How to make the Tour

[Shindig]

wow, lots of nice info. i'll def. pick up Paper Tiger.

You won't be disappointed. I actually improved my mental game from a tip in that book (when he gets the rubber band, you'll know what I mean).

Now, let's say i've written to some companies, let' say, J. Lindeberg for example, and get them to sponsor me. Now that they've sponsored me, how does that entitle me to a "sponsorship exemption" in a PGA or NWT event? Would i just be able to call up the PGA and be like "hey, i'm sponsored by JL and i want to play in this event". hah what i'm asking now is how sponsorship exemptions work

Worth noting, especially if you're considering getting good enough to play at that level : the PGA and PGA Tour are two distinct entities and have been since the early 1980s.

Others have commented on the sponsor exemption, so I'll continue onto:

ahhh i see now. So if Michelob sponsors player A but player A isn't doing so well, they might give him an exemption and let him play in their tournament just because they want to. i get it..cool.

Are there rules in golf about alcohol sponsorships? I think NASCAR had rules about it at some point. In any case, a sponsor may or may not exempt the folks they sponsor into tournaments. If that player has any status on the tour, he might be expected to get in through traditional means first.

In any case, sponsors can give an exemption to any qualified player (weekend hackers need not apply) for any reason. John Daly and Michelle Wie get exemptions because they attract crowds. Jamie Lovemark got an exemption (IIRC) into this year's Buick because he had played well in last year's (perhaps being a former world #1 amateur had something to do with it too). Nissan let a young amateur Tiger Woods into the Nissan Open one year - and boy did it pay off for them. Despite not winning the event - ever - he continued to show up while they were the title sponsor. Other tournament sponsors gave him exemptions shortly after he turned pro. In short, you could get an exemption by being affiliated with the sponsoring company. Or you could get an exemption by being someone who draws crowds. Or because they wanted to help a starting player out. Or because you're playing well and might get onto tour through them.

[mikelz]

i'm not asking how "I" would make it because I'm about 10-15 strokes a round away hah but, what are the options for someone who has an excellent handicap and can play at that level?

Enter and win every freaking tournament he can get into for starters.

[JYB]

let me just say that this has prob. been the best post/response i've seen on this site thus far

[Jeepthrills]

let me just say that this has prob. been the best post/response i've seen on this site thus far

Do you mean that it was better than the one about Tiger breaking necks and swearing.

I don't know. We got so far off topic on that one that people reverted to name calling.

[Crafty]

It seems to me that the best way to earn your card is to simply work you way up the ranks. Barring a win at the U.S. Amateur or something like that, working you way up the ranks seems to be the way that the vast majority of players earn their card. Start with a good college career, work your way up on various mini tours, and eventually get your card on the PGA tour via the Nationwide or Q school after the nationwide.

Obviously, Q school is the most direct route to getting your card, but I can't think of a ton of extremely successful players on the Tour who just showed up to Q school with no tour experience of any sort, and then just have a great successful career (although it probably has happened before)

One last way I can think of is Monday Qualifying. I know that any professional player can Monday qualify for the Nationwide Tournament in OMaha. If you were to monday qualify and get a top 10, you might be able to get an exemption and continue to play until you were able to get your card.

[Zrandall]

Yea you definitely have to build a name for yourself...most people think you can just go to Q school...but Q school costs a lot of money...I know its somewhere around 10,000 for ladies..so its definitely more for men...thats when the sponsors come in handy....or if you made a big bang in the golf world you might be able to just walk on tour with out the need of qualifying example...morgan pressel didnt have to go to Q school because she did so well as a junior and amatuer golfer..

Also and monday qualifying for events is another great way to get in events to build your name....

and some tours that you can get started with are the hooters tour and try to check for some local amateur tours in your area...To get you prepared for the Nationwide Tour and the PGA Tour...or even the USGA events that happen every year...The USGA events are great....but if you do make the cut for any USGA tournaments in your local area keep in mind that you still eventually will need a sponsor...for all of the traveling and hotels...the costs for the events eventually add up...

and for the sponsors exemptions...they mostly only pick people who they sponsor...example...Michelle Wie gets a sponsors exemption mostly every year for the Sony Open because she's sponsored by them..or if you have a big name or a big story that they think will bring in a lot of money and spectators to their tournament...

[Shindig]

let me just say that this has prob. been the best post/response i've seen on this site thus far

Did you see the post about clone clubs?

Seriously, though, anytime there's a question that I can answer, I do my best to do so. It's not just a community thing. I'm one of those people that won't shut up when you get me talking about something I enjoy. Like golf for instance.