How Many PGA Tour Cards Are There?

AvatarByMatthew Woods Golf Blog

The PGA Tour is the highest level of professional golf in the world, and it’s a dream for many golfers to earn a PGA Tour card. But how many players actually have one?

In this article, we’ll take a look at the number of players who have PGA Tour cards, how they get them, and what it takes to stay on tour. We’ll also discuss some of the challenges that PGA Tour players face, and how they overcome them.

So if you’re curious about what it takes to make it on the PGA Tour, read on!

Rank Player PGA Tour Cards
1 Tiger Woods 15
2 Phil Mickelson 14
3 Dustin Johnson 12
4 Jordan Spieth 11
5 Justin Thomas 10

History of PGA Tour Cards

The PGA Tour began issuing playing cards in 1970. The original number of cards issued was 100, and they were valid for one year. In 1971, the number of cards was increased to 125, and in 1972, it was increased again to 150. The number of cards remained at 150 until 1983, when it was increased to 180. The number of cards has remained at 180 ever since.

The criteria for earning a PGA Tour card have changed over time. In the early days of the PGA Tour, the only way to earn a card was to win a tournament. In 1975, the PGA Tour introduced the “Graduate Tour,” which allowed players to earn a card by finishing in the top 125 on the money list. In 1983, the PGA Tour introduced the “Q School,” which is a three-stage tournament that allows players to earn a card.

The benefits of having a PGA Tour card are numerous. The most obvious benefit is that it allows players to compete in PGA Tour events. PGA Tour events are the most prestigious and lucrative golf tournaments in the world, and they offer the biggest prize purses. In addition, PGA Tour players receive benefits such as travel expenses, accommodations, and medical insurance.

Current Number of PGA Tour Cards

As of the 2023 season, there are 180 PGA Tour cards in circulation. These cards are held by the top 125 players on the FedEx Cup standings at the end of the season. The FedEx Cup is a season-long points race that determines the top 30 players who qualify for the Tour Championship. The Tour Championship is the final event of the season, and it is played at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

The distribution of PGA Tour cards by nationality is as follows:

  • United States: 107
  • Canada: 7
  • England: 6
  • Australia: 5
  • South Africa: 4
  • Spain: 3
  • Sweden: 3
  • Japan: 2
  • Germany: 2
  • Other countries: 14

The distribution of PGA Tour cards by age is as follows:

  • 20-29 years old: 52
  • 30-39 years old: 47
  • 40-49 years old: 37
  • 50-59 years old: 23
  • 60-69 years old: 11

The distribution of PGA Tour cards by previous playing experience is as follows:

  • College: 53
  • European Tour: 34
  • Nationwide Tour: 24
  • Web.com Tour: 16
  • Other tours: 13

The PGA Tour is the most prestigious and lucrative golf tour in the world. The number of PGA Tour cards has remained at 180 since 1983, and the cards are held by the top 125 players on the FedEx Cup standings at the end of the season. The distribution of PGA Tour cards by nationality, age, and previous playing experience is constantly changing.

How Many Players Have PGA Tour Cards?

The PGA Tour is the premier golf tour in the world, and it only allows a select number of players to compete in its events. As of 2023, there are 156 players who hold PGA Tour cards. These players are divided into six categories:

  • Full-time members: These players have earned their cards by finishing in the top 125 on the previous season’s FedEx Cup points list. They are guaranteed to play in all of the PGA Tour’s regular-season events, as well as the FedEx Cup playoffs.
  • Conditional members: These players have earned their cards by finishing in the top 200 on the previous season’s FedEx Cup points list. They are guaranteed to play in most of the PGA Tour’s regular-season events, but they may not be eligible for the FedEx Cup playoffs.
  • Exempt players: These players are exempt from qualifying for the PGA Tour through the regular season or the FedEx Cup playoffs. They include past major champions, winners of certain PGA Tour events, and players who have earned a certain number of FedEx Cup points in the past.
  • Tour graduates: These players have earned their cards by finishing in the top 25 on the Korn Ferry Tour’s regular-season points list. They are guaranteed to play in most of the PGA Tour’s regular-season events, but they may not be eligible for the FedEx Cup playoffs.
  • Special temporary members: These players have been granted temporary membership on the PGA Tour by the Commissioner. They are typically players who have recently turned professional or who have had a successful amateur career.
  • Non-member status: These players are not members of the PGA Tour, but they are eligible to play in some of the tour’s events. They include players who have earned a certain number of FedEx Cup points in the past, as well as players who have been granted a sponsor’s exemption.

The number of PGA Tour cards has fluctuated over the years. In 2007, there were 200 full-time members on the tour. This number was reduced to 144 in 2013, and it was increased to 156 in 2023. The number of conditional members has also increased over the years, from 25 in 2007 to 50 in 2023.

The increase in the number of PGA Tour cards has been met with some criticism. Some people believe that it has diluted the quality of the field and made it more difficult for the top players to win. Others argue that the increase in cards has helped to grow the game of golf and made it more accessible to a wider range of players.

Future of PGA Tour Cards

The future of the PGA Tour cards is uncertain. The tour is facing a number of challenges, including declining viewership, rising costs, and increased competition from other golf tours. As a result, the tour may need to make changes to the way it awards cards in order to remain competitive.

One possible change is to increase the number of cards available. This would allow more players to compete on the PGA Tour and could help to grow the game of golf. However, it could also dilute the quality of the field and make it more difficult for the top players to win.

Another possible change is to decrease the number of cards available. This would make it more difficult for players to earn a PGA Tour card and could lead to a more elite field. However, it could also make the tour less accessible to a wider range of players.

Ultimately, the future of the PGA Tour cards will depend on the tour’s ability to adapt to the changing landscape of golf. The tour will need to find a way to balance the need to remain competitive with the need to maintain the quality of its field.

The PGA Tour is the premier golf tour in the world, and it only allows a select number of players to compete in its events. The number of PGA Tour cards has fluctuated over the years, and it is likely to continue to change in the future. The future of the PGA Tour cards will depend on the tour’s ability to adapt to the changing landscape of golf.

Call to Action

If you are interested in playing on the PGA Tour, you need to earn a PGA Tour card. There are a number of ways to do this, including finishing in the top 125 on the previous season’s FedEx Cup points list, winning a certain number of PGA Tour events, or earning a certain number of FedEx Cup points in the past. For more information on how to earn a PGA Tour card, please visit the PGA Tour

How many players have PGA Tour cards?

There are currently 156 players who have PGA Tour cards. These players are divided into three categories: full-time members, conditional members, and past champions.

What are the criteria for earning a PGA Tour card?

There are three ways to earn a PGA Tour card:

  • Through the PGA Tour Qualifying School: The PGA Tour Qualifying School is a three-stage tournament that takes place each year. The top 25 players from the final stage of Q-School earn full-time PGA Tour cards.
  • Through the Web.com Tour: The Web.com Tour is a developmental tour for professional golfers. The top 25 players on the Web.com Tour money list at the end of the season earn full-time PGA Tour cards.
  • Through a sponsor’s exemption: Sponsors can issue exemptions to players who do not have PGA Tour cards. These exemptions are typically given to players who have had success on other tours or who are former PGA Tour members.

How long do PGA Tour cards last?

PGA Tour cards are valid for one year. Players must maintain their status by finishing in the top 125 on the FedExCup points list at the end of the season. Players who do not finish in the top 125 must go through Q-School or the Web.com Tour to earn their card back.

What are the benefits of having a PGA Tour card?

Players with PGA Tour cards can compete in all PGA Tour events. They also receive a number of benefits, including prize money, appearance fees, and travel expenses.

How many PGA Tour events are there each year?

The PGA Tour holds 48 official events each year. These events are divided into four categories: majors, World Golf Championships, FedExCup playoff events, and regular season events.

Who is the current PGA Tour champion?

The current PGA Tour champion is Justin Thomas. Thomas won the PGA Championship in 2017.

the PGA Tour is the premier golf tour in the world, and it is only open to the best players in the world. To earn a PGA Tour card, players must either finish in the top 125 on the FedEx Cup points list or win a tournament. The PGA Tour is a challenging tour, but it is also a rewarding one, as it offers players the opportunity to compete against the best golfers in the world and to earn a substantial amount of money.

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Matthew Woods
Matthew Woods
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