ELIGIBILITY
Open to all professionals aged 50 and over on the day of the Open Qualifier.
Any player meeting one of the criteria listed below is eligible to enter the Event Qualifier without having to play in the Pre-Qualifier:
- The top 30 players and anyone tied for 30th position from the 2019 PGA TOUR Champions Qualifying Tournament
- Tournament Winners on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and Korn Ferry Tour (Tournaments awarding official victory status and those players eligible via the Team Tourament Winner Category on the PGA TOUR)
- PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and Korn Ferry Tour Veteran Members (refer to Korn Ferry Tour Tournament Regulations)
- Those players finishing in the 37th - 75th position on PGA TOUR Champions Official Points List from the 2019 season
- Players who have earned one million dollars ($1,000,000) or more on PGA TOUR Champions
- European Tour Past Champions and Legends Tour Past Champions whose victories were considered official
- Players who Pre-Qualify and Event Qualify for an official PGA TOUR Champions event in the same week, will be exempt from Pre-Qualifying for the remainder of that season
- Up to six (6) players for a local Open "Pre-Qualifying" event conducted prior to this Event Qualifier (one of which may be designated by the host PGA Section)
- Any Event Qualifier competing in the immediately preceding cosponsored or approved event that would otherwise be required to compete in the Pre-Qualifier
FORMAT
18-Hole Stroke Play Competition
FIELD SIZE
144 Players (Entries are first come, first serve)
QUALIFYING POSITIONS
The low four (4) scoreres from the Event Qualifier will gain entry into the Official Tournament in accordance with applicable PGA TOUR Champions policies and procedures. There will be no alternates from the Event Qualifier. A hole-by-hole playoff will commence immediately following play in the event of ties to determine the qualifying positions.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
OFFICIAL STARTING TIMES
Starting times will be posted by 8:00 AM on Saturday, October 2, 2021. Times will be posted online at nfpga.com and at Eagle Harbor Golf Club.
START FORMAT
Starting Times at 8:00 AM (subject to change)
PRACTICE ROUNDS
Eagle Harbor Golf Club
$35.00 + tax
After 1:00 PM
Call the Golf Shop directly - (904) 269-9300
PROCEDURES & INFORMATION
Rules of Golf
Play shall be governed in accordance with the Rules of Golf of the United States Golf Association, as modified by the PGA TOUR Local Rules and Terms of the Competition card (Hard Card) and supplemented by the Notice to Competitors. Questions or disputes (including equipment rulings) shall be settled by the on-site Rules Committee appointed by the PGA TOUR, whose decision shall be final.
Distance Measuring Devices
For play in Open Qualifying, a player may obtain distance information by use of a distance-measuring device. If during the
stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play
(e.g. elevation changes, wind speed, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 4.3a(1).
Guidance on Use of Cell Phones During Round
The use of cell phones in an Open Qualifier tournament is typically prohibited by Tournament Regulations; although the PGA Tour Rules Committee may allow use of cell phones during a round due to the new protocols in place to combat the spread of COVID-19. When allowed, the following general uses of cell phones by players and caddies during a round are allowed: checking the leaderboard in the tournament, use as a compass, getting distance information by using as an electronic distance-measuring device, getting any type of weather information (including wind speed) that is available from weather forecasts, measuring temperature and humidity at the course. A Notice to Competitors on what is allowed and not allowed will be provided to the competitors by the Section.
Groove Specifications
Open Qualifying contestants MUST use equipment which conforms to the Local Rule for Groove and Punch Mark Specifications as implemented in the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and Korn Ferry Tour Local Rules and Terms of the Competition (Hard Card). This condition shall NOT apply to Pre-Qualifying. The complete specifications for grooves in elite competitions along with a public database listing conformity of many clubs can be found at USGA.org (click on Playing > Equipment > Club & Ball Lists > Informational Club Database) or by contacting the USGA Equipment Standards Department at (908) 234-2300. Players should confirm that their equipment conforms to the new specifications well in advance of the competition and should be aware that conforming equipment must be used in Open Qualifying, even if a player is successful in pre-qualifying with non-conforming grooves.
If, before the competition, a player has doubt as to the conformity of a club, PGA Section officials will attempt to determine the status of the club(s), but play will not be delayed in doing so. There will be no on-site field testing for groove conformity at Open Qualifying. If the club(s) in question is not listed on the public databases listing conformity of clubs, the club shall not be used in the competition.
In the event that it is discovered that a player’s club(s) do not conform after the close of the competition, the provisions of Rule 20 of the Rules of Golf shall apply.
Pace of Play
The PGA TOUR Pace of Play Policy will be in effect for the Open Qualifier, except the fine structure shall not apply. Sections will be required, under the guidance of the PGA TOUR Tournament Official, to create a Pace of Play Time Chart.
Spike Policy
The use of traditional metal spikes is permitted during the Competition. Soft spikes may be required during practice rounds at the discretion of the host facilities.
Golf Carts/Caddies/Pull Carts
Complimentary golf carts shall be available to players during practice rounds and on the day of the Event Qualifier unless conditions dictate otherwise as determined by the PGA TOUR Champions tournament official. Pull carts are permitted. Players are not required to have a caddie. Caddies are permitted to ride with their player and drive their player’s cart.
Appearance
Players: While on the host facility property on the day(s) of competition, players shall present a neat appearance in both clothing and personal grooming. Blue jeans, cutoffs, T-shirts or shirts with no collar shall not be worn. Players are permitted to wear golf shorts which are knee length, tailored and neat in appearance. Compression leggings worn underneath shorts must be solid in color.
Caddies: While on the host facility property on the day(s) of competition, caddies may wear either long pants or tailored solid colored knee length shorts or skorts. Blue jeans, cutoffs, T-shirts or shirts with no collar shall not be worn. Smooth rubber sole shoes are required. Sandals, open toe shoes, and golf shoes with traditional metal or soft spikes are prohibited.
Players and Caddies shall conform to the host facility’s appearance policies while onsite during any practice round.
Conduct
While on host facility property during qualifying rounds; players and caddies shall conduct themselves in a professional manner. PGA TOUR reserves the right to remove a player from the qualifying competition for; non competitiveness; conduct unbecoming a professional by the player; conduct unbecoming a professional by the players’ caddie.
Reduction or Cancellation
Any reduction or cancellation in the respective qualifying competition shall be in accordance with Reduction/Cancellation Guidelines as found in the PGA TOUR Tournament Regulations. In the event that the competition is canceled without any player having been able to play, all entry fees will be refunded. In the event the competition is canceled after play has begun, all entry fees will be refunded, minus a $25 administrative charge per player.
If in the judgment of the on-site PGA TOUR Rules Official or designee, whose decision shall be final, conditions render commencement or continuation of tournament play inadvisable, play shall be postponed until such time as the PGA TOUR Rules Official or designee determines that such weather conditions or other occurrences or conditions have improved sufficiently for play to commence or resume.
In situations involving adverse weather conditions or any other occurrence or condition, our first priority is the completion of the qualifying competition. Every effort will be made to achieve this objective by the end of the scheduled competition day.
In the event the qualifying competition cannot be completed by the end of the scheduled competitive day, play will be extended. Every effort will be made to complete the qualifying competition as soon as possible. The Open Qualifying competition will not continue beyond the end of the day immediately preceding the first scheduled tournament round of the competition. In the event one or more of the 18-hole Open Qualifying contestants cannot be identified, those qualifying spots will be filled by the next available players on the PGA TOUR Alternate List.
PGA TOUR Reserves the right to change the format, venue(s), qualifying spots and other criteria as presently contemplated.