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Korn Ferry Tour
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Current season, competition or edition: 2025 Korn Ferry Tour | |
 | |
| Formerly | Ben Hogan Tour (1990–1992) Nike Tour (1993–1999) Buy.com Tour (2000–2002) Nationwide Tour (2003–2012) Web.com Tour (2012–2019) |
|---|---|
| Sport | Golf |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | PGA Tour |
| First season | 1990 |
| Countries | Based in the United States[a] |
| Most titles | Tournament wins: Jason Gore (7) |
| Related competitions | PGA Tour PGA Tour Americas PGA Tour Canada PGA Tour China PGA Tour Latinoamérica |
| Official website | kornferrytour.com |
The Korn Ferry Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either not yet reached the PGA Tour, or who have done so but then failed to win enough FedEx Cup points to stay at that level. Those who finish in the top 20 of the money list at year's end are given PGA Tour memberships for the next season. Since the 2013 season, the Korn Ferry Tour has been the primary pathway for those seeking to earn their PGA Tour card. Q-School, which had previously been the primary route for qualification to the PGA Tour, has been converted as an entryway to the Korn Ferry Tour.
History
[edit]Announced in early 1989 by PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman,[1] the "satellite tour" was formalized by the PGA Tour in 1990, originally named the Ben Hogan Tour, sponsored by the Ben Hogan Golf Company.[2][3][4] The first season of 1990 had 30 events, and the typical event purse was $100,000.[5] Late in 1992,[6] Nike acquired the title sponsorship and it became the Nike Tour for seven seasons (1993–1999). Buy.com was the next title sponsor with the tour being titled the Buy.com Tour for three seasons (2000–2002).
Nationwide Insurance became the tour's next title sponsors for the start of the 2003 season, with the tour being renamed the Nationwide Tour. After 9+1⁄2 seasons as the Nationwide Tour, Web.com was announced as the new title sponsor in late June 2012. The 10-year sponsorship deal was effective immediately, and the tour's name was changed to the Web.com Tour mid-season.[7] In June 2019, the PGA Tour announced a 10-year deal with Los Angeles–based consulting firm Korn Ferry to replace Web.com as the tour's sponsor.[8]
The vast majority of tournaments have always been hosted within the mainland United States. In 1993 the tour reached beyond those boundaries for the first time, with the Monterrey Open in Mexico. It was an annual fixture on the tour schedule until 2001. The following season, the tour added PGA Tour of Australasia co-sanctioned events in Australia and New Zealand, and the Canadian PGA Championship in Canada. A tournament in Panama was added in 2004, and the tour returned to Mexico in 2008. The tour has also visited Colombia (since 2010), Chile (2012–2015), Brazil (2013–2016), the Dominican Republic (2016–2017) and the Bahamas (since 2017).
Rules and results
[edit]All Korn Ferry Tour tournaments operate similarly to typical PGA Tour tournaments in that they are all 72-hole stroke play events with a cut made after 36 holes. The cut on the Korn Ferry Tour is for the top 65 players and ties, which is the same as the PGA Tour. The fields are usually 144 or 156 players, depending on time of year (and available daylight hours). As with the PGA Tour, the winner of the tournament will get a prize of 18% of the total purse.
Since this tour is a developmental tour, players are usually vying to play well enough to gain status on the PGA Tour.
Until 2012, there were a number of ways of getting onto the Korn Ferry Tour: Top 50 golfers at qualifying school after the top 25 and ties, those who finished between 26th and 60th on the previous year's money list, 126–150th on the previous season's PGA Tour money list, and those who were formerly fully exempt on the PGA Tour in the recent past. Those without status can also earn enough to exceed 100th on the previous season's money list and earned unlimited exemptions for the remainder of the season. Around 14 open qualifying spots are given during the Monday of tournament week, and those who finished in the top 25 of a Korn Ferry event are automatically exempt into the next tournament. If a Monday morning qualifier wins an event, they will earn full-exempt status for the remainder of the season. Past PGA Tour winners aged 48 and 49 can play on the Korn Ferry Tour on an increased basis to prepare themselves for PGA Tour Champions, while former PGA Tour winners with limited status use the Korn Ferry Tour as a way to get back to the main tour.
In 2007 Paul Claxton became the first man to reach US$1 million in Korn Ferry Tour career earnings.[9]
The Korn Ferry Tour offers Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points. From 2006 until August 2022, when the OWGR points system changed, the winner earned a minimum of 14 points (provided at least 54 holes were played) and 20 for the Korn Ferry Tour Championship.[10] Starting in 2013, the other events of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals awarded 16 points to the winner. Tournaments shortened to 36 holes were given reduced values of ten points for regular season events and the win is considered unofficial. With the change in the OWGR system, there are no minimum points for any tour. In 2023, the winner's points ranged from 10.14 to 15.31, averaging 13.05. In 2024, the winner's points ranged from 11.08 to 14.63, averaging 13.13.
Three-win promotion
[edit]Since 1997, a player who wins three tournaments in one year on the Korn Ferry Tour receives an immediate promotion to the PGA Tour for the remainder of the year and for the following year.[11] This "performance promotion" (sometimes informally referred to as a "battlefield promotion") has occurred 13 times:[12]
Changes for 2013 season and beyond
[edit]On March 20, 2012, the PGA Tour announced radical changes to the main tour's season and qualifying process effective in 2013. Major changes to what was then known as the Nationwide Tour were also announced at that time.[14][15] Full details of these changes were announced on July 10 of that year.[16]
The first major change was that beginning in fall 2013, the PGA Tour season started in October of the previous calendar year.[15] This change had several consequences for the Korn Ferry Tour, either directly or indirectly.
Starting with the 2013 season, the Korn Ferry Tour has a structure similar to that of the main PGA Tour, with a regular season followed by a season-ending series of tournaments. In the case of the Korn Ferry Tour, the ending series consists of four tournaments, to be held during the main tour's FedEx Cup playoffs, called the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. At least 150 players will be eligible to compete in the Finals—the top 75 on the Korn Ferry Tour regular-season money list, plus the players finishing between 126 and 200 on the FedEx Cup points list.[17] Non-members of the PGA Tour are also eligible if they would have earned enough FedEx Cup points to finish 126 to 200. In addition, PGA Tour players who have been granted medical extensions for the following season are eligible. Because some of the PGA Tour players will be exempt by other means, such as tournament wins in the previous two years, the Finals fields will not consist of all eligible players.[18] A total of 50 PGA Tour cards for the following season will be awarded at the end of the Finals—25 to the top regular-season money winners on the Korn Ferry Tour, with the remaining 25 determined by total money earned during the Finals.[17]
Those who finish in the Top 75 on the points list but fail to earn PGA Tour cards retain full Korn Ferry Tour status, along with those who finished 126–150 on the PGA Tour FedEx Cup standings. Conditional status is given to those who finish in the top 100 on the money list or 151–200 in the FedEx Cup.
From 2013 to 2022, the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament was replaced by the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament which granted playing rights only for the Korn Ferry Tour.[16][17] In 2023, the Qualifying Tournament again awarded PGA Tour cards, this time to the top five plus ties. Those up to 40th plus ties are fully exempt on the Korn Ferry Tour. The next twenty are fully exempt on PGA Tour Americas and conditionally on the Korn Ferry Tour. All others who reach the final stage are conditionally exempt on both the PGA Tour Americas and Korn Ferry Tour.
Finally, the Korn Ferry Tour now provides up to two entrants in the following year's Players Championship. One invitation is extended to the player who tops the money list for the entire season, including the Finals. The golfer who earns the most during the Finals also receives an invitation; if the same player leads both money lists, only one invitation is given.[17]
Money and points list winners
[edit]
Awards
[edit]
Career money leaders
[edit]The table shows top-10 career money leaders on the Korn Ferry Tour as of the 2024 season. Players in bold were 2024 Korn Ferry Tour members.
| Rank | Player | Prize money ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darron Stiles |
2,121,641 |
| 2 | Kyle Thompson |
1,882,729 |
| 3 | Scott Gutschewski |
1,864,922 |
| 4 | Paul Claxton |
1,802,290 |
| 5 | Ben Kohles |
1,779,140 |
| 6 | Jason Gore |
1,745,845 |
| 7 | Jeff Gove |
1,702,910 |
| 8 |  Fabián Gómez |
1,671,131 |
| 9 | Hunter Haas |
1,611,258 |
| 10 | Rob Oppenheim |
1,540,571 |
There is a full list on the PGA Tour's website.[19]
See also
[edit]- List of golfers with most Korn Ferry Tour wins
- Professional golf tours
- Challenge Tour – the analogous tour in Europe operated by the PGA European Tour
- Epson Tour – the analogous tour in North American women's golf, operated by the LPGA
- Minor League Golf Tour
Notes
[edit]- ^ Schedules have also included events in Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, New Zealand and Panama.
References
[edit]- ^ "Beman announces plan for Ben Hogan Tour". Ocala Star-Banner. Florida. Associated Press. January 5, 1989. p. 7C.
- ^ Green, Bob (February 4, 1990). "Hogan Tour a test for young pros". Times-News. Hendersonville, North Carolina. Associated Press. p. 5C.
- ^ Rushin, Steve (May 7, 1990). "Hogan's Golfing Heroes". Sports Illustrated. p. 61.
- ^ Rovell, Darren (August 12, 2003). "Legendary brand will soon have new owner – again". ESPN. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
- ^ Prisuta, Mike (May 1, 1990). "Ben Hogan Tour no minor league operation". Beaver County Times. Pennsylvania. p. B1.
- ^ "Nike to sponsor Ben Hogan Tour". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. August 28, 1992. p. 2B.
- ^ "Web.com signs deal to be new umbrella sponsor". PGA Tour. June 27, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
- ^ Hennessey, Stephen (June 19, 2019). "Korn Ferry replaces Web.com as the umbrella sponsor of the PGA Tour's developmental tour". Golf Digest. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
- ^ Reimer, Chris (May 27, 2007). "PG County Open victory makes Claxton first million-dollar man". PGA Tour. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
- ^ "How the ranking evolved". Official World Golf Ranking. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- ^ "2008 Nationwide Tour Eligibility Requirements". PGA Tour. January 17, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
- ^ "How it works: Three-Victory Promotion to PGA Tour". PGA Tour. August 24, 2024.
- ^ "Matt McCarty wins Albertsons Boise Open, earns Three-Victory Promotion to PGA Tour". PGA Tour. August 25, 2024.
- ^ "PGA Tour announces changes". ESPN. March 21, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^ a b Harig, Bob (March 21, 2012). "Decoding tour's schedule changes". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^ a b Elling, Steve (July 10, 2012). "PGA Tour finalizes controversial makeover as Qualifying School gone after six-decade run". CBS Sports. Eye on Golf. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Dell, John (July 10, 2012). "Web.com impact expanded with qualifying changes". PGA Tour. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^ "Top 25 assured of PGA Tour card". ESPN. Associated Press. July 10, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^ "Korn Ferry Tour: Career Money Leaders". Retrieved October 27, 2023.
External links
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Korn Ferry Tour
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
The Korn Ferry Tour is the primary developmental circuit for the PGA Tour, serving as a competitive proving ground for professional golfers aspiring to earn full membership on the main tour. Owned and operated by the PGA Tour, it consists of a season-long series of tournaments that award points based on performance, with the top finishers gaining promotion to the PGA Tour.[1][2]
Founded in 1990 as the Ben Hogan Tour (1990–1992)—named after the legendary golfer who helped launch it—the tour's inaugural event was the Bakersfield Open in California.[3] Its purpose from the outset has been to identify and nurture emerging talent, providing a structured pathway for players who may lack the immediate status or experience required for the PGA Tour. Over the years, the tour has evolved through multiple title sponsorships, including the Nike Tour (1993–1999), Buy.com Tour (2000–2002), Nationwide Tour (2003–2012), and Web.com Tour (2013–2019), before adopting its current name in 2019 through a 10-year partnership with executive search firm Korn Ferry.[4][5]
In its current structure, the Korn Ferry Tour schedules 26 events for the 2025 season, running from January to October across various venues in the United States and select international locations.[6] Players qualify through a combination of past performance, qualifying school, and sponsor exemptions, competing for purse money and points in the Korn Ferry Tour Points List. The season culminates in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, where the top 20 players on the overall points list earn exempt status on the PGA Tour for the following year, granting them full playing privileges and access to the sport's highest level.[7] Recent adjustments to the eligibility and competition format, approved in June 2025, aim to enhance the tour's competitiveness by prioritizing top performers and refining promotion criteria.[8]
The tour has been instrumental in launching the careers of numerous PGA Tour stars, including Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, and Xander Schauffele, underscoring its role as a vital feeder system for elite professional golf.[3] By fostering skill development and competitive experience, it remains a cornerstone of the PGA Tour's talent pipeline, celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2025.[9]
As of November 2025[70]
Overview
Role in professional golf
The Korn Ferry Tour was established in 1990 by the PGA Tour to provide a structured developmental pathway for professional golfers aspiring to reach the elite level, emphasizing skill development through competitive play on a circuit below the PGA Tour.[3] Owned and operated by the PGA Tour, it serves as the primary proving ground for emerging talent, where players hone essential aspects of the game such as course management, mental toughness, and consistency under pressure in professional settings. Recent adjustments to the eligibility and competition format, approved in June 2025, aim to enhance the tour's competitiveness by prioritizing top performers and refining promotion criteria.[8] This tour plays a pivotal role in talent identification and preparation for the PGA Tour, with alumni comprising 83 percent of the PGA Tour's current membership and accounting for more than 650 PGA Tour titles, 32 major championships, and eight FedExCup champions.[10] Notable examples include major winners Stewart Cink, who claimed the 2009 Open Championship after early successes on the tour, and Justin Thomas, a two-time PGA Championship victor who won the 2014 Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship during his developmental season.[11] In 2025, the Korn Ferry Tour features 26 tournaments across North America and select international venues, offering a total prize money purse of $28 million to support player development and competition.[12][13] Unlike the PGA Tour, which showcases established stars in larger fields and higher-stakes events, the Korn Ferry Tour prioritizes emerging professionals in more accessible formats, with typical fields of 144-156 players and average event purses of $1 million.[12]Sponsorship and naming
The Korn Ferry Tour's sponsorship history began with the Ben Hogan Company serving as its inaugural title sponsor from 1990 to 1992, offering crucial early financial support and equipment provisions to establish the developmental circuit.[3][14] This partnership aligned the tour with a renowned golf equipment manufacturer, helping to launch the series of events that would become a key pathway for emerging professionals.[15] Subsequent sponsorships reflected evolving commercial strategies, with Nike taking over as title sponsor from 1993 to 1999 and emphasizing the tour's connection to athletic performance and innovation in sportswear.[15][4] Buy.com followed from 2000 to 2002, highlighting the rise of e-commerce by integrating the tour with its online retail platform, including a dedicated golf superstore to promote digital shopping.[15][16] Nationwide Insurance then became the sponsor from 2003 to 2012, marking the longest tenure at 10 years and focusing on financial security themes relevant to players' careers.[15][17] Web.com sponsored the tour from 2012 to 2019, aligning it with digital services for small businesses and website development to enhance online visibility for events and participants.[18][19] In June 2019, Korn Ferry, a global organizational consulting firm specializing in talent management, secured a 10-year title sponsorship deal of undisclosed multi-million-dollar value, rebranding the tour to underscore themes of professional development and leadership pathways.[18][20] This agreement replaced Web.com and took effect immediately, positioning the tour's mission in line with Korn Ferry's expertise in executive search and succession planning.[21] Each sponsorship transition has driven growth in the tour's resources and profile, with prize money and media exposure expanding progressively to support player development.[3] For instance, during the Nationwide era, annual purses reached $16.6 million in 2012, enabling larger fields and higher individual earnings.[22] Under Korn Ferry, these investments have sustained increases in event funding and broadcasting, further elevating the tour's role in the professional golf ecosystem.[23] As of 2025, the Korn Ferry sponsorship continues to underpin international growth, financing new events such as The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island and the Tulum Championship in Mexico to broaden global reach and player opportunities.[24][25][26]History
Founding and early years (1990–1999)
The Ben Hogan Tour was established in 1990 by PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman to create a structured developmental circuit for professional golfers, filling the void left by the absence of a formal minor league system within the sport.[3] This initiative, sponsored by the Ben Hogan Company, aimed to provide competitive opportunities for emerging talent and former PGA Tour players seeking to regain form.[27] The inaugural event, the Ben Hogan Bakersfield Open held in February 1990 at Bakersfield Country Club in California, was won by Mike Springer, who finished at 7-under par to claim the $20,000 first-place prize.[3] The 1990 season consisted of 30 tournaments, each offering a standardized purse of $100,000, with events concentrated in the United States and an early focus on southwestern venues to build regional momentum.[3] Exemption categories were introduced to structure participation, prioritizing graduates of the PGA Tour Qualifying School (Q-School) and players aged 40-50 who had previously held PGA Tour membership, ensuring a mix of fresh talent and experienced competitors.[28] The promotion pathway granted automatic PGA Tour cards to the top five money earners, a model designed to incentivize performance; the first class from the 1990 season included leader Jeff Maggert ($108,644), Jim McGovern, Dick Mast, Mike Springer, and Ed Humenik, who earned full exemptions for 1991.[29][30] Early challenges centered on limited visibility and modest financial incentives, as the tour lacked television exposure and purses represented less than 10 percent of typical PGA Tour events, leading to initial skepticism among players about its viability as a career stepping stone.[14] By 1999, under the name Nike Tour following the sponsor's acquisition in late 1992, the schedule had stabilized at 30 events, with total purses reaching $7.63 million annually to support broader geographical reach and stronger fields.[31] The Nike era professionalized operations through increased marketing and equipment integration, boosting player participation and producing notable graduates like Olin Browne, who earned his PGA Tour card via the 1991 money list and later won three PGA Tour events, including the 1998 Las Vegas Invitational.[32]Nationwide and Web.com eras (2000–2018)
In the early 2000s, the developmental tour, then operating under sponsorships including Buy.com from 2000 to 2002, experienced significant financial growth that bolstered its role as a proving ground for aspiring professionals. Total prize money increased from approximately $12 million in 2000 to $10 million by 2003, reaching $15 million by 2005, allowing for larger purses and attracting higher-caliber talent. This expansion coincided with the rebranding to the Nationwide Tour in 2003, which sponsored the circuit through 2012 and emphasized its mission to develop future PGA Tour stars, with two-thirds of PGA Tour members by 2010 having Nationwide roots.[33] Promotion remained tied to the top 20-25 money winners at season's end, providing direct access to the PGA Tour and creating a competitive ladder that rewarded consistent performance over the tour's 30-plus events annually. The three-win automatic promotion rule, introduced before the 1997 season, enabled players to earn immediate PGA Tour membership mid-season upon securing three victories, reducing the need to grind through the full money list. This rule built on precedents like Ben Crane's 2003 promotion via multiple wins, accelerating pathways for standouts and injecting excitement into the schedule. International expansion also gained momentum during this phase, with the tour adding events outside the U.S., such as the 2004 Buenaventura Golf Tournament (later Panama Claro Championship), marking its first foray into Latin America and broadening global appeal. By the late 2000s, international tournaments numbered 3-4 per year, enhancing diversity and exposing players to varied conditions. The tour transitioned to the Web.com era in 2013 following a sponsorship deal with Web.com, shifting from a pure money list to a points-based system that included a regular season for the top 50 earners and three playoff-style Finals events incorporating the next 75 players for promotion opportunities.[34] This model, which awarded PGA Tour cards to the top 25 from the combined standings, aimed to extend the competitive season and mitigate burnout. The schedule reached 25 events in 2016, with international play rising to 5-7 annually, including staples in Colombia and Mexico. Notable graduates from this period include Rickie Fowler, who earned promotion in 2009 through strong Nationwide performances, and Daniel Summerhays, a 2010 money list leader who solidified his career trajectory. In 2016, reforms refined the system to prioritize the top 25 regular-season points earners plus 75 Finals participants, fostering deeper competition while addressing concerns over injury risks from abrupt PGA Tour transitions.Korn Ferry era (2019–present)
In June 2019, the PGA Tour announced Korn Ferry, a global organizational consulting firm specializing in talent identification and development, as the new title sponsor of its developmental circuit, effective immediately and extending through the 2028 season.[35] The rebranding to the Korn Ferry Tour emphasized an alignment between the sponsor's expertise in assessing and nurturing executive potential and the tour's role in cultivating future PGA Tour professionals.[35] The 2019 season, the inaugural under the new name, comprised 26 regular-season events, followed by the first Korn Ferry Tour Finals series of three tournaments, with the season finale at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Indiana.[36] The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted operations in 2020, shortening the regular season to 20 domestic events after an initial suspension following six tournaments, with international stops canceled to prioritize health protocols and travel restrictions.[37] To maintain competitive engagement during the hiatus, the tour introduced virtual simulator challenges, allowing players to earn limited points through remote competitions using advanced golf simulation technology.[38] The season adopted a wraparound format merging 2020 and 2021 schedules, resulting in a combined total of 28 events, all held within the United States to mitigate pandemic risks.[39] Under Korn Ferry's sponsorship, the tour has pursued international expansions to broaden its global footprint, including the debut of The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island as the 2025 season opener and the Tulum Championship in Mexico as a new Latin American stop.[6] The 2024-2025 period also marked an increase in visibility, with 10 events receiving television coverage on Golf Channel, up from prior years to enhance fan access and player exposure.[6] Evolutions in the promotion system have refined pathways to the PGA Tour, with the 2023 model awarding full PGA Tour membership to the top 30 finishers on the season-long points list, an expansion from previous limits to accelerate talent elevation.[40] In June 2025, the PGA Tour board approved adjustments to the competitive structure, reducing fully exempt status to the top 60 for 2027 and modifying categories for former PGA Tour players, with 2026 serving as a bridge year.[8] For the 2025 season, which determines 2026 status, this threshold tightened to the top 20 players, while the Korn Ferry Tour Finals expanded to include 75 competitors for a comprehensive status reset, ensuring the top 75 retain full exempt membership for the following year.[1] The 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season spanned from January to October, featuring 26 tournaments and culminating at the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance at French Lick Resort in Indiana.[41] Total prize money reached $28 million across the season, with each of the four Finals events offering elevated purses of $1.5 million to intensify competition among top contenders.[7]Season structure
Tournament schedule and venues
The 2025 Korn Ferry Tour schedule consists of 26 tournaments spanning from January to October, providing a competitive calendar that covers approximately 40 weeks of play with scheduled breaks to allow for recovery and preparation.[42] The season opens with two events in the Bahamas: the Bahamas Golf Classic at the Ocean Club Golf Course at Atlantis Paradise Island (January 12–15) and the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club on Winding Bay (January 19–22), marking new additions to the tour's international lineup.[43] It concludes with the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance at the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana (October 9–12).[44] Of these events, 20 are held at domestic U.S. venues across 16 states, while the remaining six take place internationally in six countries, including the Bahamas, Panama, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.[45] All tournaments follow a standard 72-hole stroke-play format over four rounds, with fields typically comprising 144 players for regular-season events.[1] Some events are co-sanctioned with regional tours, such as the 118 Visa Argentina Open presented by Acantilados (February 27–March 2 at Jockey Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina) and the Astara Chile Classic presented by Scotiabank (March 6–9 at Prince of Wales Country Club in Santiago, Chile), which are jointly run with PGA Tour Latinoamérica to broaden global participation.[24] New for 2025, the PGA Riviera Maya Championship at PGA Riviera Maya (May 1–4 in Tulum, Mexico) introduces an additional international stop, enhancing the tour's presence in Latin America.[46] Venues are selected for their quality and challenge, often featuring courses that align with PGA Tour standards, such as the Texas Rangers Golf Club in Arlington, Texas, for the Veritex Bank Championship (April 24–27).[6] The Korn Ferry Tour Finals, comprising the final four events, utilize premier facilities like French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana, for elevated competition among top points earners.[47] To accommodate non-exempt players, most regular-season events include Monday qualifiers, an 18-hole pre-tournament competition that awards up to eight spots in the main field.[1] Televised coverage enhances visibility, with 10 events broadcast on Golf Channel, including the season-opening Bahamas Golf Classic and the Tour Championship, to spotlight emerging talent.[6] Purse sizes are standardized at $1 million for regular events, with winners receiving 18 percent ($180,000), while Finals events offer $1.5 million purses and corresponding winner's shares of $270,000 to reflect their heightened stakes.Player eligibility and membership
Membership on the Korn Ferry Tour is divided into fully exempt and conditional categories, with fully exempt players receiving priority entry into tournaments and the ability to compete without restrictions on points totals prior to the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.[1] Players earn full status by finishing in the top 75 on the regular season points list or by participating in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, while those ranked 76th to 100th receive conditional status, granting limited access to events based on reshuffles and performance.[42] Sponsor exemptions are limited to a maximum of four per tournament, allowing tournament hosts to invite additional players outside the standard eligibility rankings.[48] Qualification paths to the Korn Ferry Tour include the PGA Tour Q-School, where the top five finishers and ties at Final Stage earn PGA Tour membership for the following season, while those finishing 6th to 75th receive varying degrees of Korn Ferry Tour exempt or conditional status based on their position.[49] Non-members can also qualify through Monday qualifiers held for select events, providing an open entry opportunity for unaffiliated professionals.[1] Exemptions are granted to past Korn Ferry Tour champions, who retain entry privileges for a limited number of seasons following their victory, as well as top amateurs with USGA handicaps of zero or less, on invitation from the sponsor.[48] Renewal of membership occurs annually, with the top 75 players from the prior season's regular points list retaining full exempt status for the next year, though adjustments approved for the 2026 season will reduce this to the top 60, with positions 61-75 subject to reshuffle.[8] In 2025, updated guidelines for the election and composition of the Korn Ferry Tour Player Advisory Council were introduced, enhancing member input in tour governance and policy decisions.[50] The tour is open to international players, welcoming global talent through its eligibility rankings and providing visa support for participants in U.S.-based events to facilitate competition.[1] International events often feature diverse fields, with non-U.S. players comprising a significant portion of entrants, reflecting the tour's role as a pathway for golfers worldwide.[6] The 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Player Handbook outlines key regulations, including standards of conduct that prohibit actions unbecoming of a professional, a dress code requiring collared shirts and appropriate attire during competition and practice rounds, and caddie requirements mandating that caddies wear tour-supplied bibs and adhere to professional behavior guidelines.[51] Additionally, the handbook specifies that Korn Ferry Tour members are not permitted to play in overlapping PGA Tour events, ensuring focus on developmental competition.[51]Points and promotion system
Regular season points list
The regular season points list serves as the core ranking mechanism for the Korn Ferry Tour's 22 main events, accumulating points based on finishing positions to establish player standings for exemptions and Finals qualification. Points are awarded using a standardized table, with 500 points going to the event winner, 300 points to second place, 225 points to third place, and progressively fewer points for subsequent positions, down to 1 point for any finish from 75th onward.[1][7] The top 75 players on this list at the conclusion of the regular season gain automatic entry into all remaining regular events and the subsequent Korn Ferry Tour Finals, while their cumulative points also determine seeding positions within the Finals field to set initial promotion contention.[7][52] In cases of tied total points, rankings are resolved first by the player's highest individual event finishes across the season, followed by total official money earned if necessary; points do not carry over from prior seasons, ensuring a fresh start each year.[52] For the 2025 season, which featured 22 regular events leading to the Finals cutoff, Johnny Keefer topped the points list with 2,358 points, earned via consistent top-10 performances including two victories.[53]Korn Ferry Tour Finals
The Korn Ferry Tour Finals is a four-event postseason series contested by the top 75 players from the regular season points list, with all points reset to zero at the outset to enable a fresh competition for final rankings.[54] These events each carry a $1.5 million purse and feature initial fields of 156 players, expanded from the core qualifiers by including additional eligible professionals to reach capacity.[47] The 2025 edition comprised the Simmons Bank Open (September 11–14, Franklin, Tennessee), Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship (September 18–21, Columbus, Ohio), Compliance Solutions Championship (October 2–5, Owasso, Oklahoma), and Korn Ferry Tour Championship (October 9–12, French Lick, Indiana). The series features fields of 156 players for the first event, 144 for the second (advancing the top 144 on cumulative points after the first), 120 for the third (top 120 after the second), and 75 for the fourth (top 75 after the third), heightening the stakes for advancement.[54] Event winners earn 600 points, with tiered allocations for other finishes, and high performers receive benefits including two-year Korn Ferry Tour exemptions.[1] In 2025, the top 20 players on the post-Finals points list secured PGA Tour membership for the 2026 season, reflecting the adjustment from 30 to 20 graduates implemented that year; all 75 entrants retained exempt status on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour.[8][55] This playoff-style format serves to offer comeback opportunities for underperforming regular-season players while providing a clean-slate evaluation, mitigating the dominance of early-season results.[54]Qualification for PGA Tour
The primary pathway for players to earn full PGA Tour membership through the Korn Ferry Tour is by finishing in the top 20 on the final points list, determined after the conclusion of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.[1] These 20 graduates receive fully exempt status for the following PGA Tour season, along with priority ranking positions 1 through 20 based on their points totals, which determines their entry priority into tournaments.[1] For the 2025 season, this granted 2026 PGA Tour cards to players such as Johnny Keefer (No. 1), Chandler Blanchet (No. 2), and Neal Shipley (No. 4), among others.[55] Historically, the number of PGA Tour cards awarded via this pathway has varied to align with PGA Tour field sizes and membership adjustments. In the 1990s, during the Nike Tour era, the top 15 money earners received exemptions.[56] This increased to 25 cards in the 2010 Nationwide Tour season.[33] By 2023, it expanded to 30 graduates amid broader eligibility expansions, but was reduced to 20 starting with the 2025 season to support smaller PGA Tour fields.[57] Graduates' exemptions extend through the subsequent season if they retain status by finishing in the top 100 of the FedExCup standings; failure to do so results in conditional status or return to the Korn Ferry Tour with elevated priority for re-entry. Additional PGA Tour cards are available through the PGA Tour Qualifying School (Q-School) presented by Korn Ferry, where the top five finishers earn full membership for the next season.[49] Prior Korn Ferry graduates may also receive medical extensions to preserve or regain status if sidelined by injury, positioning them ahead of other conditional categories in the priority ranking.[8]Records and statistics
Annual winners and leaders
The Korn Ferry Tour's annual money list ranks players based on official prize money earned from tournament purses, providing a direct measure of performance in terms of financial success on the developmental circuit. In contrast, the points list aggregates earnings with bonus points for finishes, birdies, and other achievements, serving as the primary determinant for PGA Tour promotion. These lists often align closely, though points can diverge due to bonus structures, with the top finisher typically securing significant career advancement. For instance, in 2009, Michael Sim led the money list with $644,142, setting a then-record for single-season earnings on the Nationwide Tour era of the circuit.[58] Trends in annual leadership show limited dominance, as multiple tournament victories in a single season remain rare. For example, Chilean golfer Mito Pereira exemplified international success in the 2020–21 season, finishing second on the points list with 2,556 points while securing three victories for immediate PGA Tour promotion. The tour typically features 26 events per year, producing that many individual winners and highlighting emerging talent through diverse venues across North America and the Caribbean. In 2025, Johnny Keefer dominated both lists, leading the points standings with 2,358.611 points and the money list with $831,686, earning him PGA Tour membership for 2026 after two victories. The top five on the points list closely mirrored money rankings, emphasizing consistent top finishes amid a season of 26 tournaments. Notable individual winners included Hank Lebioda at The Bahamas Golf Classic at Atlantis Paradise Island, where he claimed his first tour victory in a playoff, contributing to the season's emphasis on breakthrough performances.[43][59][53][60][61][62][63]2025 Korn Ferry Tour Top 5 Leaders
Money List
| Rank | Player | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnny Keefer | $831,686 |
| 2 | Chandler Blanchet | $762,550 |
| 3 | Austin Smotherman | $658,905 |
| 4 | Neal Shipley | $646,595 |
| 5 | Adrien Dumont de Chassart | $558,622 |
Points List
| Rank | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnny Keefer | 2,358.611 |
| 2 | Chandler Blanchet | 1,972.192 |
| 3 | Austin Smotherman | 1,882.544 |
| 4 | Neal Shipley | 1,807.621 |
| 5 | Emilio Gonzalez | 1,607.289 |
Awards
The Korn Ferry Tour presents several annual awards to recognize outstanding player performance, potential, and contributions beyond on-course results, with selections typically determined through votes by the tour's membership and input from the Player Advisory Council and tour officials. These honors are announced following the conclusion of the regular season and Korn Ferry Tour Finals, highlighting holistic excellence in a competitive developmental environment.[63][64] The Jack Nicklaus Award, also known as the Player of the Year honor, is the tour's premier individual accolade, voted on by fellow Korn Ferry Tour members to reward the most dominant overall performer based on season-long consistency, victories, and impact. Established in honor of the legendary golfer, recipients receive a custom trophy featuring Nicklaus's likeness. In 2025, Johnny Keefer claimed the award after topping the points list with two victories and 14 top-10 finishes, marking a rare sweep when combined with another major honor. Historical winners include Matt McCarty in 2024 for his three triumphs and three-victory promotion, Ben Kohles in 2023, and earlier standouts like Scott Parel in 2017, who earned it through multiple wins and strong contention.[63][65][66] The Rookie of the Year award recognizes the top first-year Korn Ferry Tour member, evaluated on performance metrics such as points earned, tournament results, and broader influence on the tour, with voting conducted by the full membership. Criteria emphasize adaptation to professional competition and potential for future success. Johnny Keefer also secured this distinction in 2025, becoming the third player in tour history—following Sungjae Im (2018) and Scottie Scheffler (2019)—to win both Player of the Year and Rookie honors in the same season, highlighted by his two wins and No. 1 points ranking. Recent recipients include Karl Vilips in 2024, who posted a victory and 10 top-10s as an Australian standout, and Adrien Dumont de Chassart in 2023, the first Belgian to earn Korn Ferry Tour status and a PGA Tour card.[63][64][67] In addition to performance-based awards, the tour honors exemplary character and leadership through initiatives like the inaugural Grayson Murray Be Kind to One Another Legacy Award, introduced in 2025 in partnership with the Grayson Murray Foundation to commemorate the late PGA Tour winner's commitment to kindness and mental health advocacy. This annual recognition, presented at select events, celebrates a Korn Ferry Tour player or caddie who demonstrates compassion and support within the golf community, alongside a local community member or organization. The first recipient was two-time Korn Ferry Tour winner Josh Teater, awarded at the 2025 AdventHealth Championship for his advocacy in mental health and peer encouragement. Selections involve nominations from tour personnel and foundation review, with announcements integrated into post-season honors to promote positive values.[68][69]Career money leaders
The career money leaders on the Korn Ferry Tour highlight players who achieved sustained success and longevity on the developmental circuit, often through multiple seasons of consistent performance amid fluctuating opportunities for promotion to the PGA Tour. Darron Stiles holds the all-time record with $2,121,641 in official earnings, accumulated primarily between 1997 and 2016 during a career marked by intermittent PGA Tour stints but heavy reliance on the Korn Ferry Tour for stability. Trailing him are Scott Gutschewski with $1,907,342 spanning over 20 seasons from 2005 through 2025, and Kyle Thompson with $1,890,864 from 2003 to 2019, the former exemplifying exceptional tenure in a tour where physical and financial demands often limit long-term participation.[70] These rankings are based on cumulative official prize money earned exclusively from Korn Ferry Tour events, dating back to the tour's origins as the Ben Hogan Tour in 1990 and updated through the 2025 season, with no inflation adjustments applied and PGA Tour earnings excluded to focus solely on developmental circuit contributions.[70] Among international standouts, Argentina's Fabián Gómez ranks prominently with $1,779,542, reflecting the tour's growing global appeal. Earnings totals have risen significantly since 2013, driven by expanded purses from major sponsorships like Korn Ferry's title deal starting in 2019 and overall tour expansion, which has favored players active post-2000; notably, eight of the top 10 leaders earned full PGA Tour status at least once, underscoring the pathway's role in building enduring careers.| Rank | Player | Total Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darron Stiles | $2,121,641 |
| 2 | Scott Gutschewski | $1,907,342 |
| 3 | Kyle Thompson | $1,890,864 |
| 4 | Paul Claxton | $1,802,290 |
| 5 | Fabián Gómez | $1,779,542 |
| 6 | Ben Kohles | $1,779,140 |
| 7 | Jason Gore | $1,745,845 |
| 8 | Jeff Gove | $1,702,910 |
| 9 | Rob Oppenheim | $1,681,566 |
| 10 | Hunter Haas | $1,611,258 |