In Golf, What Is The Difference Between Euro Pro Tour And Pro Golf Tour (In-depth Explanation!)

Last Updated on October 5, 2023 by Alex PT

The EuroPro Tour is a developmental professional golf tour in Europe. On the other hand, The Pro Golf Tour is a professional golf tour in the United States. It is one of the main feeder tours to the Korn Ferry Tour, the second-tier professional golf tour in the United States.

The Differences Between Euro Pro Tour And Pro Golf Tour

FeatureEuroPro TourPro Golf Tour
LocationEuropeUnited States
Feeder tour toEuropean TourKorn Ferry Tour
Prize money£1 million$2.5 million
Number of tournaments1520
PlayersProfessional golfers from EuropeProfessional golfers from the United States
EligibilityPlayers must have a World Golf Ranking (WGR) of 1,500 or better or they must be exempt from qualifying school.Players must have a WGR of 1,500 or better or they must be exempt from qualifying school.
ExemptionsThe top five players on the Player of the Year and Money List at the end of the season earn exempt status on the Korn Ferry Tour for the following season. The PGT also offers a number of other exemptions to the Korn Ferry Tour, such as the top finishers at certain tournaments and the winners of the PGT’s amateur tournaments.The top five players on the Player of the Year and Money List at the end of the season earn exempt status on the Korn Ferry Tour for the following season. The PGT also offers a number of other exemptions to the Korn Ferry Tour, such as the top finishers at certain tournaments and the winners of the PGT’s amateur tournaments.

The Euro Pro Tour

The EuroPro Tour, also known as the PGA EuroPro Tour, is a professional golf tour in Europe designed to help aspiring golfers progress to higher-level tours. Here are key details about the EuroPro Tour:

  1. Developmental Tour: The EuroPro Tour is considered a developmental or feeder tour, providing a platform for golfers to gain experience and improve their skills before advancing to higher-level competitions like the European Tour.
  2. Tournament Schedule: It typically features a schedule of around 15 to 20 tournaments throughout the golfing season, including events in the United Kingdom and occasionally other European countries.
  3. Prize Money: While not as lucrative as the European Tour, the EuroPro Tour offers a significant amount of prize money. Winners of events can earn substantial payouts, which can help support their professional careers.
  4. Field: The tour attracts a mix of emerging talents, young professionals, and seasoned players looking to regain their form. The field is competitive, with golfers from various backgrounds and nationalities.
  5. Q-School: Qualifying School (Q-School) is the pathway to gaining entry into the EuroPro Tour. Aspiring players must go through a rigorous qualification process to secure their tour card.
  6. Pathway to Higher Tours: Success on the EuroPro Tour can lead to promotion to the Challenge Tour, which is the second-tier tour in European golf. From there, golfers can work towards earning their place on the European Tour, the highest level of professional golf in Europe.
  7. Television Coverage: Some EuroPro Tour events receive television coverage, allowing golfers to showcase their skills to a wider audience and potential sponsors.
  8. Career Development: For many players, the EuroPro Tour serves as a stepping stone in their professional golf careers. It offers valuable experience, exposure, and the opportunity to earn a living through golf.

Pro Golf Tour

The Pro Golf Tour (PGT) is a professional golf tour in the United States. It is one of the main feeder tours to the Korn Ferry Tour, the second-tier professional golf tour in the United States. The PGT was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The PGT season runs from April to October and consists of approximately 20 tournaments. The tournaments are held at various golf courses throughout the United States. The PGT offers a total prize fund of $2.5 million for the season.

The PGT is open to professional golfers from all over the world. However, players must meet certain criteria in order to be eligible to compete on the tour. Players must have a World Golf Ranking (WGR) of 1,500 or better or they must be exempt from qualifying school.

The PGT is a valuable proving ground for young professional golfers. Players who have competed on the PGT include Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, and Justin Thomas. All three of these players have gone on to win major championships on the PGA Tour.

The PGT is also a great way for fans to see the next generation of professional golfers. Tickets to PGT tournaments are typically very affordable and fans have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the players.

Here are some additional details about the Pro Golf Tour:

  • The PGT is divided into two orders of merit: the Player of the Year and the Money List. The Player of the Year points race is based on a player’s best 12 finishes of the season. The Money List is based on a player’s total earnings for the season.
  • The top five players on the Player of the Year and Money List at the end of the season earn exempt status on the Korn Ferry Tour for the following season.
  • The PGT also offers a number of other exemptions to the Korn Ferry Tour, such as the top finishers at certain tournaments and the winners of the PGT’s amateur tournaments.

The Pro Golf Tour is an important part of the professional golf landscape in the United States. It is a valuable proving ground for young professional golfers and it is a great way for fans to see the next generation of professional golfers.

Is the standard of pro golf tours better than the euro pro tour?

Pro golf tour is a keenly contested tournament between the best golfers in the world. With several talents and global superstars on show, it is only natural to have a higher standard and competitive event. In financial terms, pro golf tours offer enormous bigger prize money compared to the euro pro tour, which technically makes it a more ambitious and standardized tournament.

What are the differences between a major and regular tournament in golf?

differences between a major and regular tournament in golf

Major tournaments are prestigious events staged for the best golfers across the world. With an annual schedule between April to July,  It is strictly invitational for elites in the game of golf. The setup is usually difficult and the qualification process is always tough. Winning a major tournament is the pinnacle of a golfer’s career as it is an honor that will go down in history.

Regular tournaments are equally a challenging showpiece in golf becomes with less pressure and less significance compared to majors. Courses in regular tournaments are less tough compare to majors, which invariably add a little bit of pressure to winning a major tournament. The sensation and hype that comes with major tournaments make tournaments it special and more challenging than regular tours.

What are the common starts formats in golf tournament? 

common starts formats in golf tournament

Golf tournaments are usually a well planned event with several plans to be adequately put in place by the organizers. Ranging from the preferred location, invited players, sponsorship and estimated cost, it is important to put into consideration how the tournament will be played.

Below are the different ways golf tournaments can tee off and each type has it’s benefits and downsides.

  • Shotgun
  • Standard 
  • Crossover

Shotgun

A short gun start is a concept that enables all participants to start and end the tournament at the same time. This process involves putting a group on each hole when the tournament kicks off. This start up concept is suitable for tournaments that involves over sixty players and enables swift conclusion on golf tours.

Standard

Standard concept of starting off golf competitions involves each participating groups starting the game at hole one. This is more suitable for golf tournament with less than 36 players. As each groups have to start at hole one, start interval are determined in advance, commonly ten minutes. This start format is more time consuming than shotgun, which makes it an appropriate option for small and individual golf tournaments.

Crossover

This concept arise from the combination of the shotgun and standard starts format and are normally best suited for tournaments involving 40 to 56 participants. Cross over start up system is best suited for midsize groups of participants, with each group simultaneously starting up at hole 1 and 10 respectively.

FAQs

We have a compiled list of frequently asked questions about the differences between euro pro tour and pro golf tour. Let’s have a look at them!

Is PGA tour harder than the European tour

Yes! In PGA tour, Stiff competition is guaranteed as it is usually a keen contest between the best golfers in the world. A European tour is equally competitive but the prize money and history to be made as a PGA tour winner make it a stronger tour to win.

What is the reward for winning a European tour?

Emerging winners of the European tour are awarded a European tour card for a minimum validity period of two years. Additional victories attract a a reward of an extra year with a maximum of five years.

What is the level of pro golf tours

Staysure tour and PGA champions tour are the two main pro golf tours. Staysure tour is previously known as the European senior tour while the PGA champions tour is based in the United States.

What is the biggest golf tour in the world?

The Master’s tournament is arguably the biggest tour in golf. The US Open, the British Open, the PGA Championship, and Ryder’s cup are closely followed as the most prestigious tours in golf.

Final Words

The Europro Tour and the pro golf tour are equally competitive tournaments. pro golf tour is usually invitational with more money involved and is harder to win. Europro tour is regarded as normal tours while pro golf is regarded as a major tournament, with winners going down in the history books as one of the greatest ever is golf.

This article is aimed to provide answers to your queries about the differences between the euro pro tour and the pro golf tour and we hope the answers you get from this write-up have done justice to that. Kindly reach out to us via the comment section if you have more questions. Thanks!

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