Some Questions and Answers Regarding the 2009 Season and Schedule
How many Tour events are scheduled for the 2009 season?
There are tentatively five events that will constitute the USPGT Championships for 2009, with a total purse of $4.22 Million. With awards, $4.425 Million total. (See below)
Will there be additional Tour events added to the schedule?
In addition to the Tour Events, the USPGT may have access to additional special entitlement events at discounts to USPGT members. These events are SportsQuest events currently under development. SportsQuest owns majority control of Greens Worldwide, Inc. and thus the U.S. Pro Golf Tour. All USPGT Official events will be managed by SportsQuest Golf, a division of SportsQuest, or a designated event management company approved by SportsQuest, the title sponsor and underwriter of the Tour.
What is the format?
Three (3) 54 hole competitions with cut to low 100 and ties after 36 holes with purse payout of $500,000, to places 11-100 after 54 holes. Top Ten finishers in the 54 hole competition then compete in a nine hole shootout for a total purse of $500,000. Each competition is a made for television event with total purse of $1,000,000. There are 3 of these events; the Million Dollar Invitational in Denver, the Million Dollar Challenge in South Carolina and the Tour Championship in California. (Purse breakdown is posted on the website)
Grand Palms Classic
54 holes of stroke play with a cut to low 72 and ties after 36 holes. First place $100,000. Total purse $600,000.
Click here for Grand Palms Classic purse breakdown
Celebrity Pro-Am Team Championship (Invitation only)
36 hole Celebrity Pro-Am Competition followed by an 36 hole Team competition. Each of the Top 10 celebrities will be matched up with the top 10 pros in two separate teams that will play a 2 day Ryder Cup style competition against each other. Total purse is $500,000 for this competition. In addition each invited pro will receive an appearance fee of $2000 each to compete in the 2 day celebrity pro-am to determine the top ten slots. Limited to maximum 60 celebrities and 60 pros in the field. Made for television event. Each member of the winning team receive $40,000 each and each member of the losing team receive $10,000 each. Total purse of $620,000 includes player appearance fee.
Celebrities and Pros participate by Invitation only. The exempt slots in the event for pros are as follows:
---The prior full tour season leading money winner--- Gibby Gilbert, III
---The prior full season Player of the Year ---- Lee Williams
---The prior full tour season Byron Nelson Award winner --- Chad Saladin
The rest of the pro field will be made up of special invitations granted by USPGT management at its sole discretion.
All Pros will be only 2009 USPGT members in good standing.
2009 Bonus Categories
In addition to the competitions, the USPGT is instituting the payment of several bonus and award programs for its member only players in the Pro Championships. The following is a brief description:
The Byron Nelson Award- -$25,000.
Chosen by Tour Management
Player of the Year -$25,000
Chosen by the Players
Statistical Awards
Most Total Birdies in the four Championships -- $10,000
Lowest scoring average for the four Championships - $15,000 minimum number of rounds 9
Lowest score for each round of the four Championships---$10,000 (12 total awards)
Most Total Eagles in the four Championships---$10,000
Hole-in-one on any par three during the Championships---$25,000 no limit.
(*Celebrity Pro-Am Team Championship event is excluded **Bonus Catagories are for 2009 members only; Non-members are not eligible)
USPGT may institute other award and performance bonuses at its discretion. Ties will share the award, except for hole-in-one.
Who is eligible to compete in 2009?
Information regarding 2009 Membership fees will be announced soon.
What about official USPGT rules and regulations?
Official rules and regulations regarding the 2009 USPGT can be found on our website. 2009 members will also receive a “hard copy” at the first event.
