PGA Tour

The PGA Tour stands for "Professional Golfers Association Tour" and is the organization in charge of the United States major professional golf competitions.

Besides the main PGA Tour, the organization also operates a Champions Tour for golfers over the age of 50 and the Nationwide Tour, a lower level developmental tour. The PGA Tour does not govern the LPGA. Tiger Woods has dominated the tour in recent years, winning 64 tournaments including 14 major championships between 1996 and 2008. The all time leader in professional major championships won is 18, held by Jack Nicklaus.

Each season consists of 49 tournaments. Four of the tournaments, The Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship are major tournaments. Following each tournament, golfers earn points towards the Official World Golf Rankings. Regular tournaments are worth between 20 and 80 points, with a major tournaments worth 100 points.

During the regular season the players earn points based on their performance in tournaments played. These points determine seeding for the PGA Tour playoffs and the FedEx Cup. Four tournaments that run from mid August to mid September make up the PGA Tour playoffs, the winner of which is the FedEx Cup champion. FedEx.com: The FedEx Cup Explained

• 1895: First U.S. Open played

• 1916: PGA of America formed

• 1916: First PGA Championship played

• 1927: First Ryder Cup played

• 1934: First Masters Tournament played

• 1948: PGA Player of the Year first given out

• 1956: Masters Tournament televised for first time

• 1961: Allows minorities to participate in tournaments for first time

• 1962-1971: "Shell's Wonderful World of Golf" airs

• 1968: Branched off the PGA of America to become separate entity

• 1969-1974: Joseph C. Day served as first Commissioner

• 1974-1994: Deane Beman was Commissioner

• 1980: Senior PGA Tour organized

• 1981-1982: Name changed to TPA Tour

• 1990: Ben Hogan Tour begins as a developmental tour

• 1994-2002: "Shell's Wonderful World of Golf" airs

• 1995-: Tim Finchem is Commissioner

• 2007: The Players Championship moved to May

• 2007: Tour Championship moved to September

• 2007: First FedEx Cup Awarded To Tiger Woods

• 2008: Vijay Singh Wins The FedEx Cup

• Official Site of the PGA Tour: PGA Tournament Schedule
• PGA.com: PGA Tournament Schedule
• Official Website of the U.S. Open: U.S. Open
• The Official Site of the Master Golf Tournament: The Masters
• The Open Championship Official Website: The British Open
• The Official Site of The 37th Ryder Cup Matches: Ryder Cup 2008
• Wikipedia: PGA Championship
• PGA.com:
  • 2009 PGA Championship
  • 2008 PGA Championship
  • 2007 PGA Championship
  • 2006 PGA Championship
  • 2005 PGA Championship