*Must be eligibly employed in one of the other above-mentioned active membership classifications.
* As a reminder a LMA and LMMA classifications are no longer eligible to play/advance (Board Approval - September 2021)
2. The member has played in more than ***four (4) combined All Pro Tour (APT), Women's All Pro Tour (beginning Jan. 1, 2024), Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour (APGA) (beginning Jan. 1, 2024), Asian Tour, Dakotas Tour, DP World Tour, Epson Tour (LPGA), European Challenge Tour, European Legends Tour, GPro Tour, JPGA Senior Tour, JPGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, Ladies European Tour (LET), LPGA Tour, Outlaw Tour beginning Jan. 1, 2024), PGA TOUR Americas (Formerly MacKenzie Tour and PGA Tour Latin America), PGA Australia Tours, PGA New Zealand Tours, PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, The Safari Tour and The Sunshine Tour tournaments during the twelve-month period prior to the respective Section’s deadline.. The U.S. Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Women’s Open, PGA Championship, KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship are not included in the ***4-tournament count;
*Exception: The current year’s PPC champion will be allowed a total maximum of eight (8) tournaments during their winning year only. Reason: The PPC Champion earns exemptions into six (6) PGA TOUR open tournaments with their win, which leaves room for them to qualify for two (2) additional events during the year.) (Board Meeting, June 2022)
**In addition, a special exception will be made for any PGA member finishing in the Top 15 of the PGA Championship, Top 15 of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and/or the Top 10 of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, that would exempt them into the following year’s Championship, also allowing that member a maximum of eight (8) tournaments instead of four (4), for one year only, provided the member does not transfer into an A-3 classification and/or accept any temporary membership that a respective tour may offer. Reason: Such a strong finish in these major Championships may provide additional playing opportunities which could result in exceeding the 4-tournament rule for that year. These additional opportunities increase the spotlight on PGA members and their playing accomplishments, and have a resulting positive impact on our membership overall.) (Board Meeting, June 2023)
The APGA, Women’s All Pro Tour, and the Outlaw Tour are now included beginning January 1, 2024. Any events prior to January 1, 2024 from these three tours do not count towards the tournament limit.
For players that have earned the eight (8) tournament max:
The eight (8) tournament rule will be applied to the applicable individual(s) for a period of eighteen (18) months.
The eighteen (18) month applicability period shall start on the day after the event in which the exemption is achieved (i.e., PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship or Women's PGA Championship).
For each event/award where eligibility is conditioned on compliance with the standard four (4) tournament rule, each exempted individual's eligibility will be conditioned on compliance with the eight (8) tournament rule, which will be applied by reviewing the number of counted events the applicable individual competed in during the twelve (12) months leading up to the date when eligibility is finalized for the applicable event/award. This application of the rule will result in a twelve (12) month, rolling look-back for the applicable events/awards during the eighteen (18) month applicability period.
Immediately upon expiration of the eighteen (18) month applicability period, the individual's eligibility for applicable events/awards will revert to being conditioned on the 4 tournament rule, which will be applied by reviewing the number of counted events the applicable individual competed in during the 12 month period leading up to the date when eligibility is finalized for the applicable event/award.
The application of the eight (8) tournament rule is renewable if the qualifications are achieved again by the individual in a subsequent event.
PGA of America reserves the right to determine whether any player meets eligibility and to reject any player who does not meet these requirements. A PGA member will not be eligible to participate if:
a) the member is serving a suspension from membership;
b) the member is suspended from tournament participation for national tournaments; or
c) the member is classified as Class F, Reserve, A-3, LM, LMM, LMA, LMMA, LMC, or HM.