How a 1968 dispute over prize money created the modern PGA Tour

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The PGA Tour was not always a standalone powerhouse. Born from a 1968 revolt by professional golfers against the PGA of America, the organization transformed from a division of club pros into a global business entity that redefined how golf is played, scheduled, and televised for the modern era.

The roots of the PGA Tour trace back to 1916, but for decades, professional tournament players operated under the umbrella of the Professional Golfers' Association of America. By the late 1960s, friction intensified over television revenue. While the PGA of America wanted to funnel profits into local golf development, touring professionals demanded larger purses. Following the 1968 PGA Championship, the players broke away to form the American Professional Golfers, Inc., eventually compromising in December 1968 to establish the PGA Tournament Players Division, an autonomous body governed by a 10-member policy board.

This independence allowed the tour to innovate aggressively. In 1975, it officially adopted the name PGA Tour. Under commissioners like Deane Beman, who served for two decades starting in 1974, the tour expanded its commercial reach. The introduction of the FedEx Cup in 2007 was a watershed moment, designed to prevent the late-season anticlimax that occurred when top players reduced their schedules after the major championships. By creating a playoff system that reduced field sizes from 125 to 30, the tour ensured that its marquee players remained engaged through mid-September.

The tour's evolution also fundamentally changed how players earn their status. In 2013, the organization transitioned to a season spanning two calendar years, beginning in October. This shift effectively ended the traditional qualifying school as a direct path to the PGA Tour, shifting it instead to the Korn Ferry Tour. Today, the tour manages a complex ecosystem that includes the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Champions, and PGA Tour Americas, maintaining its headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, while continuing to integrate international events like the CIMB Classic in Malaysia into its official-money schedule.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The PGA Championship was born to elevate professionals above the era's wealthy amateur golfers.
• How a struggling plant nursery became the world's most exclusive golf tournament
• Why the four men's golf majors are not actually the sport's richest events
• Golf's Tour Championship once gave its leader a head start
• Is the DP World Tour merely a financial satellite of the American PGA Tour?
• How the Philadelphia 76ers went from a record-breaking disaster to NBA champions
• The precision striker who rose from street fights to UFC dominance
• From ancient outrigger warships to a modern naval force, the Philippine Navy's long evolution.
• The German politician who defended rail quality over private profit
• Seven thousand islands took a Spanish prince’s sixteenth-century name
• The soap opera veteran who mastered the art of the television doctor
• How 48 elite athletes from across Asia battle for the ultimate physical title

More in Countries and other regions · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics