What Are Alternate Events on the PGA Tour?

With the top eligible players drawn to Signature Events and major championships, alternate field events offer more unproven and up-and-coming players a chance to compete on the PGA Tour. 

Alternate field events offer smaller purses than regular PGA Tour events. In addition, alternate field events award fewer FedExCup points (300 points for a win, rather than the standard 500) than regular events. Because the Official World Golf Rankings give each event a Field Rating which is based on the ranking of each player in the field, and alternate events include players farther down the rankings than the events they are opposite of, alternate events are weighed less when calculating a player’s Official World Golf Ranking.

Winners of alternate field events take home less cash, $720,000 of the standard $4,000,000 purse in 2024,, as opposed to full field and limited field events where winners cash checks ranging from $1.4 million to over $3 million.

All that doesn’t mean there isn't value in alternate field events. They allow newer players a greater chance to achieve a breakout victory. While a win at an alternate event does not include a Masters invitation, it does come with a 2-year PGA Tour exemption.

Here’s a look at how alternate field events compare to regular tour events, Signature Events, and major championships.

There are four alternate events for the 2024 PGA Tour season.