Professional golf tours

Men's tours

International Federation of PGA Tours

The International Federation of PGA Tours is the trade body of the main men's professional golf tours. As at 2005, there are six members:

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• Asian Tour (for Asia excluding Japan)
• Japan Golf Tour (ranks third by prize money)
• PGA European Tour (ranks second by prize money)
• PGA TOUR (based in the United States; ranks first by prize money)
• PGA Tour of Australasia
• Sunshine Tour (Southern Africa - mainly South Africa)

These six tours co-sanction the Official World Golf Rankings.

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Other Men's Professional Tours

Official World Golf Ranking points are also awarded for good placings in events on three other tours:

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• Canadian Tour
• Challenge Tour (second tier tour to the European Tour)
• Nationwide Tour (second tier tour to the PGA Tour)

Below this level, the tours do not offer ranking points, and the prize money on offer will be at a level that allows only a few of the members, or perhaps none of them at all, to make their main income from playing on that tour alone. Some of the players will also play on other tours when they are able to and others will be club or teaching professionals who play tournament golf part time.

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Other regional tours include the Tour de las Americas, which aspires to gain world ranking points status in the near future, and the Indian Golf Tour. The third tier tour in the United States is the NGA Hooters Tour.

Related Topics:
Tour de las Americas - World ranking points - Indian Golf Tour - NGA Hooters Tour

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Men's senior tours

Upon reaching age 50, male golfers are eligible to compete in senior tournaments. Golf is unique among sports in having high profile and lucrative competitions for this age group. Nearly all of the famous golfers who are eligible to compete in these events choose to do so, unless they are unable to for health reasons. A number of players win more than a million dollars in prize money each season, and once endorsements and other business activities are taken into account, a few of the "legends of golf" in this age group earn more or less as much as any of the younger PGA Tour pros, other than Tiger Woods. The two main senior tours are:

Related Topics:
Sports - Tiger Woods

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• Champions Tour (based in the United States}
• European Seniors Tour