PGA Tour, an Introduction

What is PGA? Basically it is an organization whichas a reward he would earn the performance
is responsible for the operations of mainpromotion which garners Tour privileges for the
professional golf tours across United States.remainder of the year plus the following full
Vedra Beach, Florida is the official headquarters ofseason. There is no rule limiting PGA players to
PGA. In 1968, branching off from the PGA Tourmen only as similar to other major league sports.
of America, This Tour became a separate entity,In 2006, the PGA announced a new set of
which is now primarily an association of clubtelevision deals covering 2007 to 2012. As the
professionals.CBS Sports will remain the main carrier of Tour,
Initially the professional golfers formed their ownand will increase its events from 16 to 19 per
organization, the Association of Professionalseason. The contemporary NBC Sports will
Golfers (APG). Than in 1968, the tournamentincrease its coverage from 5 to 10 events and
players decided to get rid of APG and agreed tothe Golf Channel will be the Tour's cable partner
operate as the PGA later the name officiallyfor 15-year contract, which will be providing early
changed into the "PGA Tour" in mid 70’s.round coverage of all official events and coverage
The Tour is not responsible for the women'sof a few events at the beginning and towards the
tours in the U.S.; they are organized by the LPGA.end of the season.
Moreover the PGA is also not the governingBut these deals do not cover the major
authority for the golf in the US. USGA ischampionships. Unfortunately the world’s
governing the game of golf as well as it organizesmost interesting and famous Tour does not own
the U.S. Open. PGA organize the remaining 43 (inthe rights to them. Only the CBS has the right to
2009) week-to-week events, which includes Thebroadcast the majors like The Masters and PGA
Players Championship and the FedEx Cup events,Championship and NBC, U.S. Open. A good news
as well as the biennial Presidents Cup.for golfer as now NBC is the only major
On the other hand PGA does not run any of thebroadcast network to offer four days of major
four major the Ryder Cup. The PGA of Americacoverage over the air.
runs the PGA Championship, the Senior PGAFrom the Beginning in 2010, ESPN Sports is
Championship, and PGA European Tour isproviding exclusive coverage of the Open
co-organized by the Ryder Cup. Due to aChampionship. Currently ESPN Sports and Turner
multiplicity of these similar names, it is worthSports are the broadcast Sports Networks' cable
emphasizing what the PGA Tour does and doespartners for the other majors, with ESPN Sports
not organize.providing full coverage of the first and second
Nationwide top 25 money-winners also receiverounds of The Masters and U.S. Open and TNT
privileges on the following year's Tour. If a golferSports is covering the PGA Championship.
wins three events on that tour in a calendar year,