal with PIF that could have brought riches to the DP World Tour and Challenge Tour, but it wasn't as straightforward as many people like to think and Pelley, along with the other members of the executive team, remain confident that a strategic alliance struck with the PGA Tour instead is the best way forward for the European Tour group.

Mar 28, 2024 | www.scotsman.com

PGA Tour launches standalone subscription service.

DAZN, the major sports streaming service, and US golf's PGA Tour have teamed up to launch a standalone subscription service and a Fast channel in select global markets.

Mar 20, 2024 | www.sportcal.com

Peacock TV LLC partners with PGA Tour.

NBC Sports, Golf Channel, and Peacock are partnering with PGA TOUR Productions at TPC Sawgrass and throughout the season.

Mar 15, 2024 | www.sportsvideo.org

PGA TOUR 's Email Address Formats

Frequently asked questions, where is pga tour 's headquarters located, what is pga tour 's phone number, what is pga tour 's official website and social media links, how much revenue does pga tour generate, what is pga tour 's naics code , how many employees does pga tour have currently, what industry does pga tour belong to, what technology does pga tour use, what is pga tour 's email format.

Spectator Sports Florida, United States 501-1000 Employees

By showcasing golf’s greatest players, the PGA TOUR engages, inspires and positively impacts our fans, partners and communities worldwide. The PGA TOUR, headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Series-China. Members on the PGA TOUR represent the world’s best players, hailing from 29 countries and territories (93 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to 212 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving. In 2019, tournaments across all Tours generated a record $204.3 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to more than $3 billion. To learn more about the positive impact the PGA TOUR has on the communities in which we play, please visit www.pgatour.com/impact. Fans can follow the PGA TOUR on PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, on the PGA TOUR app and on social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram (in English, Spanish and Korean), LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, WeChat, Weibo, Toutiao and Douyin.

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How To Obtain And Maintain A PGA Tour Card For Professional Golfers

Brenda draughn.

August 16, 2023

Discover the process of obtaining and a PGA Tour card, including , qualifying school, , , and with other tour cards.

What is a PGA Tour Card?

Definition and purpose.

A PGA Tour Card is a coveted membership card that grants professional golfers the opportunity to compete in the highest level of golf tournaments organized by the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America. It serves as a symbol of achievement and recognition in the golfing world, signifying that a player has reached a certain level of skill and expertise.

The purpose of a PGA Tour Card is to provide players with access to a wide range of prestigious tournaments, including major championships such as the Masters, the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. It allows golfers to compete against the best players in the world, showcase their talents, and strive for greatness on the grandest stages of the sport.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a PGA Tour Card, golfers must meet certain criteria set by the PGA of America. These criteria ensure that only the most talented and deserving players are granted membership and the accompanying privileges.

One of the main eligibility is a golfer’s performance on the PGA Tour. Players can earn a PGA Tour Card through various means, including:

Qualifying School : The PGA Tour conducts a Qualifying School, also known as Q-School, where aspiring professionals compete for a limited number of available Tour Cards. Q-School consists of multiple stages, with each stage eliminating a certain number of players until the final stage, where the top finishers earn their Tour Cards.
Web.com Tour : The Web.com Tour, which serves as the developmental tour for the PGA Tour, offers another pathway to earn a PGA Tour Card. The top performers on the Web.com Tour during a given season are granted Tour Cards for the following season, providing them with the opportunity to compete at the highest level.
Sponsorship and Exemptions : Golfers can also earn a PGA Tour Card through sponsor invitations and exemptions. Sponsors may choose to invite promising players to compete in certain tournaments, and exceptional performances in these events can lead to the awarding of a Tour Card. Exemptions, on the other hand, are granted to players who meet specific criteria, such as being a former major champion or having a certain ranking on the Official World Golf Ranking.

It is important to note that the for a PGA Tour Card may change from time to time, as determined by the PGA of America. These changes are typically aimed at ensuring a fair and competitive field of players, while also providing opportunities for emerging talent to showcase their skills.

How to Obtain a PGA Tour Card

Obtaining a PGA Tour card is the ultimate dream for many aspiring golfers. It opens up a world of opportunities to compete at the highest level and showcase their skills on the grandest stage. In order to secure a PGA Tour card, players must go through a rigorous process that tests their abilities and determination. Let’s explore the various paths to obtaining a PGA Tour card:

Qualifying School

Qualifying School, often referred to as Q-School, is one of the most well-known and challenging routes to earning a PGA Tour card. It is a series of tournaments that acts as a qualifying event, designed to identify the top talent among aspiring professional golfers. Q-School is held annually and consists of multiple stages, each more demanding than the previous.

During Q-School, players compete against each other in a highly competitive environment, striving to secure one of the coveted PGA Tour cards. The tournament is conducted over several rounds, with each round eliminating a certain number of players. The pressure is intense, as the stakes are high and the margin for error is slim.

Web.com Tour

Another pathway to earning a PGA Tour card is through the Web.com Tour. Formerly known as the Nationwide Tour, the Web.com Tour serves as a developmental tour for aspiring professional golfers. It provides a platform for players to hone their skills, gain valuable experience, and ultimately earn their way onto the PGA Tour.

The Web.com Tour consists of a series of tournaments held throughout the season, with players accumulating points based on their performance. At the end of the season, the top players on the Web.com Tour money list earn their PGA Tour cards for the following season. This system allows players to showcase their abilities and compete against their peers, with the ultimate goal of securing a spot on the PGA Tour.

Sponsorship and Exemptions

While Q-School and the Web.com Tour are the traditional routes to obtaining a PGA Tour card, there are also other avenues available to talented golfers. One such avenue is through sponsorship and exemptions. Sponsors play a crucial role in supporting aspiring golfers by providing financial backing and opportunities to compete in professional tournaments.

Sponsorship can come in various forms, such as endorsement deals or financial support for tournament entry fees. Additionally, exemptions are granted to players based on their performance in certain tournaments or their status as amateur champions. These exemptions allow players to bypass the traditional qualifying processes and earn direct entry into PGA Tour events.

It is worth noting that sponsorship and exemptions are not easy to come by. They are typically reserved for players who have demonstrated exceptional talent or have a unique story that captures the attention of sponsors. However, for those fortunate enough to secure sponsorship or exemptions, it can be a valuable stepping stone towards earning a PGA Tour card.

PGA Tour : https://www.pgatour.com/
Web.com Tour : https://www.pgatour.com/webcomtour.html

Benefits of Having a PGA Tour Card

Having a PGA Tour Card comes with numerous that can significantly impact a golfer’s career. In this section, we will explore the advantages of possessing a PGA Tour Card, including access to PGA Tour events, prize money and endorsements, and player rankings and opportunities.

Access to PGA Tour Events

One of the most coveted advantages of holding a PGA Tour Card is the unrestricted access to PGA Tour events. Being able to compete in these prestigious tournaments opens doors to unlimited opportunities for professional golfers. The PGA Tour hosts some of the most prestigious and highly anticipated golf tournaments in the world, such as The Masters, the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship.

Golfers with a PGA Tour Card gain the privilege of participating in these major events, which not only offer substantial prize money but also provide a platform to showcase their skills and compete against the best players in the world. The exposure gained from playing in these events can significantly boost a golfer’s reputation and open doors to future sponsorships and endorsements.

Prize Money and Endorsements

When it comes to professional sports, financial rewards play a crucial role in sustaining a career. Holding a PGA Tour Card grants golfers the opportunity to compete for substantial prize money. PGA Tour events offer some of the highest prize purses in the world of golf, with millions of dollars up for grabs in each tournament.

Earning prize money not only provides financial stability but also serves as a measure of a golfer’s success and skill. The more successful a golfer is on the PGA Tour, the higher their chances of earning significant earnings through prize money.

Furthermore, having a PGA Tour Card opens doors to lucrative endorsement deals. Successful golfers often attract the attention of various companies and brands looking to associate themselves with top athletes. These endorsement opportunities can provide additional income streams for golfers, as well as valuable exposure to a broader audience.

Player Rankings and Opportunities

Possessing a PGA Tour Card also grants golfers the opportunity to climb the player rankings and seize various career-enhancing opportunities. The PGA Tour maintains a comprehensive ranking system that evaluates a golfer’s performance across tournaments, determining their position among their peers.

Higher rankings not only increase a golfer’s visibility but also provide access to exclusive events and invitations. For example, players who consistently perform well on the PGA Tour can earn entry into prestigious tournaments like the Players Championship and the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Additionally, higher rankings can lead to invitations to international events such as the Ryder Cup or the Presidents Cup, where golfers have the chance to represent their country and compete against top players from around the world. These opportunities not only offer a chance to showcase skills but also enhance a golfer’s reputation and increase their marketability.

Challenges and Requirements of Maintaining a PGA Tour Card

The journey to obtaining a PGA Tour Card is no small feat, but the and don’t end there. Once a player has secured their card, they are faced with a whole new set of expectations and obligations to maintain their membership. In this section, we will explore the performance expectations, tour membership obligations, and the requalification process that players must navigate in order to remain part of the prestigious PGA Tour.

Performance Expectations

Securing a PGA Tour Card is a testament to a golfer’s skill and determination, but the pressure doesn’t dissipate once they become a member. The PGA Tour demands consistent high-level performance from its players, and maintaining a certain standard is crucial. The competition is fierce, and players must continuously prove themselves against some of the best golfers in the world.

To meet the performance expectations, players must demonstrate their ability to consistently compete at a competitive level. This means delivering strong performances in tournaments, consistently making cuts, and accumulating enough FedExCup points to retain their card. The PGA Tour is not for the faint of heart – it requires unwavering dedication and the ability to thrive under pressure.

Tour Membership Obligations

Being a PGA Tour member comes with a set of obligations that go beyond simply playing golf. These obligations are in place to ensure the smooth functioning of the tour and to maintain the integrity of the game. Tour members have a responsibility to uphold the values and standards of the PGA Tour.

One of the primary obligations of PGA Tour members is to participate in the tournaments scheduled by the tour. This means players must be prepared to travel extensively, often spending weeks away from home, as they compete in various tournaments across the country. This commitment requires a great deal of sacrifice and dedication, as players must constantly adapt to different courses, climates, and time zones.

Additionally, PGA Tour members are expected to conduct themselves professionally both on and off the course. They are ambassadors of the sport and must adhere to a strict code of conduct. This includes good sportsmanship, respecting fellow players and officials, and engaging with fans and sponsors. The PGA Tour places great emphasis on character and integrity, and members must exemplify these qualities.

Requalification Process

While obtaining a PGA Tour Card is a significant achievement, it’s important to remember that it is not a lifetime guarantee. Players must go through a requalification process each year to retain their card and continue their journey on the PGA Tour. This process adds an extra layer of pressure and uncertainty to the already demanding nature of professional golf.

The requalification process involves a combination of performance-based criteria and exemptions. Players must accumulate a certain number of FedExCup points over the course of the season to retain their card. The exact number of points needed varies each year, making it a moving target for players. This ensures that the tour remains competitive and constantly pushes players to improve.

Exemptions also play a role in the requalification process. Certain achievements, such as winning a tournament or finishing in the top 125 of the FedExCup standings, can provide players with exemptions for the following season. These exemptions alleviate some of the pressure and uncertainty, allowing players to focus on their game without constantly worrying about their card status.

However, it’s important to note that exemptions are not guaranteed, and players must still perform at a high level to earn them. This adds an element of unpredictability to the requalification process, as players must maintain consistency throughout the season to secure their place on the tour for another year.

Difference Between a PGA Tour Card and Other Tour Cards

European tour card.

The European Tour Card is a coveted credential that grants professional golfers access to compete in tournaments across Europe. While similar to the PGA Tour Card in terms of providing opportunities for players to showcase their skills and compete at a high level, there are some notable between the two.

One major distinction is the geographical focus. The European Tour Card primarily caters to golfers who wish to compete in Europe and its surrounding regions. This allows players to experience the diverse array of courses and cultures that Europe has to offer. In contrast, the PGA Tour Card focuses on tournaments held predominantly in the United States, although there are some international events as well.

Another difference lies in the qualification process. To obtain a European Tour Card, golfers must go through a rigorous qualifying process that includes various stages of competition. This process typically involves a combination of scoring well in specific tournaments, earning enough money or ranking points, and successfully navigating through the qualifying school. On the other hand, the PGA Tour Card has its own unique qualifying system, such as the Qualifying School and the Web.com Tour.

The European Tour Card also offers its own set of and . One advantage is the opportunity to compete against a diverse field of international players, which can provide valuable experience and exposure. Additionally, players with a European Tour Card have the chance to accumulate Official World Golf Ranking points, which can enhance their global ranking and open doors to other prestigious events.

However, there are also certain associated with maintaining a European Tour Card. The tour’s schedule can be demanding, with players often required to travel extensively to compete in different countries and climates. This can lead to physical and mental fatigue, requiring players to carefully manage their schedule and prioritize their health and well-being.

Asian Tour Card

The Asian Tour Card is another prestigious credential that offers professional golfers the opportunity to compete in tournaments across Asia. Like the European Tour Card, it has its own unique characteristics that set it apart from the PGA Tour Card.

One key distinction is the focus on the Asian region. The Asian Tour Card provides golfers with the chance to compete in countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia, among others. This allows players to experience the rich and diverse golfing cultures that Asia has to offer, while also showcasing their skills to a passionate fan base.

The qualification process for an Asian Tour Card involves a series of tournaments and stages, similar to other tour cards. Players must perform well in designated events, earn sufficient prize money or ranking points, and navigate through the qualifying school successfully. This process helps ensure that only the most talented and dedicated golfers are granted the privilege of competing on the Asian Tour.

Having an Asian Tour Card comes with its own set of and . One advantage is the exposure to different playing conditions and styles of play. Asia is known for its challenging courses, unique weather conditions, and passionate crowds, which can provide valuable experience for golfers looking to broaden their skill set.

On the other hand, maintaining an Asian Tour Card requires adaptability and resilience. The tour schedule often involves frequent travel to different countries, which can be physically and mentally demanding. Players must also adjust to different time zones, climates, and cultural norms, all while a high level of performance. Balancing these factors can be challenging, but it also presents an opportunity for growth and development as a professional golfer.

Korn Ferry Tour Card

The Korn Ferry Tour Card is a pathway for aspiring professional golfers to earn their spot on the PGA Tour. It serves as a stepping stone for players who are aiming to compete at the highest level of professional golf. While it is not a direct comparison to the PGA Tour Card, it is worth exploring the unique aspects of the Korn Ferry Tour Card.

The Korn Ferry Tour is a developmental tour that offers players the chance to hone their skills and gain valuable experience before advancing to the PGA Tour. The tour features a series of tournaments held primarily in the United States, providing players with the opportunity to compete on challenging courses against a competitive field of players.

Obtaining a Korn Ferry Tour Card requires going through a qualifying process, which includes stages such as the Qualifying Tournament and the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. These stages allow players to showcase their abilities and earn their spot on the tour, with the ultimate goal of securing a PGA Tour Card for the following season.

Having a Korn Ferry Tour Card offers several to aspiring professional golfers. It provides them with a platform to compete against other talented players and gain valuable exposure to sponsors, fans, and the media. The tour also offers substantial prize money, which can help support players financially as they continue to strive for their ultimate goal of reaching the PGA Tour.

However, it is important to note that the Korn Ferry Tour Card also presents its own set of . The competition on the tour is fierce, with players vying for limited spots and battling for ranking points that will determine their eligibility for advancement. The schedule can be demanding, with players often traveling extensively and competing in back-to-back tournaments. This requires physical endurance, mental fortitude, and a strong support system to navigate the and maintain a high level of performance.

In conclusion, while the PGA Tour Card remains the pinnacle for professional golfers, other tour cards such as the European Tour Card, Asian Tour Card, and Korn Ferry Tour Card offer unique opportunities for players to showcase their skills and compete at different levels. Each tour card has its own distinct characteristics, qualification process, , and . By understanding these , aspiring golfers can make informed decisions about their career paths and pursue their passion for the game.

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How It Works

How it works: pga tour status and eligibility.

The PGA TOUR is the premier meritocracy in professional sports.

Shoot the scores, earn a spot at the game’s highest level, and compete for the game’s most prestigious prizes.

So, how does one earn these opportunities?

PGA TOUR-sanctioned competition is built on a metaphorical ladder with several rungs, as players move up and down the ladder based on competitive results across a qualifying series or season.

PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry is the most direct way to earn status, offering PGA TOUR cards (for the top five finishers and ties) in addition to Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR Americas status. Q-School entails four separate stages of qualification, conducted across the fall season.

PGA TOUR Americas feeds into the Korn Ferry Tour, which feeds to the PGA TOUR – with 30 TOUR cards awarded after each Korn Ferry Tour season.

What are the qualifications for membership on each circuit? How do players earn tournament access? How does one move up and down the ladder?

Keep it here for insight into all levels of the PGA TOUR’s qualification process. This is your guide to all things PGA TOUR-sanctioned status and eligibility. This is how it works.

FedExCup Playoffs

The FedExCup Playoffs brings unique drama in professional golf, with a starting field of 70 players whittled down to one FedExCup champion.

The Playoffs kicks off at the 70-player FedEx St. Jude Championship, followed by the 50-player BMW Championship. The final 30 players remaining will proceed to the TOUR Championship, which features a Starting Strokes format to reward the highest-ranked players on the season-long FedExCup standings, a cumulative race but with quadruple points awarded at the first two Playoffs events.

The player with the lowest score after 72 holes at East Lake, handicapped by Starting Strokes, will earn the FedExCup title.

Priority Ranking

Field sizes can vary by event, as can the number of event-specific exemptions. PGA TOUR exempt members are guaranteed access to all Full-Field Events, with various categories subject to periodic reshuffles based upon FedExCup Points accrued throughout the season.

The 2023 PGA TOUR Priority Ranking featured 39 categories.

Signature Events

PGA TOUR Signature Events are limited-field events offering increased purses and FedExCup points. The fields, which will range from roughly 70-80 players in size, are made up of the top performers from the previous season and the current season, allowing PGA TOUR members several different avenues to play their way in to the TOUR's biggest events outside of the Majors and THE PLAYERS Championship.

For 2024, there are eight Signature Events with limited field sizes:

• The Sentry • AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am • The Genesis Invitational • Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard • RBC Heritage • Wells Fargo Championship • the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday • Travelers Championship

Eligibility criteria for The Sentry will include the top 50 players from the previous season's FedExCup standings through the FedExCup Playoffs (BMW Championship qualifiers) and tournament winners from the prior year, including Additional Events and the FedExCup Fall.

Eligibility for the remaining seven Signature Events will reward top performers from the previous season, the current season and the swings leading up to each Signature Event.

FedExCup Fall

The FedExCup Fall is when top-125 eligibility, which provides exempt status into full-field events and a spot in THE PLAYERS, is finalized for the following season.

After the conclusion of the FedExCup Playoffs, players ranked 51st and beyond in the FedExCup will continue to compete for points in the fall. They will begin the fall with all points earned in the Regular Season and the first FedExCup Playoffs event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

Nos. 51-70 in the FedExCup at the start of the fall have already clinched their top-125 eligibility for the following year but are competing for spots in the first two Signature Events following the season-opening The Sentry.

Nos. 71 and beyond can earn one of the 10 spots available in those Signature Events but they also are competing to finish in the top 125 of the FedExCup standings at the conclusion of the fall.

Special Temporary Membership

High-achieving players without TOUR status can earn Special Temporary Membership by earning equivalent non-member FedExCup points to No. 150 on the prior year’s standings. Special Temporary Members then can accept unlimited sponsor exemptions through the remainder of the PGA TOUR calendar, including the fall portion, upon crossing the STM threshold (non-members can accept up to seven sponsor exemptions in a season). Players who earn Special Temporary Membership also secure a spot in a conditional category on that season’s TOUR Priority Ranking.

PGA TOUR cards via DP World Tour

Beginning in 2023, top finishers on the DP World Tour’s season-long points list, the Race to Dubai, at season’s end earn status for the following PGA TOUR season, rewarding their excellent play with the opportunity to compete on both tours.

Ten PGA TOUR cards are available to the highest-ranked players in the final Race to Dubai standings who don’t already hold PGA TOUR status for finishing in the top 125 of the FedExCup Playoffs and Eligibility Points List or above. For example, if Rory McIlroy or another player already exempt on the PGA TOUR finishes fifth in the Race to Dubai, then No. 11 in the Race to Dubai standings earns PGA TOUR status.

The top finisher in the Race to Dubai who is not already exempt on the PGA TOUR will be fully exempt for the following TOUR season, similar to players who finish in the top 125 in the FedExCup. That player also earns a spot in THE PLAYERS Championship.

The other nine DP World Tour players will start the season positioned directly above the 30 Korn Ferry Tour graduates and the top five finishers (and ties) from Q-School in the  PGA TOUR Priority Ranking .

Monday qualifying

Several PGA TOUR events offer four spots via an 18-hole qualifying event, which usually occurs on Monday of tournament week. Several players must advance through a pre-qualifier to earn a spot in the Monday qualifier, while others gain direct access to the Monday qualifier based on various merit-based categories.

Corey Conners won the 2019 Valero Texas Open as a Monday qualifier, the most recent to accomplish the feat on TOUR.

PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry

Beginning in fall 2023, the top five finishers (and ties) at Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry will earn PGA TOUR membership for the following season.

Players who finish below the top five and ties at Final Stage will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership to varying degrees, with lower-level finishers also earning PGA TOUR Americas membership.

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Pga tour lays out how the player equity program will work.

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In February, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan introduced the rough outline of the Player Equity Program, a vesting plan for the circuit’s new for-profit arm that will carve up a hefty portion of the initial $1.5 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group. On Wednesday, players were given a more detailed version of the program, PGA Tour chief competitions officer Tyler Dennis confirmed on “Golf Central.”

The initial player equity grants will be approximately $930 million distributed to 193 players via four categories, starting with the game’s stars. Monahan informed players on Wednesday via a letter of their individual grants.

“There’s no other sports league in the world that has this significant number of their athletes as owners of their own sports organization,” Dennis said.

“We want to grow the PGA Tour in many different ways and having the alignment of players as player-owners with the organization is going to allow us to drive that quickly forward.”

The first group includes 36 players receiving $750 million in equity based on the last five years of play. “Career Points” will be awarded based on how many years a player has been a Tour member, how many times they earned a spot in the Tour Championship and how many times they have won, with extra points awarded for high-profile victories like the majors, The Players Championship and the FedExCup.

Group 2’s share of the initial equity will be much smaller ($75 million) and will be granted to 64 players. The group is considered “steady performers and up-and-comers” and will be based on FedExCup points earned over the last three years.

Equity to Group 3 will be $30 million going to 57 players based on career earnings and how many times a player finished inside the top 125 in FedExCup points.

The final group will include “past legends,” like Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, with $75 million going to 36 players based on the “Career Points” formula. Those grants will only be awarded to “past legends” that are living.

Perhaps most important to players will be the program’s eight-year vesting period. The grants will be worth 50% of their value after four years, 75% after six and 100% after eight years, when a player will be able to sell their equity in PGA Tour Enterprises, the for-profit arm the Tour created for the program. At each vesting benchmark players will be responsible to pay taxes on the grants.

The program has been created to encourage loyalty to the Tour in the face of ongoing challenges from LIV Golf, and the requirements of maintaining membership (which includes a minimum of 15 starts each year) would mean players who join LIV Golf would not be eligible for the program or would give up any unvested equity if they were to join the rival circuit.

“We want the players to be fully aligned with their organization,” Dennis said. “It’s something no other sport has done before and we’re seeing an incredible amount of excitement about that.”

SSG valued the PGA Tour at $12.3 billion when the group, which is led by Fenway Sports, became a minority investor and the assumption is that valuation will continue to increase like most professional sports franchises in the United States.

The remainder of the initial $1.5 billion investment (roughly $600 million) will be awarded in recurring player grants of $100 million each year, beginning in 2025 through 2030. These grants will be awarded based on performance and Player Impact Program results with an eye toward young talent, like Ludvig Åberg or Nick Dunlap.

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It’s a good day to be a PGA Tour player — and a really good day to be Tiger Woods.

The Telegraph is reporting that players are receiving the money they earned by not bolting for LIV Golf and accepting the huge offers that were being made by the rival league.

Woods received the biggest payday at $100 million, with Rory McIlroy coming in at around $50 million.

The funds were made available after a group of investors led by Fenway Sports, which also included Mets owner Steve Cohen, infused $1.5 billion into PGA Tour Enterprises in January.

Tiger Woods acknowledging the crowd after completing his final round at the Augusta National Golf Club during The Masters in 2024

In total, approximately $1 billion will be split — unevenly — between 193 golfers, according to The Telegraph.

How much a player gets is determined by career-long achievements, which is why Woods is getting paid so handsomely.

The Telegraph noted that the PGA Tour and commissioner Jay Monahan “have been at pains” to try to keep the financial breakdown under wraps, as it naturally could cause frustration from players receiving far less than the top group.

The top 36 players on the list are splitting up approximately $750 million, the 64 players who round out the top 100 are dividing $75 million, with $30 million going to the next 57 players.

The remaining $75 million is divvied up between 36 retired players who are considered living legends, per the report.

The other specific figures cited in the report were Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, who will each rake in around $30 million.

The influx of cash comes as the PGA Tour, including Woods, has been in talks with PIF — the financial arm of the Saudi government that funds LIV.

Rory McIlroy warming up on the driving range during the final round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

While the specifics on the talks have been kept tight, a framework agreement that would like merge LIV and the PGA Tour in some form has been agreed to since June.

Aside from Woods, the significant cash the players are receiving still pales in comparison to what the top stars got for going to LIV Golf.

The likes of Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau reportedly were in the nine-figure range — or very close to it — to defect to LIV.

Jon Rahm reportedly got a whopping $450 million to make the LIV leap in December in what many viewed as a tipping point that would push the PGA Tour closer to a merger.

However, five months later the two sides remain in a vague negotiating phase.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan sitting at a microphone during a press conference at the Texas Children's Houston Open

Rumors surfaced last week that McIlroy was possibly headed to LIV Golf for $850 million, but he shot down that possibility in an interview with Golf Channel.

“I honestly don’t know how these things get started, I’ve never been offered a number [potential deal] from LIV and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV,” said McIlroy, who is returning to the PGA Tour Players Advisory Council after stepping down last year. “I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me.

“That doesn’t mean I judge people who have gone and played [LIV Golf]. One of the things I’ve realized over the past two years is people can make their own decisions for whatever they think is best for themselves and who are we to judge them for that? For me, my future is here on the PGA Tour.”

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Canada's Ames celebrates 60th birthday with successful title defence in Mitsubishi Electric Classic

Vancouver resident secures his 8th pga tour champions victory.

A men's golfer smiles while holding a trophy.

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Stephen Ames celebrated his 60th birthday with a successful title defence in the Mitsubishi Electric Classic in Duluth, Ga., closing with a 5-under 67 on Sunday for his eighth PGA Tour Champions victory.

A stroke behind Paul Broadhurst after matching the tournament record Saturday with a 64, Ames had two eagles in the final round. He won by four strokes, finishing at 14-under 202 at TPC Sugarloaf for his record third victory in the event.

WATCH | Ames secures Mitsubishi Electric Classic title:

Vancouver's Stephen Ames celebrates 60th birthday by successfully defending Mitsubishi Electric Classic title

Broadhurst, the 58-year-old Englishman coming off a victory last week in the Invited Celebrity Classic, closed with a 72 to tie for second with Doug Barron (69). K.J. Choi (70) and Steven Alker (71) were 9 under.

Ames became the first multiple winner this year on the tour, also taking the Chubb Classic in February. He has six victories in his last 29 starts after winning twice in his first 175 — the first at TPC Sugarloaf in 2017 — on the 50-and-over tour. A naturalized Canadian citizen from Trinidad and Tobago and a Vancouver resident, Ames won four times on the PGA Tour.

Ames opened with a birdie on the par-4 first, eagled the par-5 sixth and par-4 13th and birdied the par-4 14th. He bogeyed the par-4 15th and 17th and birdied the par-5 18th.

A birthday serenade for <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenAmesPGA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StephenAmesPGA</a> 🎉<br><br>He’s in prime position on No. 18 to claim another win <a href="https://twitter.com/MEClassicGolf?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MEClassicGolf</a>. <a href="https://t.co/BpErlS4fuA">pic.twitter.com/BpErlS4fuA</a> — @ChampionsTour