Ava Romero
Golf tours are the means by which unconnected golf tournaments are organised into a regular schedule. There are separate tours for men and women, and most are based in a specific geographical region. The PGA Tour is the biggest golf tour in the world, with the LPGA Tour being its female equivalent. Other major tours include the European Tour, the Liv Golf Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour, the Challenge Tour, the Asian Tour, the LPGA of Japan Tour, and the Sunshine Tour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of golf tours | There are many golf tours around the world |
| Well-known golf tours | PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, European Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, Challenge Tour, Liv Golf |
| Types of tours | First-tier, second-tier, third-tier, developmental, regional |
| Income sources | Entry fees, travel costs, endorsements, prize money |
| Player income | Top golfers can make up to 8-figure incomes in USD from tournament play |
| Examples of tournaments | Genesis Scottish Open, ISCO Championship, The Open Championship, Barracuda Championship, Ryder Cup |
| Tournament frequency | Annual, seasonal |
| Tournament schedule | Tournament schedule is regular |
| Tournament organizers | Single organization, golf club, golf association, commercial sponsor |
| Player characteristics | Touring professionals, tournament golfers, pro golfers |
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The PGA Tour
The roots of the modern PGA Tour stretch back to 10 April 1916, when the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America) was formed. The modern tour recognises wins from this era as "PGA Tour" victories, despite the formal founding of the tour as a separate entity coming much later. By 1916, several prestigious golf tournaments offering prize money to the winner had been established in America, including the North and South Open, the Metropolitan Open, the Canadian Open, the Shawnee Open, the Western Open and the U.S. Open. They formed the initial schedule of what came to be known much later as the "PGA Tour", with the addition of the PGA Championship in 1916.
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LPGA Tour
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is an American organisation for female golfers, founded in 1950. It is headquartered at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida, and is best known for running the LPGA Tour, a series of weekly golf tournaments for elite women professional golfers worldwide. The LPGA Tour is the dominant tour and is the main playing base for almost all the world's leading players.
The LPGA Tour is the main LPGA tournament, but the LPGA also owns and operates the Epson Tour (formerly the Futures Tour), the official LPGA developmental tour. Top finishers at the end of each Epson Tour season receive playing privileges on the LPGA Tour for the following year. The Epson Tour is the second-tier women's professional tour in the United States.
The LPGA Tour typically holds events in the United States, but it also has tournaments in Canada, Mexico, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and other Asian countries. As of 2025, six of the tournaments held outside North America are co-sanctioned with other professional tours. For example, the Ladies European Tour co-sanctions the Women's British Open, The Evian Championship in France, and the Women's Scottish Open.
The LPGA has played a season-ending championship tournament since 2006. The tournament has had several names over the years, including the LPGA Playoffs at The ADT, the LPGA Tour Championship, and the CME Group Titleholders. Since 2014, it has been known as the CME Group Tour Championship.
In addition to the LPGA Tour, there are six other first-tier regional women's golf tours. The LPGA of Japan Tour is the second-richest tour and retains many of its leading players. Similar to the Korn Ferry Tour, which is a developmental tour for the PGA, the Symetra Tour is a developmental tour for the LPGA.
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Korn Ferry Tour
The Korn Ferry Tour is a developmental golf tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour. It is primarily for golfers who have not yet reached the PGA Tour or who have failed to win enough FedEx Cup points to maintain their PGA Tour status. The top 30 golfers on the Korn Ferry Tour money list at the end of the year are awarded PGA Tour memberships for the following season. The Korn Ferry Tour has been the primary route to earning a PGA Tour card since 2013, replacing Q-School, which became an entryway to the Korn Ferry Tour.
The Korn Ferry Tour was first announced in 1989 by PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman and was initially called the Ben Hogan Tour, sponsored by the Ben Hogan Golf Company. The first season in 1990 featured 30 events, with a typical purse of $100,000. In 2003, the tour was renamed the Nationwide Tour after Nationwide Insurance became the title sponsor. In 2012, Web.com replaced Nationwide Insurance as the sponsor, and the tour became the Web.com Tour. In 2019, Korn Ferry, a Los Angeles-based consulting firm, became the tour's sponsor, and the tour was renamed accordingly.
The Korn Ferry Tour has primarily hosted tournaments in the mainland United States but has also held events in Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Panama, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas. All Korn Ferry Tour tournaments are 72-hole stroke play events, with a cut after 36 holes for the top 65 players and ties, matching the PGA Tour. The winner of each tournament receives 18% of the total purse, and since 1997, any player who wins three tournaments in a year is immediately promoted to the PGA Tour for the rest of that year and the following year.
The Korn Ferry Tour is a pathway for golfers to advance to the PGA Tour, providing opportunities for players to develop their skills and compete for a chance to play on golf's biggest stage.
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Regional tours
One of the well-known regional tours is the LPGA Tour (Ladies Professional Golf Association), which is the dominant tour for women's golf. It hosts tournaments in various countries, including Canada, Mexico, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and other Asian nations. The LPGA of Japan Tour is the second-richest tour and manages to retain many of its leading players. The Epson Tour (formerly known as Symetra and Futures) is the second-tier women's professional tour in the United States, providing a platform for women's developmental play.
In addition to the LPGA and its associated tours, there are several other notable regional tours worldwide. These include the Professional Golf Tour of India, PGA Tour China, and the All Thailand Golf Tour. Regional tours also exist for players who have not yet reached the level of the Korn Ferry Tour or the Challenge Tour, such as the PGA Tour Latin America, the NGA Tour (previously the Hooters Tour), and the Nordic League.
The concept of regional tours has evolved over time, with the PGA Tour, established in 1968, pioneering the tour system. The LPGA Tour began in 1950, followed by the Sunshine Tour in 1971 and the Japan Golf Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia in 1973. The Asian Tour, which started in 1995, was preceded by the Asia Golf Circuit from 1962 to 1999. These regional tours have played a significant role in the development of professional golf, providing structure and opportunities for golfers worldwide.
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Developmental tours
There are a multitude of golf tours around the world, and while some are more well-known, there are also many 'third-level' tours. The PGA Tour is the biggest golf tour in the world, with the LPGA Tour being the equivalent for women.
Some of the most notable developmental tours include:
- The Korn Ferry Tour (also known as the Web.com Tour) is a second-tier tour to the PGA Tour. It is a developmental tour for pro golfers who are yet to qualify for the PGA Tour.
- The Challenge Tour is a second-tier tour to the European Tour.
- The Asian Development Tour is a second-tier tour to the Asian Tour.
- The Mackenzie Tour Canada is a "big-time" mini-tour due to its backing by the PGA Tour. It has been a favourite developmental tour for future stars such as Nick Watney and Mike Weir.
- The Swing Thought Tour, based out of South Carolina, has been a launchpad for many golfers who have gone on to have success on the PGA Tour.
- The Minor League Golf Tour, based in Florida, holds one and two-day events year-round.
- The Great Lakes Tour, based in the Greater Toronto Area, has been a vital training ground for some of Canada's best touring professionals.
- The Mandarin Tour, also based in the Greater Toronto Area, aims to provide Canadian golfers with a full tournament schedule and a highly competitive atmosphere.
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Frequently asked questions
The biggest golf tour in the world is the PGA Tour, which runs all pro golf tournaments in the US and North America. The LPGA Tour is the equivalent for women. Other major tours include the European Tour, the Liv Golf Tour, and the Korn Ferry Tour, which is a developmental tour for golfers who have yet to qualify for the PGA Tour.
Smaller golf tours include the Nordic League, Alps Tour, PGA Tour Latin America, NGA Tour, and the Clutch Tour in Britain. There are also many 'third-level' tours across the world, such as the All Thailand Golf Tour, the Professional Golf Tour of India, and the Japan Challenge Tour.
At least 95% of professional golfers make most of their income as club or teaching professionals, rather than from competition. However, a small elite makes a significant income from tournament play, endorsements, and prize money. Caddies also earn a lot of money from tournament wins.
