How to Earn a PGA Tour Card

Many scratch golfer's dream of hitting a 30-foot putt or sinking a hole-in-one. However, few play golf as their profession. Here's a step by step process for obtaining your Professional Golf Association (PGA) tour card and becoming a professional golfer.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Golf clubs and equipment
• Minimum of $2,500 for Q-School pre-qualifying stage

1. Know that an individual playing on the Nationwide Tour can win three events in a season. The golfer receives an immediate promotion to the PGA Tour for winning three events and an exemption for the following year. The Nationwide Tour is the equivalent to a developmental league for golf.

2. A Nationwide Tour player finishing the season in the top 25 money list earns a PGA tour card for the following season.

3. Keep in mind that golfers can attend Qualifying School, Q-School. Q-School is a four-stage process in which the golfers prove they are qualified for the PGA tour. Q-School, held in the fall, hosts qualifying stages across the United States. The best golfers move on, the rest go home. The final qualifying stage consists of stroke play for 108 holes of golf. The top 25 finishers earn a PGA tour card. The next 50 golfers earn a spot on the Nationwide Tour.

4. Remember that PGA golfers must perform to keep their tour card. The top 125 players on the PGA “Official Money List” receive exemption status for the following year. As well as, players who win a PGA tournament.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice. These guys are professionals, not your weekend warriors out on the course.

Resources

• PGA website