How To Become A Tour Pro
Question: When did Tiger Woods turn pro?
Answer: Tiger Woods turned pro in August 1996, shortly after winning the NCAA Championship and winning his third straight U.S. Amateur Championship titles.
On Aug. 28, 1996, Woods began a press conference by saying, "Hello, world." He announced at that news event that he was turning pro and had agreed to an endorsement deal with Nike - which, at that time, didn't even have a golf clubs division. Woods also signed an endorsement deal with Titleist.
Woods officially began his career as a professional golfer on Aug. 29, 1996, the date he began play in the PGA Tour Greater Milwaukee Open.
First: Define “Pro”
To some people, the word “professional” is defined literally, as in: a person who earns money for doing something. To others, that word is more the athlete who is on golf tours playing in front of crowds and earning prizes. (and potentially money as well.) If you simply want to earn some money, there are local tournaments that you can probably get into without a lot of issue, you simply pay your entry free, fill out some forms and you are in. If the desire is more along the line of actually playing on the big named tours, like the US Open, for instance, then there is a lot more to the process. And, just for the record, getting on the US Open is not as easy as the name would imply- there is a professional hockey player who has tried and failed several times, although he is an avid golfer. The point here is simple, it takes more than just the desire to play to make it onto most big tours, and you might do better starting off with the smaller, local tours until you are nearly unbeatable.
Playing with the Big Dogs
For the big dreaming golfers, there are only so many local tournaments that can be played before they start getting PGA fever. There is no requirement of past tournament wins to get on a PGA tour, you simply must find an event and then qualify. For the dedicated dreamer, e.g., golfer, there is a Qualifying school which is held each in November/December. Q- School is comprised of 5 round of tournament golf that weeds out the weak and unworthy, leaving only a small handful of dazed and battered players behind clutching their newly won eligibility to their chests.
Along with the Q-school entrants, tours are made up of the top 130 on the money list for the previous season. So, if you are on the tour after Q-School, you have to buckle down and win every chance you have, making sure that at the end of the year, your total money earned is up there high enough to put you on that list. It does not matter if you are in that 130th slot, as long as you squeak in, you can remain on the tour. Fall below that spot and you are cut.
There is a way around Q-School however. Declare yourself a pro, and hope to get invited to play on enough tours that you earn a special exemption. The same theory applies for this, though. You still have to earn enough to make it to the 130 list. Does this sound impossible? Two words for you to prove that it can be done: Tiger Woods. Yep, Tiger declared himself pro in 1996, was asked to play on a lot of tours and worked hard, cementing a spot for himself the following year. (This is not the route most players will take to get on a PGA tour).
How To Become A Tour Pro
Many people want to make a living by playing golf as a professional golfer. The road to being a top golfer can be long, with years of hard work. In addition to playing on the PGA tour, you can also be a professional golfer by playing on the IGT Challenge Pro Tour, mini-tours and being a club professional.
Compete in mini-tour events, such as the IGT Challenge Pro Tour or other mini tours. You can play in mini-tour events as an amateur or you can declare yourself a professional golfer. You must note this on the registration forms for tournaments. If you play as an amateur, you cannot accept any purse money that you win.
Compete in the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. Register for the tournament by downloading the application from the PGA Tour website. Submit the application and entry fee before the deadline. This tournament is also commonly known as Q-school or Qualifying School.
Here is a step by step “How to” guide for turning professional and competing out on tour.
Step 1: Research
The first step of the process is doing some serious research on professional golf. This will give you an idea of whether or not your game is cut out to compete on a professional tour. Research all the ins and outs of tour golf. These ins and outs may include:
1- What tours are out there?
Obviously the big ticket is the PGA Tour, but for 99% of people turning pro, they are going to start on something a little less spectacular. Some great tours to start out on are: The IGT Challenge Pro Tour, The Canadian Tour, The Gateway Tour, The Hooters Tour and various others.
2- What is the best path to the PGA Tour?
Figure out what is the popular pathway to the big show. This is different for everyone, but the records can clearly show that some tours are better training grounds and better pathways to the PGA.
3- What kind of play is expected on those tours?
Check out the past statistics/results of the desired tours. When you see what kind of play is expected out there, you can better assess your own game and decide whether or not you can to compete at that level.
4- The credibility of those tours.
This is a very important thing to research. With most of mini-tour golf comes at a high price tag. Over the years, there have been incidents where players have put in large amounts of money to play golf and the event/tour went under, leaving the player out of money and competition. We don’t want this to happen to you. Figure out where you are willing to put your money and be certain that it will be a trustworthy tour.
5- The expenses of the tours
Estimate what a year on your desired tour will cost. Before you propose investment plans to sponsors, it’s important to know how much you will need to play golf. Most mini-tours are very open with your future costs by clearly posting membership and entry fees online. The expenses they cannot help you with is the travel/living expenses while competing. This is the tricky part. Having yet to experience it, you can only estimate so well. You have to ask around. Ask as many pro golfers that you can reach about their expenses. Most pros will be more than willing to help out with a cost figure (they were once in your shoes asking the same questions).
Step 2: A Plan
You’ve done your research and selected a tour that you are confident you can compete on; it’s time to set a very realistic and very personal plan to getting to the PGA Tour. This plan will be your constant reminder that it won’t happen overnight, that you are working towards a final goal sometime in the near future. Your personal plan is a 5 year plan to reach the PGA Tour. Set a realistic progression (IGT Challenge Pro Tour -> Sunshine Tour -> Europe & PGA Tour), reachable goals (all very specific to each year out there), and a reasonable budget (one that was well researched). This plan is a great thing to look over for motivation, but it also serves as a great business plan when presenting to potential sponsors who might be willing to give you money to play golf professionally.
The first step of your plan was to qualify for the Sunshine Tour in December -It’s realistic to give yourself at least six - twelve months of proper preparation for that moment- by doing everything you could to prepare your body, mind, and golf game for Q School. If you have a date marked on your calendar as your “turn pro” day it should be at least six months into the future. If the six months pass and you don’t feel ready to make the transition, don’t. Professional golf is not going anywhere. If you don’t feel 100% ready, don’t waste your time. Wait until you are 100% sure that it’s the time. Again; if you don’t feel ready, wait until you are. You’ll thank yourself in the future.
Step 3: Financial Backing
The path is set out in front of you; it’s time to find the financial backing that will get you walking that path. This is a very important step because without money you can’t play golf, it’s a little harsh but it’s the reality we face. There are many ways of doing this. The most common methods used by a newly crowned pro are sell shares of you like a business would. These partners of yours will get together and determined a reasonable plan of attack and are doing all they can to seeing it through. Please understand; these people won’t come asking you to help, you must ask for their help. If you are afraid to ask for help or money you won’t find any. There are lots of great people in this world that would be more than happy to help you reach your dream. How can they help you if they don’t know your dream? Approach them with your dream on the chance that they will help. Some will help; most won’t, that’s another harsh reality we face. Get used to the rejection. If you can’t handle rejection it will be a difficult career for you. If you can handle rejection you will do just fine out on tour.
Step 4: Coaching
The next step is locking up the proper coaching. There are three important coaches to have:
1- Swing Coach
This is a personal area that varies with every player. I feel you should stick with what got you to this place. If you already have a swing coach, stick with them. If you don’t, try to find someone that you connect with and can share in the same goals and expectations. Developed the same goals for your game, and it is great having that bond with someone. You must trust him with your golf swing, and now your career. You should also find someone who you can trust on that level.
2- Conditioning Coach
Physical fitness is a crucial part of today’s game. It’s rare to find a player on Tour that doesn’t spend time in the gym each week. Hours in the gym are now part of the job description. It’s important to find a trainer who knows your body, limitations, expectations, and most importantly; your drive. Team up with someone who will motivate you when you can’t motivate yourself. Your trainer knows your strengths and weaknesses. He has taken it upon himself to work on your weaknesses and to also make your strengths even stronger. Find a trainer who is educated about the game, but even more educated about the human body. Our bodies are our tools, we have to take great care of them. Having someone who can coach you on how to properly care for your body will do amazing things for the longevity of your career and also the quality of your life.
3- Mental Coach
Not everyone can afford time with a sports psychologist; if you can, use that to your advantage. For the rest of us, we have to find a reasonable substitute. If you elect to take the book route; great, but do so with caution. There are hundreds of books out there; when you start reading everyone’s take on it, you are setting yourself up for failure. The suggestion is do some research and find out who’s work does the most for you, then stick with them. If certain books do lots of good for you, you’ll one day play your way into affording one on one time with the authors.
Go back to the basics
No matter what level of tournament you are going to be looking at playing, the next step should be is to go back to the basics. Yep, you need to hire a pro and take some lessons. Unless your score is consistently in the 60’s, you will need to work on your swing, as well as other aspects of your game right away. The problem here is unlearning any of the bad habits that you have picked up over the years and relearning proper swing. After a golfer relaxes into his game, the proper technique and form tends to fade off a bit, as he makes some adjustments for his own body and playing style. That is all well and good for a round of golf with Chuck from accounting, but if you are looking to make it onto tournaments and intend to have any kind of success at all, then you will need to return to more solid, basic swings.
Step 5: The Transition
Everything is now in place. You did your homework, set your goals, have the money in the bank, and have a team of people coaching you along the way, now it is your turn to make the transition. This is the shortest step of the process. In some cases you qualify for a tour to turn pro, in other cases you just put up your money to play and you are a pro. Your transition is playing at Q School or play on a mini tour. If you played Q School, made the cut and is now officially a professional golfer. If you elect the other route, chosen by the IGT Challenge Pro Tour among others, you will become a pro when you tee it up in your first event. That’s all there is to it. There are months, even years of build up for one day; a moment in one day even, but now you are a pro. Congratulations!
Step 6: You’re a Pro (a few tips)
Here are a few pointers for adjusting to the lifestyle of professional golf.
Book in advance: You’ll save a lot of time, money, and headaches when you plan ahead. If you can, make your schedule early and book the travel and living arrangements early. Trust us, your life will be much less stressful.
Stay Positive: Out on tour; bad things will happen, it’s a given; poor play, missed cuts, finishing second, lost luggage, loneliness, etc… The key is to stay positive in spite of all of it. If you stay positive you’ll stay confident in yourself and your game. Self confidence and confidence in your game are the first things needed to play good golf.
Be Ready: Before you sign up for a tournament, make sure of several things. Make sure that you are really ready for the additional sense of pressure that tournament play will give you. Make sure that you can afford the entry fee. Make sure that your game is as tight as it possibly can be. And make sure that you relax. Regardless of the competition, golf is a sport, a game and will not spell the end of the world for you if you lose. After all, there is always next year, right?
Eat Well: Giving in to the temptation of fast food will hurt you a great deal. It’s easy and quick, but it doesn’t properly fuel your body to perform at its highest level under pressure.
Read: Reading is the best thing you can do to kill the countless hours you have to burn. Watching TV gets boring quick. We recommend you read a lot. Lots of the guys out here read, and it becomes a great thing to talk about with your peers.
Find a Gym: No matter where you are; find a place to work out. Keeping your fitness routine constant keeps your body ready to perform its best.
Enjoy it: No matter the stresses, disappointments, headaches, loneliness, etc… remember what you’re doing. You’re playing golf for a living! Never lose sight of that. This is an amazing blessing you have to travel, see great places, meet amazing people, and above all play golf. Remember to stop and take it all in. If you get too caught up in what is going wrong, you’ll lose your perspective. Losing your perspective is the first step to losing your love of the game, and more importantly your drive to keep playing.
No Parties: Sadly, you can't drink or party. If you waste any time being hung over or skipping a work out or don't have your mind right all the time you are wasting your time. This should prove to be tough for a 20 year old, as many golfers can vouch for this. But think about it, the world plays golf now and wants to play it on the PGA Tour. You have to be one of the 125 best in the world at your craft simply to not lose your job. That sucks.
Love the game, and enjoy the opportunity.
Step 7: Practice
Greg Norman started playing golf at 16 years old and was the world's best player in the 80's. Take lessons and practice your heart out. In the end it's all about short game, practice chipping and putting 80% of the time and driving range 20% and you'll be well on your way. Practice a lot, everyday. In your backyard, putt every night on the carpet in your room, practice. Dream big kid, you can do anything you want if you’re willing to work for it.
Remember the old saying that practice makes perfect? Get to know that phrase intimately. Sew it onto your golf bag. Embroider it on your socks. Use it as your personal mantra. You are going to need to log in hours and hours of practice, both on the driving range and on the putting green. Tournaments are filled with players that have made it because they are solid in both aspects of the game. If your longest drive is only one hundred and fifty yards or you can’t sink a putt if people are looking, you are going to have some major issues. Even the tournaments at the local club tend to draw in a crowd, so you are going to have to work on your stage fright as well. But for now, let’s focus on your drive and your putt.
Step 7: Equipment Check-up
The most important part of your golf game is you, of course. If you have any intention of remaining on a tournament or tour for any length of time, you must be at the top of your game, health-wise. That means that you have to be physically and mentally strong, and ready for anything. If you are prone to stress related illnesses, now is the time to get those under control. You do not want to have to pull out of a tournament with an “iffy” stomach or other ailment. Find what works to keep you calm and focused. Try to eliminate as much stress from your life as possible, stress can make you more susceptible to any germ or bug that is hanging around looking for a host.
Before you ever consider tournament play, you should make sure to schedule a checkup with your doctor, because you are about to embark on a journey of both mind and body. Consider a solid workout regime that will not only make you at your healthiest, but will improve your golf game as well. Yoga is a good choice, not only for flexibility but also for better breathing. Weight training will strength bones and keep your joints loose to prevent stiffness. Add some jogging or race walking to increase your cardiovascular health as well.
For your next step, check your golf bag. Make sure that it is not so heavy that you cannot comfortably handle it for a full eighteen holes. Although you might be using a caddy for this tournament, you still want to know that you are able to carry that bag- now is not the time to use a behemoth. Use a bag that will adequately handle all of your clubs, plus the other necessities of your game.
Make sure that all of your chosen clubs are a) regulation b) in good repair and c) the right clubs for the style of your best game. Remember that you can only carry fourteen clubs with you, so do not waste one of those on something you will either not use or will be uncomfortable using. If you rarely draw a wood in regular play, then why would you lug one around in a tournament? Skip the sand wedge and other non-essential clubs; make everything in your golf bag count.
Finally
And finally, remember, winning is not everything. Golf is a game, first and foremost, and except for the upper elite of the world, will never be the key to your fortune and fame. For every Tiger Woods or Vijay Singh, there are twenty others who failed to make the cut for the local tournament. Set your goals, set them high if you would like to, but make sure that you do not get so caught up in attaining that goal that you do not remember what you started golfing for in the first place.
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