What's It Like in a REAL Tour Event?

[Festus]

I'm always fascinated by all the stuff that happens behind the scenes and to be sure, I have no clue about all the details involved in entering and playing a PGA or Nationwide event. So here's a few from-the-hip questions. For those in the know, feel free to fill in the numerous gaps.

How do you enter and/or know you're qualified to do so?
Is there an entry fee or just an application?
What's a typical entry deadline beforehand?
Is there an actual "tour card"?
Once in an event, what's the arrival procedure for checking in?
Do your clubs and balls get checked for conformity?
Are you assigned your own range spot?
What do you actually do in the scorer's tent afterward?
Is the cut line actually communicated somewhere on day 2 or do players just kind of know?
How does the prize money work? A check received on-site or mailed? Direct deposit? Are taxes deducted just like a regular paycheck?

 

[SteveT]

More questions:

How are the pairings determined for the first day?
How are tee-off times determined?
How are swing coaches authorized to stand inside the ropes?
Can your swing coach also be your caddy?
Why are mulligans allowed in practice rounds?

 

[potterphd]

FWIW I'm also really interested to hear about these things as well if anyone has the inside info.

 

[Jared Willerson]

I'll answer the ones I know

1. You are not assigned a range spot, someone will put a sign wherever you decide to hit balls.

2. The cut line is determined by the low 70 and ties, so it moves around a bunch, but tour players are pretty good at "eyeballing" where it will fall.

3. Pairings are determined by computer, it spits them out based on category i.e. winners play with winners, 125 plays with 125 and Nationwide other exemptions generally play together.

4. Swing coaches can stand inside the ropes on practice rounds and on the range, but not in actual competition.

5. Your swing coach can be your caddie

6. They are not mulligans per se in practice rounds, they are hitting different shots to different parts of the fairway and into greens based on where the flag will probably be throughout the week.

7. Tee times are determined the same way as pairings, but networks have a bit more leeway so that they can get top players as much airtime as possible. For Joe TourPro, however it generally falls: early Thursday / Late Friday or vice versa. FWIW, this also affects who makes the cut when the weather falls. Players often times talk about getting a "bad draw" this is usually referencing when they teed off. Someone may be playing really well, but the weather makes their scores higher, thus they don't get the opportunities to make as many birdies.

That is all I know, based on years of wasted time perusing golf forums.

 

[aaron_lohan]

Is there a tour card? A friend of mine played on the challenge tour and he had a membership card saying he was on the tour with his name on it, im not sure about the PGA Tour.

 

[aaron_lohan]

I think the events you are qualified to enter are determined by how you played in the last season, I know in Europe after about 2 months of the year the pros are re-ranked based on the money list/order of merit and this determines what tournaments they can enter for the rest of the year.

 

[Kevin Shields]

I'm always fascinated by all the stuff that happens behind the scenes and to be sure, I have no clue about all the details involved in entering and playing a PGA or Nationwide event. So here's a few from-the-hip questions. For those in the know, feel free to fill in the numerous gaps.

How do you enter and/or know you're qualified to do so?
Is there an entry fee or just an application?
What's a typical entry deadline beforehand?
Is there an actual "tour card"?
Once in an event, what's the arrival procedure for checking in?
Do your clubs and balls get checked for conformity?
Are you assigned your own range spot?
What do you actually do in the scorer's tent afterward?
Is the cut line actually communicated somewhere on day 2 or do players just kind of know?
How does the prize money work? A check received on-site or mailed? Direct deposit? Are taxes deducted just like a regular paycheck?

1. You enter Q-school and you need a reference to enter
2. There is a small entry fee for each PGA/Nationwide event ($150)
3. The previous friday for exempt players
4. There is an actual card
5. Player registration is outlined well. You get credentials, etc on the spot
6. Darrell survey is there checking clubs. Nothing to check if you've done some "doctoring" that I know of.
7. No
8. Sign yours and your playing partner's scorecard and confirm it for posting
9. Projected cut is always on the scoreboards
10. They are independent contractor checks usuall put in direct deposit for exempt players

 

[Kevin Shields]

More questions:

How are the pairings determined for the first day?
How are tee-off times determined?
How are swing coaches authorized to stand inside the ropes?
Can your swing coach also be your caddy?
Why are mulligans allowed in practice rounds?

Computerized based on same category (past champions, exempt, monday qualifier, special exemption, etc)
Same with the field fillers (like me) at the back of the bus. You go late/early or vice versa
By getting coach's credentials
yes
Why wouldnt they be?

 

[aaron_lohan]

Computerized based on same category (past champions, exempt, monday qualifier, special exemption, etc)
Same with the field fillers (like me) at the back of the bus. You go late/early or vice versa
By getting coach's credentials
yes
Why wouldnt they be?

How do you get coach's credentials?

 

[billmckinneygolf]

The player registers his coach with the PGA. The coach gets a badge that is good for the whole year which allows him access to the range and the food tent...which is nice.