History of PGA Tour in Timeline

The PGA Tour is a non-profit organization that organizes professional golf tours primarily in North America. It oversees several tours, including the flagship PGA Tour, the PGA Tour Champions (for golfers age 50 and older), the Korn Ferry Tour, and PGA Tour Americas. The PGA Tour's headquarters are located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. It is the predominant organizer of professional golf tournaments in North America.

April 10, 1916: Formation of the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA)

On April 10, 1916, the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) was formed, laying the foundation for what would later become the modern PGA Tour.

1916: Initial Schedule of PGA Tour

In 1916, several prestigious golf tournaments were established in America, including the North and South Open, the Metropolitan Open, the Canadian Open, the Shawnee Open, the Western Open and the U.S. Open. The PGA Championship was added in 1916, forming the initial schedule of what came to be known much later as the "PGA Tour".

1929: Formalization of "The Circuit"

In 1929, the tour, then known informally as "The Circuit" for professional golfers in the PGA, became more formalized with the formation of a tournament committee consisting of Tommy Armour, Al Espinosa, and J.J. Patterson.

1930: Bob Harlow Hired as Manager

In 1930, Bob Harlow was hired as manager of the PGA Tournament Bureau and worked to formalize a year-round schedule of tournaments.

1938: Babe Zaharias competes in a PGA Tour event

In 1938, Babe Zaharias became the first woman to compete in a PGA Tour event.

1945: Babe Zaharias makes the cut in a PGA Tour event

In 1945, Babe Zaharias became the first and only woman to make a cut in a PGA Tour event.

1945: Byron Nelson's Record-Breaking Year

In 1945, Byron Nelson had a record-breaking year, winning 18 PGA tournaments out of the 30 he played, including 11 in a row.

1948: In 1948, PGA Player of the Year award created

In 1948, the PGA Player of the Year award dates back to (originally named the PGA Golfer of the Year) and was awarded by the PGA of America.

1958: Arnold Palmer Captures First Masters Tournament

In 1958, Arnold Palmer won his first Masters Tournament, which was broadcast on CBS, boosting his popularity as a crowd favorite and TV star.

July 1968: Dissatisfaction Voiced at PGA Championship

Following the final major in July 1968 at the PGA Championship, several leading tour pros voiced their dissatisfaction with the venue and the abundance of club pros in the field, contributing to increased friction between touring professionals and the PGA of America.

December 1968: PGA Tour Spun Off

In December 1968, the PGA Tour was spun off from the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America) into a separate organization for tour players.

1968: Inauguration of The Byron Nelson

In 1968, The Byron Nelson, which became the first PGA Tour event to be named for a professional golfer, was inaugurated.

January 1969: Joseph Dey Selected as First Commissioner

In January 1969, Joseph Dey, the recently retired USGA executive director, was selected as the tour's first commissioner.

1974: Introduction of The Players Championship

In 1974, The Players Championship, the tour's flagship event, was introduced.

1974: Deane Beman Becomes Commissioner

In early 1974, tour player Deane Beman succeeded Joseph Dey as commissioner, a position he held for twenty years.

1975: Name Change to PGA Tour

In 1975, the Tournament Players Division adopted the name "PGA Tour", marking a significant step in establishing its identity.

1978: Restriction on Women Removed

In 1978, the PGA Tour "removed its restriction on women."

1979: Addition of European Players to Ryder Cup

In 1979, players from continental Europe were added to the Ryder Cup team, enhancing the event's competitiveness and popularity.

August 1981: Name Change to TPA Tour

In late August 1981, the PGA Tour had a marketing dispute with the PGA of America and officially changed its name to the TPA Tour, for the "Tournament Players Association".

March 1982: Return to PGA Tour Name

In March 1982, the issues were resolved and the tour's name was changed back to the "PGA Tour".

1986: Introduction of the Official World Golf Ranking

In 1986, the Official World Golf Ranking was introduced, increasing competition between the PGA Tour and the European Tour for top golfers.

1987: Introduction of The Tour Championship

In 1987, The Tour Championship was introduced.

1990: PGA Tour Player of the Year award introduced

In 1990, the PGA Tour Player of the Year award, also known as the Jack Nicklaus Trophy, was introduced by the PGA Tour.

1990: Rookie of the Year award introduced

In 1990, the Rookie of the Year award was introduced by the PGA Tour to recognize outstanding first-season players.

June 1994: Tim Finchem Becomes Commissioner

In June 1994, Tim Finchem became the third commissioner of the PGA Tour.

1995: The Open Championship Becomes a PGA Tour Event

In 1995, The Open Championship in the UK, the oldest golf tournament in the world founded in 1860, became a PGA Tour event.

1999: Beginning of World Golf Championships

In 1999, the PGA tour began play of the World Golf Championships.

2002: Retroactive Recognition of Open Championship Wins

In 2002, all Open Championship wins dating back to 1860 were retroactively recognized as PGA Tour victories.

2003: Annika Sörenstam and Suzy Whaley play in PGA Tour events

In 2003, Annika Sörenstam and Suzy Whaley played in PGA Tour events.

2004: Michelle Wie plays in PGA Tour events

From 2004 through 2008, Michelle Wie played in PGA Tour events each year.

2005: Adam Scott wins 2005 Nissan Open

In 2005, Adam Scott won the Nissan Open, which was considered unofficial due to the event being shortened to 36 holes.

2005: PGA Tour partners with XM Satellite Radio

In 2005, the PGA Tour partnered with XM Satellite Radio to co-produce the PGA Tour Network, now Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio, featuring event coverage and golf-related talk programming.

2005: PGA Tour launches "Drive to a Billion" campaign

In 2005, the PGA Tour started a campaign to push its all-time fundraising tally past one billion dollars, called "Drive to a Billion," and it reached that mark one week before the end of the season.

2007: Golf Channel becomes pay television rightsholder of the PGA Tour

In 2007, Golf Channel became the pay television rightsholder of the PGA Tour.

2007: The Players Championship Moved to May

In 2007, The Players Championship was moved to May to create a marquee event in five consecutive months.

2007: Introduction of Tournament in Mexico

In 2007, a tournament in Mexico was introduced as an alternate event staged the same week as the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

2007: Introduction of the Fall Series

In 2007, the PGA Tour introduced a circuit known as the Fall Series, originally with seven tournaments but now with four, to focus on the less successful players earning enough money to retain their tour cards.

2008: Michelle Wie plays in PGA Tour events

From 2004 through 2008, Michelle Wie played in PGA Tour events each year.

2008: Introduction of Tournament in Puerto Rico

In 2008, a tournament in Puerto Rico was introduced as an alternate event staged opposite the WGC-CA Championship.

2008: Tweaks to the Fall Series Schedule

In 2008, the Fall Series schedule was tweaked, with the first event held opposite the Ryder Cup and a week off for the Tour Championship before continuing with its remaining six events.

2008: Fall Series Event and Week Off

In 2008, the Fall Series took a week off for the Tour Championship before continuing with its remaining six events.

2008: Change in Cut Policy Approved

In 2008, the PGA Tour Policy Board approved a change in the number of players that will make the cut. Later in February, the Policy Board announced a revised cut policy, effective beginning with the Honda Classic. The new policy calls for 36-hole cut to the low 70 professionals and ties and, if that cut results in more than 78 players, a second 54-hole cut to the low 70 professionals and ties.

2008: Schedule Tweaks and Break Before Ryder Cup

In 2008, the PGA Tour schedule was tweaked slightly, and a break was taken before the Ryder Cup, with the Tour Championship following the week after.

June 23, 2009: Setanta's UK arm ceases broadcasting

On June 23, 2009, Setanta's UK arm went into administration and ceased broadcasting, affecting its exclusive UK and Ireland rights for PGA Tour events.

2009: Eurosport picks up TV rights for remainder of 2009 season

In 2009, Eurosport acquired the television rights for the remainder of the PGA Tour season.

2009: Tweaks to the Fall Series Schedule

In 2009, the Fall Series schedule was tweaked again, with one event moving to May and another dropping off the schedule entirely. The series returned to its original start date and took a week off for the Presidents Cup.

2009: PGA Tour organizes week-to-week events

In 2009, the PGA Tour organized the remaining 43 week-to-week events, including The Players Championship and the FedEx Cup events, as well as the biennial Presidents Cup.

2009: Schedule Tweaks and Break Before Tour Championship

In 2009, the PGA Tour schedule was tweaked slightly again, and a break was followed by the Tour Championship, with the Presidents Cup taking place two weeks after that.

2009: PGA Tour charity fundraising total

In 2009, the total raised for charity by the PGA Tour was approximately $108 million.

2009: Fall Series Changes

The Fall Series saw major changes for 2009, with one of its events moving to May and another dropping off the schedule entirely. It returned to its original start date of the week after the Tour Championship.

2010: SBS Championship Renamed Following Hyundai Sponsorship

Effective in 2010, Korean automobile manufacturer Hyundai took over the title sponsorship of the season's opening tournament, but SBS still remains a sponsor of the event.

2011: Hyundai takes over sponsorship of SBS Championship.

In 2011 Korean automobile manufacturer Hyundai took over the title sponsorship of the season's opening tournament, though SBS remained as a sponsor.

2011: Isabelle Beisiegel earns Tour card on Canadian Tour

In 2011, Isabelle Beisiegel became the first woman to earn a Tour card on a "men's" professional golf tour, the Canadian Tour, now PGA Tour Canada.

2011: Fall Series Reduced to Four Events

The Fall Series was reduced to four events for 2011, all held after the Tour Championship, following the move of the Viking Classic into the regular season as an alternate event.

March 2012: PGA Tour Courage Award introduced

In March 2012, the PGA Tour Courage Award was introduced to recognize talents that have battled with extraordinary adversity.

March 20, 2012: Announcement of Radical Changes

On March 20, 2012, the PGA Tour announced radical changes to the tour's season and qualifying process.

2012: PGA Tour card retention criteria change

In 2012, the top 125 players on the money list at the end of the PGA Tour season retained their tour cards.

2012: PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament Top Finishers

Through the 2012 edition, the top-25 finishers, including ties, of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament received privileges to play on the following year's PGA Tour. Remaining finishers in the top 75, plus ties, received full privileges on the Korn Ferry Tour.

2013: PGA Tour card retention criteria change for 2013 season

For the 2013 season only, the top 125 players on both the money list and the FedEx Cup points list at the end of the FedEx Cup regular season in August retained their tour cards.

2013: CIMB Classic and HSBC Champions become full PGA Tour events

In 2013, the CIMB Classic in Malaysia and the HSBC Champions event in China gained full PGA Tour status, which meant official prize money for the first time. Previously, these events were sanctioned but wins did not count as official PGA Tour wins, and money earned in these events did not count as official PGA Tour earnings.

2013: Minor Tweak to Details

One of the final details of the changes to the PGA tour received a minor tweak, effective for the 2013 season only, on September 11.

2013: Korn Ferry Tour golfers earn PGA Tour privileges

Since 2013, 50 Korn Ferry Tour golfers earn privileges during the next PGA Tour season, which now begins the month after the Tour Finals.

2013: Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament format change

Since 2013, all competitors who made the final phase of Q-School earned status on the Korn Ferry Tour at the start of the following season, with high finishers receiving additional rights.

2013: FedEx Cup points system changes

Since 2013, players who are ranked between 126 and 200 in FedEx Cup points are eligible for entry in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, where they can regain their PGA Tour privileges.

2013: Last Season Conducted Entirely Within Calendar Year

The 2013 season was the last to be conducted entirely within a calendar year for the PGA Tour.

2014: New PGA Tour card retention system implemented

In 2014, the PGA tour implemented the plan to have the top 125 players on the FedEx Cup points list retain their tour cards. The next 75 players on the points list, along with the top 75 on the money list of the Korn Ferry Tour, became eligible to play in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.

2014: Season Starts in October of Previous Year

Since the 2014 season, the PGA Tour season starts in October of the previous calendar year, shortly after the Tour Championship, and tournaments in the now season-opening Fall Series are awarded full FedEx Cup points.

2015: PGA Tour adds military service exemption freeze clause

In 2015, the PGA Tour added a clause that would freeze an exemption for those required to perform military service in their native countries. This was a response to South Korea's Bae Sang-moon having to leave the Tour for that reason.

January 1, 2017: Jay Monahan Succeeds Tim Finchem

On January 1, 2017, Jay Monahan succeeded Tim Finchem as commissioner of the PGA Tour.

2017: PGA Tour considers opting out of broadcast television contracts

In 2017, the PGA Tour considered invoking an option to opt out of its broadcast television contracts, but ultimately decided against doing so.

2017: Charity fundraising through tournaments

In 2017, the organization announced it had generated $180 million for charities through tournaments of its six tours.

June 2018: Discovery, Inc. acquires international media rights to PGA Tour

In June 2018, Discovery, Inc. acquired exclusive international media rights to the PGA Tour outside of the United States, starting in 2019, under a 12-year deal.

January 2019: GolfTV to replace PGA Tour Live in international markets

Beginning in January 2019, GolfTV was set to replace PGA Tour Live in international markets as existing rights lapsed.

March 9, 2020: PGA Tour renews contracts with CBS and NBC

On March 9, 2020, the PGA Tour announced renewed contracts with CBS and NBC through 2030, maintaining existing broadcast arrangements with alternating rights to the FedEx Cup playoffs' final three events.

June 2020: PGA Tour University Created

In June 2020, the PGA Tour announced the creation of PGA Tour University, a scheme to create pathways for collegiate golfers to join development tours operated by the PGA Tour.

2020: Cut Line Reduced

For the 2020 season, the PGA tour reduced the cut line to 65 plus ties and eliminated the 54-hole cut.

2020: PGA Tour renews broadcast television rights contracts

In 2020, CBS Sports and NBC Sports renewed their contracts to hold the PGA Tour's broadcast television rights through 2030.

2021: PGA Tour Expresses Concerns Over LIV Golf

In late 2021, the PGA Tour began communicating with White House officials and members of Congress to voice concerns about LIV Golf, paying over $400,000 to DLA Piper to lobby lawmakers on LIV Golf proposals.

June 2022: PGA Tour Suspends Players Participating in LIV Golf Invitational Series

In June 2022, the PGA Tour suspended 17 players, including major champions Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, and Phil Mickelson, who participated in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event. Future LIV Golf participants would face similar penalties.

July 2022: US Department of Justice Investigates PGA Tour

In July 2022, the US Department of Justice investigated the PGA Tour for potential anti-competitive behavior with LIV Golf.

August 2022: LIV Golf Players File Antitrust Lawsuit Against PGA Tour

In August 2022, 11 players who had joined LIV Golf filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour challenging their suspensions, though attempts to gain a temporary restraining order to participate in the FedEx Cup playoffs failed.

November 2022: GolfTV Shuttered After Discovery Merger

In November 2022, GolfTV was shuttered after Discovery merged with WarnerMedia, with Warner Bros. Discovery prioritizing its Discovery+ and HBO Max services instead.

November 2022: PGA Tour University system modified

In November 2022, the PGA Tour University system was modified, and beginning in 2023 the top-ranked collegiate golfer would immediately be awarded membership on the PGA Tour.

2022: PGA Player of the Year award discontinued

In 2022, the PGA Player of the Year award was last given after being selected using a points system with points awarded for wins, money list position and scoring average from 1982 to 2022.

June 6, 2023: PGA Tour, PGA European Tour, and LIV Golf Announce Merger Agreement

On June 6, 2023, the PGA Tour, PGA European Tour, and LIV Golf announced an agreement to merge their commercial rights into a single, for-profit entity, with the Saudi Public Investment Fund as the initial "exclusive investor."

September 2023: Trial Scheduled for Antitrust Lawsuit Against PGA Tour

In September 2023, the trial for the antitrust lawsuit filed by LIV Golf players against the PGA Tour was scheduled to begin.

October 2023: Gordon Sargent Earns PGA Tour Card Through PGA Tour University Accelerated Program

In October 2023, Gordon Sargent reached the 20-point threshold and became the first ever player to earn PGA Tour card through PGA Tour University Accelerated program.

December 31, 2023: Deadline for PGA Tour, PGA European Tour, and LIV Golf Merger

December 31, 2023, was the original deadline for completing the deal to merge the PGA Tour, PGA European Tour, and LIV Golf's commercial rights.

January 31, 2024: PGA Tour Announces $3 Billion Investment by Strategic Sports Group

On January 31, 2024, the PGA Tour announced a $3 billion investment by Strategic Sports Group into its for-profit arm, PGA Tour Enterprises.

2024: The Byron Nelson Played Annually near Dallas

As of 2024, The Byron Nelson is played annually near Dallas, continuing its legacy as a prominent PGA Tour event.

2024: Sargent Defers Membership to 2024.

Following the World Team Amateur Championship in Dubai, Gordon Sargent reached the 20-point threshold and became the first ever player to earn PGA Tour card through PGA Tour University Accelerated program. He is eligible to take up the membership following the conclusion of 2024 NCAA Division I Championship but elected to defer his membership and return for his senior year at Vanderbilt.

2024: PGA Tour University extends PGA Tour Americas cards

In 2024, PGA Tour University extended PGA Tour Americas cards to golfers who finished 11th-25th (up from 20th) in the rankings and entry into the second stage of PGA Tour Q School.

2024: Players who have won PGA Tour Player of the Year Award through 2024

In 2024, it was accounted which players have won more than one PGA Tour Player of the Year Award.

June 2025: Brian Rolapp Announced as Next PGA Tour CEO

In June 2025, NFL executive Brian Rolapp was announced as the next CEO of the PGA Tour, effective 2026.

2025: PGA Tour to produce dedicated world feed for international broadcasters

Beginning at the 2025 Players Championship, the PGA Tour will start producing a dedicated world feed for international broadcasters, separate from the American network coverage.

2025: PGA Tour designates eight tournaments as "Signature Events"

For 2025, eight tournaments were designated as "Signature Events": the Sentry Tournament of Champions, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, Truist Championship, The Memorial Tournament, and the Travelers Championship.