© Getty Images Sport – Stuart Franklin / Staff
Rasmus Højgaard, ranked eighteenth in the Dubai title race, narrowly missed the right to join the 2024 PGA Tour, where his brother Nicolai plays, second at the Farmers Insurance Open on January 27, behind Matthieu Pavon.
The talented 22-year-old Dane could nevertheless have aspired to play on the most prestigious professional golf circuit.
Rasmus Højgaard, results
However, fourth in the Race, Adrian Meronk decided to join LIV Golf on January 31, creating an opportunity for Rasmus Højgaard to regain his place on the PGA Tour.
Unfortunately, PGA Tour rules state that player categories are frozen as of December 31 of the previous year, meaning only nine spots have been allocated for the 2024 PGA Tour. Rasmus Højgaard will therefore have to continue his career on the European Tour for at least one more year, before potentially joining his brother on the American circuit.
Despite this disappointment, the start of his 2024 season seems promising. With strong performances, including a second place at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship and an eighth place in Bahrain last weekend, he currently sits fifth in the 2024 Race with 540.20 points already.
The PGA Tour is the preeminent organization operating the major professional golf tours in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Ponte Vedra Beach, a suburb of Jacksonville, Florida. The official name, “PGA TOUR”, is written entirely in capital letters.
In 1968, the PGA Tour split from the PGA of America, which now focuses primarily on the association of golf professionals, such as masters and club managers. Initially, tournament players formed their own organization called the Association of Professional Golfers (APG).
Subsequently, in 1968, they decided to abolish the APG and operate as the PGA “Tournament Players Division”, a completely autonomous division of the PGA, under the supervision of a new 10-member Tournament Policy Board. In 1975, the name was officially changed to the “PGA Tour”.
In 1981, the PGA Tour had a marketing dispute with the PGA of America and officially changed its name to the “TPA Tour”, meaning “Tournament Players Association”. However, the dispute was resolved within seven months, and the tour’s name reverted to the “PGA Tour” in March 1982.
It’s important to clarify what the PGA Tour actually organizes and what it doesn’t. The PGA Tour does not operate the four majors or the Ryder Cup. The PGA of America, not the PGA Tour, organizes the PGA Championship, the Senior PGA Championship and co-hosts the Ryder Cup with the PGA European Tour.
Additionally, the PGA Tour is not involved in the women’s tours in the United States, which are controlled by the LPGA. The official body that regulates the game of golf in the United States is the USGA, which also organizes the U.S.
Championships. Open. However, the PGA Tour hosts all other golf events week after week, including The Players Championship, FedEx Cup and Presidents Cup every two years.
