The PGA Tour is one of the biggest golfing events in American golf. As a season-long event that spans months and dozens of individual golfing championships, there are many multi-million dollar purses up for grabs. So, it’s easy to see why golfers, commentators, and fans are all raring to go.
If you’re a beginner who isn’t quite sure what the PGA Tour is and why it’s so important, we have covered all that and more below. Maybe you are in the betting crowd and you want to scope some gambling opportunities, in which case you’ll want some golf odds.
Founding & The PGA
First, a brief history lesson. The PGA Tour was once an embedded part of the PGA itself – the Professional Golfing Association of America.
The PGA was an organization founded in 1916 by a group of pro golfers hosted by business magnate Rodman Wanamaker in NYC. Starting with just around 60 people, they now number approximately 30,000. Nowadays, the PGA is still going strong as a regulatory body and host of the PGA Championship, among other events.
So where does the PGA Tour come into this? In the 1960s, golf became much more profitable due to TV coverage. The touring golf players in the PGA and the pro golfers had a dispute over how the funds should be distributed.
After some successful negotiation, a separate division was created and then hired its own commissioner, becoming the PGA Tour in the 1970s. Like the old PGA, the PGA Tour hosts many tournaments, from the main American tournament to Canadian, Latin American, and Chinese counterparts.
About The PGA Tour
But that’s enough about the PGA Tour’s history – you want to know why you should be interested now. The PGA Tour, as an organization, hosts six tours. The main one is the top tour. The top tour, the PGA Tour, is an all-season-long event. It spans the USA and abroad with its games.
Just this year (starting in Sept. 2021) the PGA Tour has:
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Started in California with the Fortinet Championship.
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Moved to Japan with the Zozo Championship.
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Then to Bermuda for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
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Then to Hawaii for the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
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Recently, the Tour finished in Florida with the Valspar Championship.
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There are also split events between Texas and the Dominican Republic.
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For the rest of the year, such big events like the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship in Scotland are coming.
So, as you can see, it’s not just one event. This is for touring golfers who jet across the world to take part in many different championships. We’re about halfway into the season right now but all the big major championships have yet to come! Most events take place in the USA, too, so attending is easy for those in the country.
Historically, PGA Tours end with several playoff championships that end with the Tour Championship. This is where the top 30 money leaders of the season face off against one another. It’s also part of a four-tournament event to win the FedEx Cup, though we’re sure the lucrative purses are just as attractive.
Conclusion
That’s a very brief rundown of the PGA Tour, how it started, and what it is right now. The lineup of championship events that comprise the Tour change each year depending on many factors.
At the time you’re reading this, the Tour will be gearing up for another championship elsewhere. Search for the tour and see where they are today – if they’re not halfway across the world, they could be in your state!
