PGA Tour announces expansion of the University Program

The PGA Tour has announced the expansion of its University Program, an initiative designed to accelerate the transition of college players to the professional level. Beginning with the 2025 season, the Tour will no longer limit the number of cards issued to collegiate players.

Until 2024, the University Program only awarded American Tour membership to the leader of the rankings. From this season, it will be extended to anyone who achieves a certain number of points.

The new system, called Accelerated Points, will see every college player earn a PGA Tour card by accumulating 20 points. The points will be distributed as follows:

Win a major college golf award

• 3 points - Haskins Award, to the most outstanding collegiate golfer in the US
• 3 points - Hogan Award to the best college golf player in the US
• 3 points - D-I Nicklaus Award to the collegiate Player of the Year (NCAA Divison I)
• 2 points - D-I Outstanding Freshman Award

Career-best rank in World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR)

• 5 points - No. 1
• 4 points - No. 2
• 3 points - No. 3
• 2 points - No. 4
• 1 point - No. 5
• 1 point – Lifetime 26 weeks as No. 1
• 1 point – Lifetime 52 weeks as No. 1

Tournament wins

• 2 points - D-I NCAA Individual
• 2 points - U.S. Amateur
• 2 points - The Amateur
• 1 point - Western Amateur
• 1 point – Jones Cup
• 1 point – Northeast Amateur
• 1 point – Southern Amateur
• 1 point - European Amateur
• 1 point - Latin America Amateur
• 1 point - Asia-Pacific Amateur
• 1 point - African Amateur

Performance at D-I NCAA Individual

· 1 point – Top 10 and ties

Participate in a national team competition

• 2 points - Walker Cup
• 1 point - Palmer Cup
• 1 point - World Amateur Team Championships

Performance in official PGA TOUR events and major championships

• 1 point - Made cut in an official PGAT event or select DP World Tour events
• 1 point - Top-10 finish in an official PGAT event or select DP World Tour events
• 1 point - Top-5 finish in an official PGAT event or select DP World Tour events
• 1 point - Compete in a major championship
• 1 point - Made cut in a major championship
• 2 points - Top-20 finish in a major championship

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PGA Tour University Program overview

The PGA Tour University Program launched in 2020, with the first graduates turning professional in June 2021. However, graduates have not always received PGA Tour cards directly.

The most high-profile graduate to date was Ludvig Aberg, who topped the rankings in 2023 and won his first two professional events that same year. However, graduates of the program have won more than 15 professional tournaments.

Alumni of the program include Davis Thompson, Kevin Yu, Austin Eckroat, Adrien Dumont de Chassart and Pierceson Cody.