Miles Bennett
The PGA Tour is the organizer of professional golf tours in North America, including the flagship annual series of tournaments, the PGA Tour Champions, the Korn Ferry Tour, and PGA Tour Americas. While it is difficult to pinpoint an exact number of PGA Tour professionals, there are several ways for golfers to gain entry to events, including sponsor exemptions, Monday qualifiers, and performance in the Korn Ferry Tour. For example, in 2023, the top 30 players from the Korn Ferry Tour were granted cards for the following season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Exact number of PGA Tour players | Difficult to pinpoint |
| Number of golfers listed on the FedEx Cup rankings | 215 |
| Number of golfers given a card for the next season | 125 |
| Number of golfers given limited status | 25 |
| First woman to compete in a PGA Tour event | Babe Zaharias |
| First and only woman to make a cut in a PGA Tour event | Babe Zaharias |
| Women who played in PGA Tour events in 2003 | Annika Sörenstam and Suzy Whaley |
| Woman who played in PGA Tour events from 2004 to 2008 | Michelle Wie |
| First woman to earn a Tour card on a "men's" professional golf tour | Isabelle Beisiegel |
| PGA Tour headquarters | Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida |
| Dominant players of the 1960s | Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus |
| Number of Arnold Palmer's PGA Tour career victories | 43 |
| Number of Jack Nicklaus' PGA Tour career victories | 30 |
| Events controlled by the PGA of America | PGA Championship and Ryder Cup |
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What You'll Learn
It's hard to pinpoint an exact number of PGA Tour pros
It's challenging to determine the exact number of PGA Tour professionals due to the dynamic nature of the field and various qualification routes. While the PGA Tour rankings provide a reference point, multiple factors influence a golfer's eligibility and participation.
Firstly, the PGA Tour encompasses various tournaments and tours, including the flagship annual series, PGA Tour Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, and PGA Tour Americas. Each of these events may have different participation numbers, contributing to the overall variability in the count of PGA Tour pros.
Secondly, golfers can gain entry into PGA Tour events through multiple pathways. The primary route is via the FedEx Cup standings, where the top 125 players with the most points are awarded a card for the next season. However, this doesn't mean all 125 players participate in every event, creating opportunities for other pros to step in. Those ranked between 126th and 150th in the previous season's standings may also gain limited status, guaranteeing their participation in specific tour events.
Additionally, sponsor exemptions can grant entry to golfers who haven't qualified through the standard route. These exemptions are similar to wildcards in tennis, allowing tournament sponsors and hosts to invite specific players. Monday qualifiers provide another avenue for professionals to gain access to events, with the lowest-scoring individuals from the Monday before a Thursday start earning entry into the Thursday event.
The PGA Tour also has a ''strategic alliance' with the DP World Tour (Europe's premier golfing tour), which allows the ten best European players without cards to play on the PGA Tour. This inter-tour collaboration further contributes to the fluctuation in the number of PGA Tour pros.
Lastly, the PGA Tour does not have a gender restriction, and while rare, women have competed in PGA Tour events throughout history. This openness to female participants adds another layer of variability to the overall count of PGA Tour professionals.
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The easiest way to gain status is through the FedEx Cup standings
While it's difficult to pinpoint the exact number of PGA Tour professionals, the easiest way to gain status and compete on the PGA Tour is through the FedEx Cup standings. The FedEx Cup is a season-long points competition with a total bonus pool of $100 million, including $25 million for the FedEx Cup champion.
Each year, the 125 players with the most points are given a card for the next season. The top 70 players in the standings are eligible to play in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, a series of three events: the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the BMW Championship, and the TOUR Championship. The FedEx Cup Playoffs feature a progressive cut, with 70 players in the first event, 50 in the second, and 30 in the final TOUR Championship.
The top 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings are fully exempt for the following season, including THE PLAYERS Championship and all eight Signature Events. Players ranked 51st to 70th are also fully exempt for THE PLAYERS Championship. Those finishing 71st and beyond can earn one of the 10 spots available in the Signature Events, but they are primarily competing to finish in the top 125 of the FedEx Cup standings.
At the end of the FedEx Cup Fall, players ranked 126th to 150th on the final FedEx Cup Fall Points List will have conditional status for the following PGA Tour season. All players outside the top 125 can improve or regain TOUR status via PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.
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There are multiple routes to qualification
While it is difficult to pinpoint an exact number of PGA Tour professionals, there are multiple routes to qualification. The PGA Tour is the organizer of professional golf tours in North America, and it runs most of the week-to-week golf events on the circuit.
One way to gain status and compete on the PGA Tour is through the FedEx Cup standings. Each year, the 125 players with the most points are given a card for the next season. The Playoffs kick off with 70 players, reducing to 50, and then the final 30 players compete for the TOUR Championship. The PGA TOUR exempt members are guaranteed access to all Full-Field Events, with various categories subject to reshuffles based on FedExCup points.
Another route to qualification is through sponsor exemptions. These are similar to wildcards in tennis, where tournament sponsors and hosts can invite a few players to compete who have not already qualified.
The DP World Tour, Europe's premier golfing tour, has an alliance with the PGA Tour, allowing the top 10 European players without cards to play on the PGA Tour.
Monday qualifiers are another route to qualification, taking place the Monday before a Thursday start. A select few of the lowest-scoring individuals gain entry into Thursday's event.
Finally, the PGA TOUR Q-School, presented by Korn Ferry, offers another route to qualification. This is the most direct way to earn status, offering PGA TOUR cards to the top five finishers, in addition to Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR Americas status.
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Women can compete in the PGA Tour
While the PGA Tour is the organizer of professional golf tours in North America, there is no rule that limits PGA Tour players to "men only". In fact, women have been competing in PGA Tour events since 1938, when Babe Zaharias became the first woman to do so. Zaharias also became the first and only woman to make a cut in a PGA Tour event in 1945.
Since then, several other women have competed in PGA Tour events, including Annika Sörenstam and Suzy Whaley in 2003, and Michelle Wie from 2004 to 2008. In 2006, Wie made the cut for the Asian Tour SK Telecom Open, the only time she achieved this feat in 13 attempts. In 2011, Isabelle Beisiegel became the first woman to earn a Tour card on a "men's" professional golf tour, the Canadian Tour, now PGA Tour Canada.
Despite these groundbreaking achievements, it is rare for women to compete in PGA Tour events, and none have won a men's tournament. This is often attributed to the fact that women typically cannot hit the ball as far as men, which makes it difficult for them to qualify for or win tournaments. However, there have been exceptions, such as Lexi Thompson, who hit a drive over 300 yards on her first shot in a PGA tournament.
While women are allowed to compete in the PGA Tour, the lack of participation may be due to the challenge of competing with men at the highest level. The PGA Tour is mostly home to the biggest prizes, the best tournaments, and the chance to play against the greatest players in the game. Therefore, it may be more difficult for women to qualify for and succeed in these events, which could contribute to the low number of female participants.
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The PGA Tour is run by the PGA of America
While it is difficult to pinpoint an exact number of PGA Tour professionals, the PGA Tour is the organizer of professional golf tours in North America. It runs the flagship annual series of tournaments known as the PGA Tour, which includes The Players Championship, the FedEx Cup, and the biennial Presidents Cup. The PGA Tour also organizes the PGA Tour Champions for golfers aged 50 and older, the Korn Ferry Tour for golfers who have not yet qualified for the PGA Tour, and PGA Tour Americas.
The PGA Tour was originally established by the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America) in 1916. However, in December 1968, due to disputes over revenue distribution, it became a separate organization for tour players, distinct from the club professionals who are the primary members of today's PGA of America. The new entity was first called the “Tournament Players Division” and was overseen by a 10-member board comprising tour players, PGA of America executives, and outside members. In 1975, it officially changed its name to the "PGA Tour."
Despite the separation, the PGA of America retained control of significant events such as the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup. The PGA Championship, conducted by the PGA of America, is one of the four major men's golf championships and is exclusively for professional players. It is an annual tournament with a substantial purse, attracting top golfers worldwide.
The PGA Tour and the PGA of America have had their differences, such as a marketing dispute in 1981 that led to a temporary name change for the PGA Tour. However, they have also worked together on various occasions, including co-sponsoring the World Golf Championships and other events. The PGA Tour emphasizes charity fundraising, often for local charities in event locations, and is a nonprofit organization itself.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to pinpoint an exact number of PGA Tour professionals, with many golfers holding different exemptions and eligibility. However, 125 players with the most FedEx Cup points are given a card for the next season each year.
There are several ways to qualify for the PGA Tour. The easiest way to gain status is through the FedEx Cup standings. Other ways include sponsor exemptions, Monday qualifiers, and PGA TOUR Q-School, which offers PGA TOUR cards for the top five finishers.
In 1978, the PGA Tour removed its restriction on women, but no women have joined the tour since then. Babe Zaharias became the first woman to compete in a PGA Tour event in 1938 and the first and only woman to make a cut in 1945. More recently, Annika Sörenstam, Suzy Whaley, and Michelle Wie have played in PGA Tour events.
PGA TOUR cards are awarded to players who finish in the top five in PGA TOUR Q-School and the top 125 players with the most FedEx Cup points each year. These cards grant players access to the PGA Tour and the next season.
