How To Get PGA Tour Card

If you are an exceptional golfer, you may want to know how to get a PGA tour card. It is truly a stressful experience trying to get one, but it is well worth your time, effort and money if you are a talented golf player. The PGA’s qualifying tournaments will take you across the country from the months of September through December, so plan accordingly. 

1. Apply to the PGA Qualifying Tournament. Being 18 years of age or older is a requirement of the qualifying school. Fill out the qualifying school application form, and pay the required fee. The fee increases over time but is currently in the $5,000 range. 
2. Play in the new pre-qualifying stage. This stage was added in 2006 with four tournaments. In each tournament, approximately 40 players will advance to the first stage.
3. Play in stage one tournaments. This consists of thirteen tournaments played over four rounds of golf. The top 25 players of each tournament will advance to the next stage. You will be playing against a mixture of players. Some have advanced from the pre-qualifying stage and other players were exempt from the pre-qualifying stage and are joining you in this qualifying stage. You will notice that the competition gets tougher at each level. 
4. Play in stage two tournaments. Six tournaments will be played over four rounds and the top 20 players will move forward to the next phase. 
5. Play in the final set of tournaments. This is one tournament is played over six rounds. The top 25 players earn their PGA Tour card for the next year.  
6. Play in the PGA Nationwide Tour or head back home. Golfers who make it to the final round but do not finish in the top 25 for the PGA tour card are eligible to play on the Nationwide Tour instead. If you did not make it to the final round, you can reapply next year and try again.

References:

"Q School Confidential: Inside Golf’s Cruelest Tournament", David Gould, 2002, 336 pages.

Golf Canada - RCGA