Nina Caldwell
There are over twenty professional golf tours run each year by the PGA and independent tour organizations. These tours are responsible for arranging events, finding sponsors, and regulating the tours. The PGA Tour is the most popular and well-known tournament, featuring lucrative events with large prize pools. There are separate tours for men and women, with the LPGA Tour being the most famous and lucrative for women golfers. Each tour has members who have earned their spots through success in entry tournaments or notable achievements on other tours.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Professional Golf Tours | More than 20 |
| Governing Body | International Federation of PGA Tours |
| Examples of Famous Tours | The Masters, The Open, The Memorial, The Senior Players, The Canadian Open, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, LIV Golf Series, DP World Tour |
| Examples of Developmental Tours | Challenge Tour, Web.com Tour, Legends Tour |
| Examples of Senior Tours | PGA Tour Champions, Legends Tour |
| Examples of Women's Tours | LPGA Tour, LPGA of Japan Tour, Epson Tour |
Explore related products
The PGA Tour
The roots of the modern PGA Tour stretch back to 1916, when the PGA was formed. Various prestigious golf tournaments were established in America during this time, including the North and South Open, the Metropolitan Open, the Canadian Open, and the Western Open. These formed the initial schedule of what would become the PGA Tour, with the addition of the PGA Championship in 1916.
Golf Season: When Does It End?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The LPGA Tour
There are over twenty professional golf tours worldwide, with the PGA Tour being the most well-known. The LPGA Tour, also known as the Ladies Professional Golf Association, is the leading pro golf organisation for women. It was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida. The LPGA Tour is the dominant first-tier regional tour, with tournaments in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is the main playing base for almost all of the world's leading female golfers.
In addition to the main LPGA Tour, the LPGA also owns and operates the Epson Tour (formerly the Futures Tour), which is the official developmental tour. Top finishers at the end of each season on that tour receive playing privileges on the main LPGA Tour for the following year. The LPGA also runs an annual qualifying school, similar to the PGA Tour. The LPGA Tour's only team event is the Dow Championship.
The LPGA Foundation supports women and young people through programmes and initiatives aimed at empowering them through the game of golf. Girls Golf, for example, is a programme designed to introduce girls to the game of golf and empower them with confidence, friendships, and life skills. The LPGA also has a Hall of Fame, which traces its roots back to the Hall of Fame of Women's Golf, instituted in 1950 at the Augusta (Ga.) Country Club.
Golfing Basics: A Beginner's Guide to Getting Started
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Developmental tours
As professional golf has expanded, so too have the number of developmental tours. These tours are a great opportunity for aspiring golfers to develop their skills and gain experience in a competitive atmosphere.
The Challenge Tour, established in 1986, is one of the most well-known developmental tours. It is a second-tier tour to the European Tour. The Web.com Tour, originally called the Ben Hogan Tour, is another popular developmental tour. It has helped many golfers develop their professional abilities and work their way up to the PGA Tour. The Korn Ferry Tour, as it is now known, is a second-tier tour to the PGA Tour.
The Swing Thought Tour, based out of South Carolina, has been around for years and has seen many alumni go on to have success on the PGA Tour. The tour provides a highly competitive atmosphere for players to develop their skills and experience all aspects of life as a touring golf professional.
The Minor League Golf Tour, based in Florida, is another fantastic option for aspiring golfers. They hold numerous one and two-day events all year round, allowing players to compete when it is convenient for them.
The Mackenzie Tour in Canada is another notable developmental tour. It is considered a "big-time" mini-tour due to its backing by the PGA Tour. It has served as a favourite developmental tour for future tour stars such as Nick Watney, Chris Dimarco, Mike Weir and Steve Stricker.
Strategies for Scoring High in Ladder Golf
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Senior tours
The PGA Senior Club Professional Championship was renamed the Senior PGA Professional Championship and was first held in 1995. It consists of 288 players competing across two rounds in a strokeplay format. The top 15 finishers gain entry into the PGA Seniors Championship, which can be a springboard for a permanent place on the European Senior Tour. The 2025 Senior PGA Professional Championship took place at Moor Park Golf Club from 14-16 May, with a prize fund of £50,000.
The PGA Tour Champions (originally the Senior PGA Tour and later the Champions Tour) is another senior tour. The Legends Tour (originally the European Senior Tour) is also a senior tour, which one golfer reported playing on alongside the LPGA.
The Treasure Coast Senior Tour is a mini-tour in South Florida, which one golfer reported playing on alongside the Legends Tour and the LPGA.
Adam Golf Clubs: Affordable Quality?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The European Tour
There are more than twenty professional golf tours globally, each run by a Professional Golfers Association or an independent tour organisation. Most of the major tours are player-controlled organisations that aim to maximise the income of their members by boosting prize money.
The PGA Tour is the most well-known tournament in the sport, running all pro golf tournaments in the US and North America. The LPGA is the equivalent for women.
Golf Batteries: Cold Weather Performance
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There are over 20 professional golf tours, each run by a Professional Golfers Association or an independent tour organisation.
Some of the most famous golf tours include the PGA Tour, the LIV Golf Series, the DP World Tour, the LPGA Tour, and the Legends Tour.
Golfers can become members of a leading tour by succeeding in an entry tournament, usually called a Qualifying School (Q-School), or by achieving a designated level of success in tournaments when competing as a non-member.
