Sources -- PGA Tour :: Author's State of Mind
UPDATED: June 22nd 2010
There are six ways to become a PGA TOUR member eligible to compete in PGA TOUR events (subject to PGA TOUR Regulations).
1. Finish within the top 25 and ties at the preceding year's Qualifying Tournament (AKA Q-School).
2. Finish within the top 25 on the official Nationwide TOUR money list of the preceding year.
3. Win a cosponsored or approved PGA TOUR event. Official 2010 PGA Tour Schedule 
4. Win three Nationwide Tour events within one calendar year, either during the current PGA Tour season or the
previous one.
5. Finish among the top 150 players on the official money list in a year (through Sponsor Exemptions, Foreign
Member Exemptions, Open Qualifying or Section Qualifying, etc.)
Finishing among the Top 125 Money Winners as a Regular Member (or, as a non-member who elects to join the
PGA Tour full-time) guarantees full exempt status for one year.
A regular PGA Tour Member who finishes among the 126th thru 150th positions on the Official Money List is
guarantees partial exempt status for the next season, which includes unlimited usage of sponsor invitations
and Top-10 Finishes. Furthermore, a regular member finishing among the Top 150 - as well as any non-regular
member who earns at least as much money as the 150th player on the current year's list - is guaranteed
automatic entry into the final stage of the current year's PGA Tour Q-School.
6. Win during the course of a PGA TOUR season an amount of official money (by playing in PGA TOUR events through
Sponsor Exemptions, Foreign Exemptions, Open Qualifying or Section Qualifying, etc.) equal to the amount won
in the preceding year by the 150th finisher on the official money list. This is known as Special Temporary
Membership.
Achieving Special Temporary Membership will guarantee unlimited usage of sponsor invitations and Top-10 Finishes
beyond the normal non-member limits of seven and five respectively.
A non-member player who first achieves Special Temporary Membership, and then finishes the current year with at
least as much money as the 125th player on the Regular Members' Money List will earn full exempt status for the
following season, provided that player elects to apply for and receive PGA Tour Membership. If the non-member
player earns at least as much as money as the 150th player on the final Official Money List for the current
year, then he is eligible for the final stage of Q-School.
PGA TOUR Open Qualifying
In nearly every PGA TOUR open event there is an Open Qualifying round conducted by the PGA Section where the event
is being played. The four (sometimes three or two) low scorers will advance to that event. This Open Qualifying
round is normally held the Monday of Tournament Week and is open to amateurs with a USGA handicap of scratch (even)
or less, as well as all professionals.
The PGA Section Qualifying round is also held in conjunction with PGA TOUR open events. This is for all PGA of America
members who belong to that Section where the event is being played. Two low scorers advance to the event. The Monday
preceding the Tournament Week is normally used for this competition. The current Section Champion (or Player of the
Year) is also exempted into the PGA TOUR open event being contested in their home section.
An Open Qualifying competition of 18 holes is normally held Monday of Tournament Week from which the four low scorers
will gain entry into the Tournament.
Eligible players are amateurs (*amateurs are not eligible for the tournament portion of the AT&T Pebble Beach National
Pro-Am) with USGA handicaps of scratch or better, as well as all professionals, with no limit as to the number of
attempts to qualify.
NOTE: Playing in PGA TOUR open tournaments through successful Open Qualifying does not count toward the 12 tournament
maximum (7 sponsor invitations, 5 Top-10 and ties finishes) placed on non-members.
Competitors in Open Qualifying are required to walk. They may use a caddie or carry their own clubs. A golf cart is
permitted for practice rounds ONLY.
This competition is scheduled and held by the PGA of America Section located in the territory of the PGA TOUR event.
Please refer to the 2010 PGA TOUR Open Qualifying Page for requesting information pertinent to the
particular competition you are interested in.
Most sections will be required to conduct a pre-qualifying round. The low 50 and ties (except for early events where
the number is 30 and ties) from the pre-qualifying round will advance into the Open Qualifying competition.
Entry fee for the pre-qualifying round is $200.00. The successful pre-qualifiers will pay an additional entry fee
of $200.00.
In the event that a pre-qualifier is not necessary, then the entry fee would be $400.00 for the Open Qualifying
competition. Entry fee for the competition is $400.00, payable to the PGA Section.