Athletes who want to become great at their respective sports are dedicated to spending countless hours practicing and training to achieve their dreams. Whether it is making an elite team, playing in college or playing professionally, it takes a motivated and determined state of mind to move on to the next level. For aspiring professional golfers, the most elite matches are those of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour.
The PGA Tour is an organization that hosts an annual series of 47 tournaments across North America. It spans from September to August of the following year, with usually 144-156 contestants in total. The PGA Tour is a very prestigious series of events which attracts many competitors representing 25 countries and territories from around the world.
Brady Lowry (10) is a member of the Spartanburg High boys golf team and tuned in to the PGA Tour this year.
“I like to watch the PGA Tour because it is the best golfers in the world, and it is very entertaining to watch,” Lowry said.
Each event is worth points that count toward the final standings. The points increase the higher a player places in a match. The top 125 golfers at the end of the PGA Tour will keep their cards with the top 70 moving on to the playoffs. Golfers outside the top 125 lose their playing rights for the next season. If a contestant is in contention or on the verge of being cut, it can be stressful when competing.
Hugh Lemonds (12) is on the golf team at Spartanburg High School and understands the stress that comes with competing. He is a member of the Viking team that was named South Carolina 5A State Runner-Up last year.
“I like to play golf because every time you go out to play it is completely different, and once you find a feeling you want to find it all the time,” Lemonds said. “It can be nerve-racking if you are in contention, but there is always a pressure to play well.”
Along with the pressure of placing well, The PGA Tour attracts millions of viewers. The ratings for the Tour have continued to increase over various platforms such as NBC, CBS and Golf Channel. Fans also travel around the country to watch their favorite golfers play in person. Many tournaments have even taken place locally such as The Presidents Cup and Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head Island, and the most recent event, the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
The PGA Tour has a goal to engage their fans in the showcased events. They have set up autograph zones for spectators to come and interact with their favorite players. In addition to providing an engaging environment for fans, the PGA Tour has also expanded their community to help others in need. The PGA Tour has impacted local organizations by bringing in over $3.64 billion in donations and having over 100,000 people volunteer to work events to guarantee that the tour is a success.
Sydney Mullman (10) competes locally on the Spartanburg High girls golf team and also enjoys watching professional golf.
“I play golf because I enjoy the game, and it is a great way to interact with the Spartanburg High athletics community,” Mullman said.
