Becoming a pro

[TheChamp]

How exactly does a person become a pro. Say you're a guy playing off scratch or so and you fancy becoming a pro and competing in the PGA regional events, how do you go about it?

I don't mean going down the pro shop/training route, but rather, can you just declare yourself pro by filling in a few forms and then start entering regional pga events?

Can anyone provide an idiot's guide?

 

[Philm]

http://www.pga.info/AboutThePGAPro/31851301.htm

of interest perhaps.

Phil

 

[TheChamp]

Cheers, i read that earlier. But surely the guys turning pro for Europro Tour etc don't go down either of those routes.

When McIlroy went pro, he didn't either.

 

[BunkerBoy31]

Sponsors invite... If you finish in the top 10 or 20 you get invited the following tour event and so on.

Not everyone goes through the mini tours.

Charles Howell III was a Monday qualifier in his 1st event and look how well he's done out of that one event.

 

[TheChamp]

But how did they actually turn pro? Do you just one day say 'i'm turning pro'?

 

[BunkerBoy31]

In a word "Yes"

 

[surefire]

As above, just say you're turning pro, fill in the entry forms for the Europro (or whatever others you fancy) Q school, and then make sure you play well.

You won't be able to play in the PGA regional events though, as you won't be a member of the PGA. To be a member of the PGA you have to do the training and pro shop work you talk about. There are plenty of other mini tours though, such as Europro, Jamega etc...

See link for details of this years Europro Q school (I know its too late, but gives you an idea of what to expect).

http://www.europrotour.com/images/main/right/links/link2file.pdf

 

[StrangelyBrown]

I'd also say that I don't think scratch is good enough to make any money on tour.

 

[bobmac]

When Ian Poulter turned pro, he was off 4

 

[john0]

When Ian Poulter turned pro, he was off 4

He plays like he still is lately

 

[StrangelyBrown]

He's maybe the exception rather than the rule though..?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Personally I'd want the backing of a PGA qualification behind me. Playing careers are short and there isn't shed loads of money to be made on the lower echelons. At least as a PGA pro I can get a club job like Bob and be a record mars bar salesman. To be honest though it does provide a good fall back

 

[Smiffy]

Personally I'd want the backing of a PGA qualification behind me. Playing careers are short

Yours was, wasn't it Martin?

 

[bobmac]

Personally I'd want the backing of a PGA qualification behind me. Playing careers are short

Yours was, wasn't it Martin?

Stop it.

Naughty man

 

[CMAC]

I'd also say that I don't think scratch is good enough to make any money on tour.

interestingly enough a survey by the PGA showed that if a pro just hit PAR on the tournaments he would make a very good living, however, when the rest are 12 under you'd be way off the mark so unless your +3 or better then the tour isnt for most.

Interesting fact #2, Tigers handicap if he had one was calculated for the last 4 years as being +17 (or thereabouts, cant remember exact fig they quoted)

 

[brendy]

+17 per round cant be right...

 

[john0]

Interesting fact #2, Tigers handicap if he had one was calculated for the last 4 years as being +17 (or thereabouts, cant remember exact fig they quoted)

However it was a 2 year old who did this calculation

 

[TheChamp]

Cheers for this lads, very helpful.

One other question, Shane Lowry is playing regional pga events in ireland at the moment. He didn't go through the pro shop apprenticeship. How come he's able to play pga events?