Do pro golfers have to pay to play at PGA Tour events?
Playing on the PGA Tour is a dream for all aspiring golfers. However, it's not very easy to compete at the high-level circuit.
Players either earn an exemption to compete on the PGA Tour by earning the card or through a sponsor exemption. However, there is also an option like Monday qualifiers, which can help players to compete on the circuit.
According to Golf Monthly, a PGA Tour player exempted from qualification does not need to pay any entry fee to compete at the circuit's events. However, those earning qualification through pre-tournament qualification events have to pay entry fees.
Players need to pay at least $400 per qualification event. However, the fee is limited to $100 for development Tour players, including Champions or Korn Ferry Tour.
Although players exempted from qualification do not need to pay entry fees, they have to pay around $100 initiation fees and $50 for the locker room. Players also have to pay $100 in annual dues as per the 2022-23 PGA Tour handbook.
The PGA Tour events boasts a whopping purse, and players can earn hefty amounts after securing a good finish on the leaderboard. However, it is important to note that most of the PGA Tour events have a cutline after 36 holes, and only players who make the cut earn prize money, while those who miss the cut return home empty-handed.
PGA Tour players
Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark, and Ludvig Aberg are some of the top-ranked players who currently play on the PGA Tour.
With the formation of the LIV Golf in 2021, dozens of Tour players joined the Saudi Circuit and have been banned from playing on the PGA Tour. This includes Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and many others.
Here are some of the players who currently play on the PGA Tour:
- Scottie Scheffler
- Wyndham Clark
- Hideki Matsuyama
- Ludvig Åberg
- Xander Schauffele
- Chris Kirk
- Sahith Theegala
- Matthieu Pavon
- Will Zalatoris
- Brian Harman
- Byeong Hun An
- Stephan Jaeger
- Akshay Bhatia
- Cameron Young
- Nick Taylor
- Max Homa
- Jake Knapp
- Collin Morikawa
- Luke List
- Tom Hoge
- Shane Lowry
- Jason Day
- Peter Malnati
- J.T. Poston
- Patrick Cantlay
- Sam Burns
- Russell Henley
- Harris English
- Si Woo Kim
- Jordan Spieth
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Austin Eckroat
- Adam Hadwin
- Justin Thomas
- Grayson Murray
- Thomas Detry
- Erik van Rooyen
- Denny McCarthy
- Eric Cole
- Rory McIlroy
- Tony Finau
- Taylor Moore
- Keegan Bradley
- Brendon Todd
- Adam Schenk
- Corey Conners
- Maverick McNealy
- Mark Hubbard
- Sepp Straka
- Mackenzie Hughes
- Sungjae Im
- Min Woo Lee
- Kevin Yu
- Andrew Putnam
- Cam Davis
- Doug Ghim
- Patrick Rodgers
- Alex Noren
- Nate Lashley
- Adam Scott
- Charley Hoffman
- Taylor Montgomery
- Keith Mitchell
- Kurt Kitayama
- Sami Valimaki
This week, PGA Tour players are playing at the 2024 RBC Heritage, which is scheduled to have its finale on Sunday, April 21, at the Harbour Town Golf Links. It's the fifth Signature event of the year.