The PGA TOUR reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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PGA TOUR

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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:

The PGA TOUR also conducts an annual Qualifying School, a six-round tournament held each fall; the top 30 finishers, including ties, receive privileges to play on the following year's PGA TOUR. Other upper-level finishers receive privileges on the Nationwide 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.

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:

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