Photo by Benny Hassum on Unsplash The PGA Championship is the second major of the calendar year, typically played in May. Organized by the PGA of America (distinct from the PGA Tour), it carries full major championship weight and a rich history that includes some of the sport's most dramatic finishes. Here's a complete guide to what the PGA Championship rewards, who historically performs best, and what to expect in upcoming editions. The PGA Championship's Unique Identity Among the four major championships, the PGA Championship is sometimes unfairly dismissed as the "fourth" major — the one that follows the Masters, US Open, and Open Championship in prestige. This is an undeserved reputation. The PGA Championship has produced some of the sport's greatest moments and is played at world-class venues on a rotating basis. What makes it distinct is its field composition: unlike the other majors, the PGA Championship traditionally includes the top 20 players from t...
Professional golf has multiple major tours operating around the world, and for fans newer to the sport, the alphabet soup of PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Asian Tour, LPGA Tour, and more can be confusing. The two most significant men's professional tours are the PGA Tour (United States-based) and the DP World Tour (European-based, formerly the European Tour). Here's a clear breakdown of how they differ.
History and Governance
The PGA Tour was founded in 1968 when tournament players separated from the PGA of America (which organizes club professionals and the PGA Championship) to form their own competitive circuit. It's governed by a player-led board and commissioner structure, currently operating out of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
The DP World Tour (Ryder Cup funding partnership with DP World gives the tour its current title sponsorship name) was formerly the European Tour. Founded in 1972, it operates from Wentworth, England, and is the primary professional circuit for European players and an international roster of global talent.
Prize Funds and Economics
The PGA Tour offers significantly larger prize funds. In recent years, flagship PGA Tour events have grown to $10–$20 million purses following competitive pressure from LIV Golf. A PGA Tour victory in a standard event pays $1.5–$2 million to the winner.
DP World Tour events are typically smaller — purses in the $3–$8 million range for most events, with flagship Rolex Series events reaching $8–$10 million. A DP World Tour win at a standard event might pay the winner $500,000–$800,000.
This economic gap is the primary reason European players have historically sought to also earn PGA Tour membership — the earning potential is substantially higher in America.
The Rolex Series
The DP World Tour's premium events are organized under the Rolex Series banner — a collection of elevated tournaments with larger purses, stronger fields, and additional FedEx Cup and world ranking implications. The Genesis Scottish Open and BMW PGA Championship are prominent Rolex Series events that attract significant PGA Tour player participation.
Dual Membership: Playing Both Tours
Many of the world's top players hold dual membership on both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. Players like Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm (before LIV), Tommy Fleetwood, and Tyrrell Hatton have historically maintained both cards, playing select events on each tour while primarily basing their competition schedule in one or the other.
The rules for maintaining dual membership have been subject to evolving agreements between the two tours, particularly in the context of post-LIV negotiations.
International Reach
The DP World Tour has a significantly more international playing schedule. Events are played across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia. This global schedule reflects the tour's mission to develop professional golf across multiple continents rather than concentrating competition in one region.
The PGA Tour is primarily US-based, with international events in Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, and a small number of Asian swing events historically.
World Rankings and Major Qualifying
Both tours award world ranking points for their events, though the DP World Tour's points per event are generally lower than equivalent PGA Tour events due to purse size differentials. Players' world rankings — which determine major championship eligibility — accumulate across both tours.
The Ryder Cup Connection
The DP World Tour's closest governance tie to American golf is through the Ryder Cup. The biennial team competition between European and American professionals is jointly organized by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, with both tours sharing in its commercial success. The Ryder Cup is the singular event that creates genuine institutional alignment between the two organizations.
The LIV Factor's Impact on Both
LIV Golf's launch affected both tours, as players from both circuits defected. The ongoing PGA Tour-PIF negotiations — which would potentially create a unified global structure — would reshape the relationship between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV in ways that are still being determined as of 2025.
Which Tour Has Better Golf to Watch?
For American viewers, the PGA Tour's stronger TV deal (NBC/CBS/Golf Channel) and larger fields of recognizable names make it the default choice. For European golf fans, the DP World Tour offers excellent golf in atmospheric European settings — the BMW PGA at Wentworth, the Irish Open, and the Ryder Cup qualify matches are all compelling viewing. The world's most complete golf fan watches both.
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