PGA Tour University aims to help collegians make grade as pros
Announced: By the PGA Tour, the debut of PGA Tour University, which will reward a select number of NCAA Division I college golfers access to the four developmental tours, the Tour announced Monday in a news release. How it will work: Players eligible for the PGA Tour University ranking list will be golfers who have completed at least four years of college, or three years but with intent and proof to graduate early. The top 15 on the ranking list at the end of the NCAA Division I championship will be awarded exempt status to the Korn Ferry, Latinoamerica, Canada and China tours. The top five will earn status on the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour’s top developmental circuit, beginning the week after the NCAA tournament. Nos. 6-15 will earn status on one of the other international tours for the rest of the season and a spot in the second stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament in the fall. Next year’s NCAA tournament is scheduled for May 28-Jun 2 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. According to an analysis by the PGA Tour’s Sean Martin, the exemptions will help ease a backlog of future pro talent that will be returning to campus in the fall after the coronavirus pandemic cut short the spring college season, leading to college-eligibility extensions. GolfChannel.com’s Brentley Romine answered many questions surrounding the initiative. The PGA Tour’s ranking list will commence this summer and be compiled by the World Amateur Golf Ranking from Division I tournaments and PGA Tour events in which any collegians might compete.
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