Professional Golfers' Association

Background

The PGA Tour is the premier professional golf organization in North America. It operates as a nonprofit (see tax filings) and is responsible for organizing and operating the main professional golf tours, as well as player memberships and charitable contributions.

The Tour season consists of weekly tournaments beginning in January, with each of the four major tournaments played monthly from April to July. The season ends with a three-week playoff in August to decide the $25M FedEx Cup champion.

Golfers are independent contractors, not employees of the Tour or a team, and earn money primarily through sponsorships and tournament winnings. There are roughly 200 golfers in the FedEx Cup rankings annually, and pro golfers from around the world can qualify for PGA Tour events.

Early History

The game of golf has a rich history where stick-and-ball games evolved into a game with a hole. The first written mention dates back to 15th-century Scotland, with the first rules published in Edinburgh in 1744.

The first 18-hole course was established at St. Andrews in 1764 (see every hole), setting the standard for modern courses. The Open Championship, the oldest pro golf tournament, is typically played there every five years. Since 1872, the winner has had their name etched on the Claret Jug.

Amateur golf was first organized in America when the United States Golf Association was formed in 1894. The early 1900s saw a surge in golf courses across the US. The Professional Golfers’ Association of America was formed in 1916 in New York with the primary goal of promoting and growing the game of golf.

Following disruptions during World War I, the PGA joined with the British PGA to create the official Ryder Cup match-play tournament in 1927. Two 12-member teams play every two years, alternating between European and American courses. The Americans lead the Europeans 27-15.

The PGA Tour was the last major professional sports organization to desegregate, removing the “Caucasian-only” membership clause in 1961.

Split From PGA

The PGA was established for golf pros who ran pro shops and gave lessons. Touring pros weren’t prevalent until the 1950s, but as their numbers grew, so did the tension with the golf pros.

Tournament qualifiers were open to tour regulars and local PGA members, meaning up to 150 golfers competed for 50-75 weekly spots. Thanks to new TV deals, total tour prize money went from $1M in 1958 to $5.6M in 1968, increasing competition.

Tensions came to a head in 1966 when the PGA used its veto power for the first time to block a lucrative Frank Sinatra-hosted tournament. The touring pros revolted, issuing a seven-point manifesto. Negotiations went on until 1968, when they formed the American Professional Golfers, Inc. (read Jack Nicklaus' essay)

A month before the new APG Tour was to start, lawyers for both sides hammered out an agreement (read how) that separated the PGA Tour from the PGA. All lawsuits were dismissed, and all APG contracts and tournaments were transferred to the PGA.

LIV Alliance

In 2021, a rival professional league, LIV Golf Investments, was unveiled, with former PGA Tour champion Greg Norman named CEO. LIV is financed through the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund and offers up to $25M tournament purses for regular-season events.

PGA Tour superstars Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson were among the first big-name defectors, all of whom were suspended by the PGA Tour. Multiple lawsuits followed, further dividing golf’s top talent. (see timeline)

In June 2023, LIV and PGA Tour announced a framework agreement to create an alliance and dismiss lawsuits. As of late 2024, the alliance has not been created, and LIV golfers are banned from playing in PGA Tour events. They can play in the four majors.