PGA Championship - Qualifying as a Non-Tour Member

[Frank-0-Sport]

Greetings .....

This year, the PGA Championship will be at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The PGA's field of 156 will consist of the following ....

1. All former PGA Championship winners
2. The last five US Open Champions (2003 through 2007)
3. The last five Masters Champions (2003 through 2007)
4. The last five British Open Champions (2003 through 2007)
5. Current PGA Seniors' Champion (2007)
6. Low 15 scorers and ties in the 2006 PGA Championship
7. Low 20 scorers in the 2007 PGA Professional National Championship
8. The Top 70 leaders in official money standings from the 2006 International through the 2007 Canadian Open
9. Members of the 2006 United States Ryder Cup Team
10. Winners of tournaments co-sponsored or approved by the PGA TOUR from the 2006 PGA Championship to the 2007 PGA Championship (does not include Pro-Am and Team competitions).

In addition, the PGA reserves the right to invite additional players not included in the categories listed above. "Additional Players" usually come from the Official World Rankings List.

And guess what folks - Non-Members of the PGA Tour, if not eligible in other categories or if not eligible by way of special invitation, can also qualify to play in the PGA Championship by means of Category-8, "The 70 Leaders in official money standings from the 2006 International thru the 2007 Canadian Open". In compiling this list, the PGA of America makes no distinction between a regular PGA Tour Member and a non-member of the PGA Tour.

Here's the Current PGA Championship Earnings List . Look at #117 - it's Jay Williamson, who started the year with no PGA Tour status, then secured Special Temporary Status with his 2nd place finish at the Travelers-Hartford Open.

Jay is not in the AT&T; National field, probably because all available sponsor exemptions were already taken. However, if he can get into the John Deere, Milwaukee and Canadian events and finish high enough, there is a chance he could qualify outright for the PGA or perhaps get in as an alternate.

Of course, if Jay could win any one of those events, then he's automaticly in the PGA field.

Thanx-A-Lot and Enjoy, Frank-0-Sport

[Ben]

A little clarification...

The PGA Championship is a product of the PGA of America. (Like the USGA runs the US Open.) It is not the PGA Tour Championship.

PGA professionals (the head pro at your couse perhaps, if he/she is a Class A professional) are also eligible to play the PGA Championship. As a matter of fact, the qualifying event, The PGA Professional National Championship, was held just last month. I'm pretty sure you need to have a password to view this page, but here's a link to registration info...

http://www.pgalinks.com/professional...x.cfm?ctc=4563