Earliest Pros
The modern game took shape in Scotland in the 18th and 19th centuries. The first generally known professionals were the Robertson family at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews around 1840.
First U.S Pros
The 1895 U.S. Open in Newport, Rhode Island, featured nine professional golfers and one amateur. It is widely acknowledged as the start of the professional game in the United States. The Professional Golfers Association was formed in 1916. Most members were golf course pros. The same year, the first PGA Championship was held in Bronxville, New York.
Expansion of the Pro Game
By the 1920s, Florida, Texas and other warm weather states had pro tournaments. In 1927, the first Ryder Cup, matching the best American and British pro golfers, was held.
Growth in Popularity
Golf saw a steady growth in popularity after World War II. The Ladies Professional Golf Tour was launched in 1950. And CBS began carrying PGA events in the late 1950s.
The Modern Game
The PGA Tour separated from the PGA itself in the late 1960s. This split emphasized the difference between tournament players and golf course pros. In 1972, the PGA Tour helped create a European Tour, linking important European tournaments into a PGA style circuit.
Exploding Popularity
The steady expansion of pro golf received a huge jolt in 1996 when Tiger Woods joined the tour. His unprecedented popularity led to huge increases in attendance, TV ratings and sponsorship. To ensure the continued prominence of pro golf, the PGA launched the FedEx Cup in 2007, giving golf its first playoff-caliber events.
About The Author
James Bolger has more than two decades of experience writing on health, nutrition, golf, fitness, travel, insurance, home improvement, and more. He writes health and wellness materials for some of the nation's largest hospitals and health plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, U. of Michigan Health System and The Ohio State U. Medical Center. He served as managing editor for Maturity Matters, a newsletter on senior lifestyles, and Your Health and Fitness, a consumer health magazine.
