Finishing in the money

Question
How far down the finish line do professional golfers get paid in a tournament. Top ten? Top 20? Top 30? Other? Thanks.

Answer
HI Wayne;

This all depends on the TYPE of professional tournament being played.

There are several different types of events out there.  Here are some examples

1.  Mini Tours run by out side entrepreneurs that are not recognized by the PGA of America or the PGA Tour.

2. PGA of America Section Events  (Sanctioned by the PGA)

3. PGA Tour, Web.com Tour, Champions Tour, PGA Asian Tour, European Tour, Challenge Tour (Euro equivalent to Web.com, Australian Tour (Sunshine), South American Tour, Canadian Tour, ETC.

While most events pay down to about 30% of the field entered, the PGA Tour and those entities that are affiliated with the PGA Tour (see item 3 above) normally pay down to about 70th place and ties.  Effectively you could have 50 people at 70th place but I can't remember that ever happening.  Though I have seen it where there were 90 players who made the cut because one player missed a putt on 18 to let 17 players into the weekend.  

Always keep in mind that if a person makes the cut, they make a check.  Pretty simple deal.  Though I have seen guys make the cut and only get $1.  Money paid out comes from a combination of sponsor money, ticket receipts (if any), player entry fees. and a few other things as well.

Personally I remember when I entered a mini tour event in Tennessee once in between Nike events and it cost me $400.00 to play yet only 20 guys showed up and the tournament operator guaranteed 50 players to the golf course.  So the money that the operator received went to pay for the golf course contract he signed.  I placed third in that event and only got $75.00 after expenses where as I would have normally made my money back + a little extra.  It was a one day event, but I never played in that tour operators events ever again and make sure every player I knew, knew not to play in his events also.

Another operator had guys sign up for a yearly tour in a regional area to the tune of $11,000 for ten events then promptly ran off with the entry fees.  There are a lot of tours out there, players have to pick and choose which ones are run legitimately, are best suited for there travel, and have the deepest and most competitive field.

Sorry for the run on but you really have to take a lot of things into account before you can just say that XXX amount of places will get paid.   And it is all based upon the size of the field of players.  Most PGA Tour Events begin each week with a field of 156.

Obviously the PGA of America and The PGA Tour makes sure that players who make the cut get paid.  

Again, it really all depends upon the size of the field, but most tournaments pay around 30% of the field.

I hope this satisfies the answer to your question.

Happy Golfing and have a wonderful day.

Robb Nunn
PGA Professional
Golf Equation Swing Academy
http://www.golfequation.com