PGA TOUR Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The PGA TOUR (correctly rendered in all caps) is an organization headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA which operates the USA's main professional golf tours. The PGA TOUR operates the following men's tours, which operate mostly in the USA with an occasional event in Canada:
- PGA TOUR, the top men's tour
- Champions Tour, for golfers 50 and over
- Nationwide Tour, a second-level men's tour
The top 20 money-winners on the Nationwide Tour also receive privileges on the following year's PGA TOUR. A golfer who wins three events on that tour in a calendar year also receives PGA TOUR privileges, even if he does not finish in the top 20 on the tour's money list.
At the end of each year, the top 125 money-winners on the PGA TOUR receive exemptions from qualifying for the next year's tournaments. Winning a tour event provides a minimum two-year exemption. Winning the World Series of Golf, or a World Golf Championships event, provides a three-year exemption. Winners of Grand Slam events earn a five-year exemption.
The PGA TOUR's year begins with THE PLAYERS Championship, whose field is limited to tournament winners from the previous year and players within the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings. The winner receives a five-year exemption. At the end of the year, the top 30 money-winners advance to THE TOUR Championship, whose winner earns a three-year exemption.
The PGA TOUR also operates the LPGA Tour for women; see the LPGA article for more details on that tour. Unlike the LPGA, there is no rule in the PGA limiting the players to men only. In 2003, two women, Annika Sörenstam and Suzy Whaley, played in PGA TOUR events; in 2004, Michelle Wie did the same. None of the three made the cut, although Wie missed only by one stroke.
Note that the PGA TOUR is a completely separate organization from the PGA of America, which is now primarily an association of club professionals. The PGA of America, not the PGA TOUR, runs the PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship, and Ryder Cup.
Note also that there is a PGA European Tour, which is totally separate from either the PGA TOUR or the PGA of America; this organization runs a tour, mostly in Europe but with events throughout the world outside of North America, that is second only to the PGA TOUR in worldwide prestige.
Leading money winners - men's tour:
- 1934 : Paul Runyan - $6,767
- 1935 : Johnny Revolta - $9,543
- 1936 : Horton Smith - $7,682
- 1937 : Harry Cooper - $14,139
- 1938 : Sam Snead - $19,534
- 1939 : Henry Picard - $10,303
- 1940 : Ben Hogan - $10,655
- 1941 : Ben Hogan - $18,358
- 1942 : Ben Hogan - $13,143
- 1943 : No records kept
- 1944 : Byron Nelson - $37,968
- 1945 : Byron Nelson - $63,336
- 1946 : Ben Hogan - $42,556
- 1947 : Jimmy Demaret - $27,937
- 1948 : Ben Hogan - $32,112
- 1949 : Sam Snead - $31,594
- 1950 : Sam Snead - $35,759
- 1951 : Lloyd Mangrum - $26,089
- 1952 : Julius Boros - $37,033
- 1953 : Lew Worsham - $34,002
- 1954 : Bob Toski - $65,820
- 1955 : Julius Boros - $63,122
- 1956 : Ted Kroll - $ 72,836
- 1957 : Dick Mayer - $65,835
- 1958 : Arnold Palmer - $42,608
- 1959 : Art Wall - $53,168
- 1960 : Arnold Palmer - $75,263
- 1961 : Gary Player - $64,540
- 1962 : Arnold Palmer - $81,448
- 1963 : Arnold Palmer - $128,230
- 1964 : Jack Nicklaus - $113,285
- 1965 : Jack Nicklaus - $140,752
- 1966 : Billy Casper - $121,945
- 1967 : Jack Nicklaus - $188,998
- 1968 : Billy Casper - $205,169
- 1969 : Frank Beard - $164,707
- 1970 : Lee Trevino - $157,037
- 1971 : Jack Nicklaus - $244,491
- 1972 : Jack Nicklaus - $320,542
- 1973 : Jack Nicklaus - $308,362
- 1974 : Johnny Miller - $353,022
- 1975 : Jack Nicklaus - $298,149
- 1976 : Jack Nicklaus - $266,439
- 1977 : Tom Watson - $310,653
- 1978 : Tom Watson - $362,429
- 1979 : Tom Watson - $462,636
- 1980 : Tom Watson - $530,808
- 1981 : Tom Kite - $375,699
- 1982 : Craig Stadler - $446,462
- 1983 : Hal Sutton - $426,668
- 1984 : Tom Watson - $476,260
- 1985 : Curtis Strange - $542,321
- 1986 : Greg Norman - $653,296
- 1987 : Curtis Strange - $925,941
- 1988 : Curtis Strange - $1,147,644
- 1989 : Tom Kite - $1,395,278
- 1990 : Greg Norman - $1,165,477
- 1991 : Corey Pavin - $979,430
- 1992 : Fred Couples - $1,344,188
- 1993 : Nick Price - $ 1,478,557
- 1994 : Nick Price - $ 1,499,927
- 1995 : Greg Norman - $1,654,959
- 1996 : Tom Lehman - $1,780,159
- 1997 : Tiger Woods - $2,066,833
- 1998 : David Duval - $2,591,031
- 1999 : Tiger Woods - $6,616,585
- 2000 : Tiger Woods - $9,188,321
- 2001 : Tiger Woods - $5,687,777
- 2002 : Tiger Woods - $6,912,625
- 2003 : Vijay Singh - $7,349,907
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