The PGA TOUR - a Closer Look

The PGA TOUR is an organization of professional golfers. It is a non profit, tax exempt organization whose mission to "expand domestically and internationally to substantially increase player financial benefits while maintaining its commitment to the integrity of the game." The PGA TOUR also gives back to the community through giving to charities. It has a strong emphasis in fund raising for charity. Most of the events that take place are usually for the benefit of a local charity.

The PGA TOUR's head quarters are located in Ponte Vedra Beah, Florida USA. The group operates the USA's main professional golf tours. It is distinguished from other golf organizations and contrary to what most people think, it is completely separate from the Professional Golfer's Association of America which is now primarily an association of golf club professionals. The PGA TOUR dwhich seems to have the word "PGA" attached to it such as the PGA Championship, PGA Eurpean Tour and the LPGA. In order to distinguish itself, it's name is officially rendered as "PGA TOUR"

The PGA TOUR has 48 official events and operates mostly in the United States. However they have occasional events abroad in Canada, Mexico and a major championship in the United Kingdom. It runs the PGA Tour-the top, Champions Tour-for golfers 50 and over and the Nationwide Tour. They also conducts an annual qualifying tournament known as Q-School which is a six-round tournament held each fall. Most of the PGA TOUR events are required to be non-profit events with the exception of a few older events.

Most of the PGA tours take place between June and August. Recently the PGA TOUR has introduced a new format dubbed as the "FedEx cup." the FedEx cup regular runs from January through mid -August. The top 144 winners in that contest enables them to compete in the playoffs which happens from mid-August to mid-September. The number of players are reduced until finally the top 30 competes for the championship.

Winners of the PGA tour receive a lot of prices and privileges. In 2006, the PGA tour offered a total of $ 250 million in prize money. The top 30 winners in the Q-school receive the privilege to play on the following year's PGA Tour and the Nation wide Tour. The top 20 winners on the Nationwide Tour receives privileges on the following year's PGA tour. Those who win three events for a calendar year earns a "battlefield promotion" which also have various privileges attached to it. The top 125 Money-winners receive a tour card for the following seasons which exempts from qualifying for most of next year's tournaments. There are some events however that exempt only the top seventy player. If a golfer wins a PGA tour event, he gets a tour card for a minimum of two years. If he wins a World Golf Championship he earns a five year exemption including a lifetime exemptions for those who has twenty wins on the tour. One year exemptions are also given to the top fifty players in the Career Money List. Medical exemptions are also granted to injured players. Winners in the FedEx cup "regular season" help them earn FedEx cup points which could add to their points in order to help them win the championship. They also win a cash price whether they play in the championships, playoffs or the regular season of the FedEx cup.