# PGA Tour 2015 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 1, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549 "2015-02-01T22:26:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/181 "2015-07-20T16:08:26Z")
What happens to the prize money for amateurs? Is it simply not paid, or does it get redistributed amongst the professionals? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/182 "2015-07-20T16:24:46Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > What happens to the prize money for amateurs? Is it simply not paid, or does it get redistributed amongst the professionals? Redistributed proportionally among the pros who completed 72 holes. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/183 "2015-07-20T17:08:33Z")
Oh my FUCKING God!! Spieth birdies 16 with a, what, 40 foot putt? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/184 "2015-07-20T17:09:54Z")
I haven’t heard, what’s the playoff format? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/185 "2015-07-20T17:10:59Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I haven’t heard, what’s the playoff format? See post 163, above. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/186 "2015-07-20T17:23:38Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I haven’t heard, what’s the playoff format? Play 1,2,17,18. If there is still a tie at that point, then play 18 until a winner emerges. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/187 "2015-07-20T17:27:54Z")
Yikes. Spieth now has to birdie 18 to stay in it… Weird in that Day makes par from a much more difficult position, but that’ golf! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/188 "2015-07-20T17:41:27Z")
Bummer. Will watch the play-off later. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/189 "2015-07-20T18:22:34Z")
This is probably a stupid question, but is there any way to declare himself a pro at the last minute? Presumably you have to declare at the tournament start, but I’m just curious if there was any sort of loophole or out. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/190 "2015-07-20T19:05:13Z")
Wow. Zach Johnson is your Open Champion! Good for him and what an amazing finish to the tournament. > [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > This is probably a stupid question, but is there any way to declare himself a pro at the last minute? Presumably you have to declare at the tournament start, but I’m just curious if there was any sort of loophole or out. Not that I’m aware of. In fact, I believe that if you declare as a pro you lose eligibility for any tournament that your amateur status qualified you for. You have to use sponsor exemptions until you get your card, but I don’t think any of the majors have sponsor exemptions (well, the Masters kind of does since it’s an invitational and the “sponsor” - Augusta - can invite anybody they want). ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/191 "2015-07-20T19:15:58Z")
They were talking about thart yesterday - the answer is no. Apparently itcame up some time before. You have to renounce your amateur status before the tourney. With those scores, was this the Milwaukee Open? Sounds like it would have been an exciting horse race to watch. Tho I’m not at big fan of Zach Johnson, he sure seems to be consistenly up there in the bigs. Take away the weather, and St Andrews is revealed for what it essentially is - a big, boring cow pasture. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/192 "2015-07-20T19:28:29Z")
Just a note to add that my belief about losing your amateur-based eligibility on turning pro is [confirmed](http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2014/06/why-exactly-so-many-top-amateu.html): “That of course explains why Rodgers, Wilson, Goss and Wyatt are turning pro this week. As for Fitzpatrick, a similar chance at grabbing a card on the European Tour exists by performing well via sponsor’s invites. It was too good an opportunity, apparently, for the 20-year-old Englishman to pass up. So good that he’s forgoing his spot in the field at next month’s British Open ( **he was exempt if he remained an amateur thanks to his U.S. Amateur victory last August; instead he will try to qualify as a pro** ).” Emphasis added. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/193 "2015-07-20T19:30:45Z")
Both Paul Dunne nor the low amateur Jordan Niebrugge qualified under Open Qualifying (along with a few pros) so I think they could have declared pro status before the tournament started, but not after. A few of the Amateurs (like Ollie Schneiderjans) could not have declared professional and still played as they qualified under as an amateur qualification. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/194 "2015-07-20T19:39:52Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > A few of the Amateurs (like Ollie Schneiderjans) could not have declared professional and still played as they qualified under as an amateur qualification. Right. Which is why I specified “amateur-based” eligibility. For example, had Dunne won The Open this year, he would still be eligible for all of the tournaments that make The Open Champion eligible. At that point amateur/pro status doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/195 "2015-07-20T21:06:12Z")
Gotta hand it to Zach. That was one tough bunch to beat today!! I didn’t see the award ceremony, but I hope he didn’t go all Jesus-y on our cousins across the pond! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/196 "2015-07-20T21:23:17Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I didn’t see the award ceremony, but I hope he didn’t go all Jesus-y on our cousins across the pond! Only a tiny little bit at the end of his long, heartfelt, tearful and gracious speech. It was quite endearing to be honest. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/197 "2015-07-21T02:03:27Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Only a tiny little bit at the end of his long, heartfelt, tearful and gracious speech. It was quite endearing to be honest. The guy was born in Iowa City, Iowa, so I guess we can cut him some slack. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/198 "2015-08-14T07:50:44Z")
PGA Championship happening. It’s looking fairly tight right now; pretty good chance there’s going to be a lot of “MDF” finishers. I’m seeing more than a few unfamiliar names at the top…who’s David Lingmerth again? Anyway, should be an interesting weekend. Looking through the Official World Golf Ranking site… As “Best Player Never To Win a Major” status goes (do we still discus that one?), I’d definitely put Sergio Garcia well ahead of Dustin Johnson. While he only has four runner-up finishes (two solo, two tied), he’s had far more overall success, and he even won the _very_ prestigious Players Championship once, in '08. Of course, he’s been around a lot longer. Johnson, yeah, a few close calls, but he’s so strong and has so much talent that you have to think his breakthrough is going to happen, if not now then sometime. I’d be astounded if he didn’t win at least one major within the next ten years. I mean, we’re not talking a young Phil Mickelson here, who had a thousand hangups and took dumb risks and fell into death spirals the moment something went wrong, and, oh yeah, experienced every godforsaken week of the apocalyptic galaxy-swallowing force of infinite destruction that was prime Tiger Woods. It’s like Michelle Wie. It’ll come. Have a little patience. (For the record, his best ever finish so far in the PGA Championship is 5th.) Speaking of Woods, this is just one of those eye-opening stats: In the 65 weeks since May 10, 2014 (the last time he was #1) his ranking has gone down _52_ times. There were only two increases, the first after his decent effort at this year’s Masters, the second because a few other low-rankers happened to lose more points. This, to me, tells you pretty much all you need to know about just how far he’s fallen. He’s had bad stretches and even outright meltdowns before, but the one thing you could always, ALWAYS count on was that, like the Incredible Hulk, he’s bounce back and go back to his worldbeater ways like nothing happened. 2013 wasn’t quite a 100% recovery, but he was definitely a factor again and a lot of us thought he’d be back on the major hunt soon enough. And now he’s mired in a seemingly endless decline and in serious danger of missing the cut in yet another major. (He is exempt until 2018 because of his Players Championship win, so he’s not going anywhere for a while.) Great resource. I recommend it. (Hey, I’m an account clerk, I have a thing for numbers, all right? 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/199 "2015-08-14T10:01:18Z")
> [@DKW](#): > > ([Tiger] is exempt until 2018 because of his Players Championship win, so he’s not going anywhere for a while.) His 2013 Players win makes him exempt for the Players through 2018. His 2008 US Open win makes him exempt for the US Open through 2018. Any of his British Open wins makes him exempt for the British Open until 2036. Any of his Masters and PGA Championship wins makes him exempt for those for life. And having won 20 PGA events makes him exempt for regular PGA events for life. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549/200 "2015-08-14T13:29:50Z")
I dunno, man. What you call a seemingly endless decline, someone could contend is merely a down period of less than 2 years. Heck. Jordan retired from hoops, then came back to win 3 more championships. Not saying Tiger is going to come back, but the use of just the last year looks a little odd to this non-Tigerfan. From my other (ignored) thread - I sure hope Dustin reads the local rules this time. And the PGA always comes across as anticlimactic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pga-tour-2015/711549.md?page=11)