ELIGIBILITY
The following are eligible to enter the Open Qualifier:
- 2021-22 Season PGA TOUR members
- 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Member
- 2022 PGA TOUR Champions Regular Member
- 2022 PGA TOUR Latinoamerica Member
- 2022 PGA TOUR Canada Member
- PGA of America Member or Associate
- Other Professional/Foreign Professional
- Special Medical Exemption
- Amateur/Player Seeking Amateur Status and USGA Index of 2 or less
ENTRY FEE SCHEDULE BY STATUS
Category 1 - $100.00
- PGA TOUR Member
- Korn Ferry Tour Member
- PGA TOUR Champions Regular Member
Category 2 - $300.00
- PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Member
- PGA TOUR Canada Member
Category 3 - $500.00
- All other Professionals and Amateurs/Players Seeking Amateur Status
FORMAT
An 18-hole stroke play competition with the low 4 (four) qualifiers from each course advancing to the 2021-2022 Championship proper. In the event of a tie for the last qualifying position, there will be a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following play.
Upon approval by the on-site PGA TOUR Rules Official or designee of the Open Qualifying site round scores and prior to starting a hole by hole playoff, contestants that earn a qualifying position are in the field of the above-named tournament. In the event of a tie for the last Open Qualifying position, a separate hole-by-hole playoff competition will be conducted to determine the player(s) that will earn the remaining qualifying position(s) for the above-named tournament.
Prior to the approval of the round scores at an Open Qualifying site, an Open Qualifying contestant who gains entry into the field of the above named tournament shall be removed from the Open Qualifying competition, even if the player has completed his Open Qualifying round and returned his scorecard.
A contestant competing in an Open Qualifying hole-by-hole playoff that gains a position in the field via the alternate list of the above-named tournament shall be removed from the hole-by-hole playoff.
A contestant competing in an Open Qualifying hole-by-hole playoff that earns an Open Qualifying position is in the field of the above-named tournament and is removed from the alternate list.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
Course assignments will be released following the deadline.
OFFICIAL STARTING TIMES
Starting times will be available following the deadline. Times will be posted online at nfpga.com and Laurel Oak Country Club & Esplanade at Azario
START FORMAT
#1 & #10 Tee Start at 7:15 AM (subject to change)
PRACTICE ROUNDS
Laurel Oak Country Club - Player
$65.00+tax - based on space availability
Call the Golf Shop Directly - (941) 378-3600
There will be practice round availability starting up to two weeks before the event. Those tee times may be booked 3 days in advance.
Sunday, February 13th practice rounds will be available beginning at 11am.
Esplande at Azario
$65.00+tax - based on space availability
Practice Rounds will be available beginning at 11am each day
Call the Golf Shop Directly - (941) 253-2901
PROCEDURES & INFORMATION
Rules of Golf
Play shall be governed in accordance with the Rules of Golf of the United States Golf Association, as modified by the PGA TOUR Local Rules and Terms of the Competition card (Hard Card) and supplemented by the Notice to Competitors. Questions or disputes (including equipment rulings) shall be settled by the on-site Rules Committee appointed by the PGA TOUR, whose decision shall be final.
Caddies
Players are not required to have a caddie Caddies are not permitted to walk on the competition course putting greens on the day(s) of the competition except during the stipulated round when accompanying their player. See Transportation for additional information.
Distance Measuring Devices
For play in Open Qualifying, a player may obtain distance information by use of a distance-measuring device. If during the
stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play
(e.g. elevation changes, wind speed, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 4.3a(1).
Guidance on Use of Cell Phones During Round
The use of cell phones in an Open Qualifier tournament is typically prohibited by Tournament Regulations; although the PGA Tour Rules Committee may allow use of cell phones during a round due to the new protocols in place to combat the spread of COVID-19. When allowed, the following general uses of cell phones by players and caddies during a round are allowed: checking the leaderboard in the tournament, use as a compass, getting distance information by using as an electronic distance-measuring device, getting any type of weather information (including wind speed) that is available from weather forecasts, measuring temperature and humidity at the course. A Notice to Competitors on what is allowed and not allowed will be provided to the competitors by the Section.
Groove Specifications
Open Qualifying contestants MUST use equipment which conforms to the Local Rule for Groove and Punch Mark Specifications as implemented in the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and Korn Ferry Tour Local Rules and Terms of the Competition (Hard Card). This condition shall NOT apply to Pre-Qualifying. The complete specifications for grooves in elite competitions along with a public database listing conformity of many clubs can be found at USGA.org (click on Playing > Equipment > Club & Ball Lists > Informational Club Database) or by contacting the USGA Equipment Standards Department at (908) 234-2300. Players should confirm that their equipment conforms to the new specifications well in advance of the competition and should be aware that conforming equipment must be used in Open Qualifying, even if a player is successful in pre-qualifying with non-conforming grooves.
If, before the competition, a player has doubt as to the conformity of a club, PGA Section officials will attempt to determine the status of the club(s), but play will not be delayed in doing so. There will be no on-site field testing for groove conformity at Open Qualifying. If the club(s) in question is not listed on the public databases listing conformity of clubs, the club shall not be used in the competition.
In the event that it is discovered that a player’s club(s) do not conform after the close of the competition, the provisions of Rule 20 of the Rules of Golf shall apply.
Pace of Play
The PGA TOUR Pace of Play Policy will be in effect for the Open Qualifier, except the fine structure shall not apply. Sections will be required, under the guidance of the PGA TOUR Tournament Official, to create a Pace of Play Time Chart.
Spike Policy
The use of traditional metal spikes is permitted during the Competition. Soft spikes may be required during practice rounds at the discretion of the host facilities.
Transportation
Players and Caddies shall walk at all times during qualifying rounds, except when permitted to ride by the Rules Committee. Players are not required to have a caddie; they may carry their clubs or use a manual or motorized pull cart. Players are / are not permitted to ride during a Pre-Qualifying round.
Anyone seeking a golf cart due to a disability defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the PGA TOUR Competition Department at (904) 285-3700 to obtain information on procedures for submitting such requests. All such requests due to temporary injuries or impairments that do not qualify as a “disability” under the ADA will not be granted.
Appearance
Players: While on the host facility property on the day(s) of competition, players shall present a neat appearance in both clothing and personal grooming. Blue jeans, cutoffs, T-shirts or shirts with no collar shall not be worn. Players are permitted to wear golf shorts which are knee length, tailored and neat in appearance. Compression leggings worn underneath shorts must be solid in color.
Caddies: While on the host facility property on the day(s) of competition, caddies may wear either long pants or tailored solid colored knee length shorts or skorts. Blue jeans, cutoffs, T-shirts or shirts with no collar shall not be worn. Smooth rubber sole shoes are required. Sandals, open toe shoes, and golf shoes with traditional metal or soft spikes are prohibited.
Players and Caddies shall conform to the host facility’s appearance policies while onsite during any practice round.
Conduct
While on host facility property during qualifying rounds; players and caddies shall conduct themselves in a professional manner. PGA TOUR reserves the right to remove a player from the qualifying competition for; non competitiveness; conduct unbecoming a professional by the player; conduct unbecoming a professional by the players’ caddie.
Reduction or Cancellation
Any reduction or cancellation in the respective qualifying competition shall be in accordance with Reduction/Cancellation Guidelines as found in the PGA TOUR Tournament Regulations. In the event that the competition is canceled without any player having been able to play, all entry fees will be refunded. In the event the competition is canceled after play has begun, all entry fees will be refunded, minus a $25 administrative charge per player.
If in the judgment of the on-site PGA TOUR Rules Official or designee, whose decision shall be final, conditions render commencement or continuation of tournament play inadvisable, play shall be postponed until such time as the PGA TOUR Rules Official or designee determines that such weather conditions or other occurrences or conditions have improved sufficiently for play to commence or resume.
In situations involving adverse weather conditions or any other occurrence or condition, our first priority is the completion of the qualifying competition. Every effort will be made to achieve this objective by the end of the scheduled competition day.
In the event the qualifying competition cannot be completed by the end of the scheduled competitive day, play will be extended. Every effort will be made to complete the qualifying competition as soon as possible. The Open Qualifying competition will not continue beyond the end of the day immediately preceding the first scheduled tournament round of the competition. In the event one or more of the 18-hole Open Qualifying contestants cannot be identified, those qualifying spots will be filled by the next available players on the PGA TOUR Alternate List.
PGA TOUR Reserves the right to change the format, venue(s), qualifying spots and other criteria as presently contemplated.