It is the week of the PGA Championship, and although it may seem like nonsense to golf fans, the doubts that usually arise every year are back: Who runs the second major of the season, the PGA of America or the PGA Tour? Are there two organizations or just one?
To the rescue of those uninitiated of the ins and outs of professional golf came renowned golf influencer Paige Spiranac, who dedicated a post on her X profile, which has more than one million followers, to explaining the issue.
The topic is not easy, but Spiranac presented it in a fairly understandable way.
“Most people get confused because they think the PGA [Championship] is put on by the PGA Tour,” Spiranac said. “It’s not. It’s put on by the PGA of America, which are two separate organizations.”
“The touring professionals, the professional athletes, play on the PGA Tour. The teaching professionals [like Michael Block], the people who teach people how to play golf, are part of the PGA of America. The PGA of America also puts on the Ryder Cup.”
“This is the one opportunity where the teaching professionals can qualify into the PGA Championship to compete against the PGA pros. I know it’s a lot, but if you know that, you’ll impress people.”
And there is no doubt about it. Not only knowing that the PGA of America and the PGA Tour are not the same, but understanding why they are not is irrefutable proof that you are a hardcore golf fan.
The PGA of America was founded in 1916 to unite golf professionals, and until 1968 it brought together both teaching and touring professionals. The latter split at the end of the 1968 season due to financial disagreements and eventually founded the current PGA Tour.
Paige Spiranac watches a putt on the 10th hole during the 2024 Creator Classic prior to the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on August 28, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Paige Spiranac watches a putt on the 10th hole during the 2024 Creator Classic prior to the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on August 28, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mike Mulholland/Getty Images
The PGA of America currently oversees the teaching profession. It maintains the organization of three professional events, the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship and the Women’s PGA Championship, all of which are considered majors in their respective fields.
The PGA of America is also responsible for the organization of the Ryder Cup on the American side, in cooperation with the R&A on the European side. It also organizes the various teaching professional championships held in the United States.
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