PGA TOUR, APGA Tour expand strategic partnership
Three APGA Tour events to be played at TPC courses, funded by PGA TOUR
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA – The PGA TOUR and the APGA (Advocates Pro Golf Association) Tour announced today significant enhancements to the existing strategic partnership between the two organizations, including 2020 tournaments hosted by TPC properties and funded by the PGA TOUR, access and instruction at the PGA TOUR Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass and additional financial assistance.
With the support of the PGA TOUR, the APGA Tour has elevated the quality of courses on its schedule in recent years, hosting tournaments at TPC Craig Ranch (2018), TPC Scottsdale (2019) and Innisbrook (2019). That partnership continues in 2020 as the APGA Tour will play an eight-tournament schedule, including three events held at TPC courses: TPC Scottsdale (April 27-28), TPC Louisiana (May 11-12) and TPC Sugarloaf (June 15-16). Competition rounds for those three tournaments will be financially covered by the PGA TOUR. In addition, the Torrey Pines North Course will host a one-day tournament on Saturday, January 25, during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open.
Another benefit added to the partnership is the ability for APGA Tour players to receive instruction at the state-of-the-art PGA TOUR Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The Performance Center opened in 2017 and serves as the main practice facility for many PGA TOUR players based in Greater Jacksonville.
Several benefits will continue in 2020, including access to the First Stage of Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament for the season-long APGA champion. In addition, each tournament winner is granted a scholarship for Open Qualifiers on the Korn Ferry Tour, while the winner of the Senior Pro Classic receives one for Open Qualifiers on PGA TOUR Champions.
The APGA Tour, which has been supported financially by the PGA TOUR since 2012, began in 2010 with three professional tournaments, 80 participants and $40,000 in prize money. In 2019, it hosted seven events with 103 participants (25 amateurs) and $250,000 in prize money, as well as an APGA Senior Pro Classic.
Past APGA Tour players include active PGA TOUR members Tony Finau, Harold Varner III and Joseph Bramlett.
ABOUT PGA TOUR
By showcasing golf’s greatest players, the PGA TOUR engages, inspires and positively impacts our fans, partners and communities worldwide.
The PGA TOUR, headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Series-China. Members on the PGA TOUR represent the world’s best players, hailing from 28 countries and regions (93 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to 226 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving. In 2018, tournaments across all Tours generated a record $190 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to $2.84 billion.
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About APGA Tour
The Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) was established in 2010 as a non-profit organization with the mission to bring greater diversity to the game of golf. The APGA Tour Board of Directors works to accomplish this by hosting and operating professional golf tournaments, player development programs, mentoring programs and by introducing the game to inner city young people. In addition to conducting up to eight tournaments awarding $250,000 in prize money annually, the APGA conducts the Charlie Sifford Player Development Program to aid young minority golfers.
CONTACT: Amanda Herrington, PGA TOUR, 770-616-4412, amandaherrington@pgatourhq.com
