How to Join the PGA Tour

Many golfers dream of playing on the PGA tour. To play on the PGA tour, you must have a PGA Tour card. This card makes you eligible to play in PGA Tour Golf tournaments. Unless you have previously won a PGA Tour event or three Nationwide Tour events in a year, you will need to play in the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament to earn a card. This tournament is often called Q-School or Qualifying School. You can also join the tour by playing on the Nationwide Tour and finishing in the top 15 of the money list for the year.

Step 1: Determine for which stage of the Qualifying Tournament you are eligible. There is a pre-qualifying stage, first stage, second stage and final stage. Players may be exempt from certain stages and able to start automatically at a later stage in the tournament based on their credentials. Refer to the Qualifying Tour website (see Resources) for requirements for this year.

Step 2: Complete and submit the application for the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. You will note your preferences for sites for the various stages of the Qualifying Tournament. If you have played in the Qualifying Tournament in the past five years, you can submit your application online. Otherwise, you need to mail your application to the PGA Tour Headquarters by the deadline. The PGA Tour does not accept applications by email or fax. You also must include your registration fee for the tournament.

Step 3: Travel to the site for the Qualifying Tournament stage for which you are registered and play in the Tournament. If you advance through the stage, the PGA Tour will provide you details for the next stage. If you finish in the top 25 at the final stage of the Qualifying Tour, you earn a PGA Tour card.

Step 4: Attend the New Members Orientation Meeting for the PGA Tour. If you have been on the tour in the prior five years, you are exempt from this meeting. The PGA Tour will provide you details for this meeting.

Step 5: Register for PGA Tour events and play golf on the PGA Tour.

There are two ways that a player can join the PGA Tour without participating in the Qualifying Tournament. One way is to qualify for individual tournaments through Monday qualifying and then win enough money to be in the top 125 on the money list. The other way is to qualify for a tournament through Monday qualifying or receive a sponsor's exemption and then win a tournament. A player receives a two year exemption by winning a tournament. Tiger Woods earned his PGA Tour card by winning the Las Vegas Invitational in 1996.

To enter the Qualifying Tournament as an amateur, your Handicap Index must be at least 2 and you must present a valid handicap card.

Be sure to follow all "Rules of Play" during the PGA Qualifying Tournament. You can be disqualified for rules violations.

If you make the final stage of the Qualifying Tournament and do not make the PGA tour, you are eligible for the Nationwide Tour.

• http://www.pgatour.com/qschool/ — PGA Tour Qualifying School Website