Swing Thought Tour

The SwingThought Tour (aka "ST Tour") is a developmental professional golf tour in the United States.[1][2] The tour includes three distinct "series", The flagship series being the "National Series", which includes approximately 20 72-hole events that include pro-ams, guaranteed 1st near Monday Qualifiers for the PGA and Web.com Tours. The "State Series" is typically one- or two-day events located around various state hubs throughout the U.S. The original tour was founded by T. C. "Rick" Jordan in 1988 and later sold to Hooters restaurant chain owner Robert H. Brooks in 1994. Hooters was the title sponsor from 1988 through 2011. The Tour was sold to Robin Waters of Loris, South Carolina in 2011.

In September 2014, the tour was bought by Golf Interact and renamed the SwingThought Tour which is led by Founder and CEO Michael Rush, a professional golfer and entrepreneur.[3] In August 2015, Golf Interact announced the purchase of the eGolf Professional Tour and integrated it into the SwingThought Tour.

Positioning

Two men's pro golf tours based in the United States have paid out more in prize money than the SwingThought Tour. The richest competition is in the highest-paying PGA Tour. The second-tier Web.com Tour offers prizes smaller than the PGA Tour but attracts many up-and-coming golfers trying to obtain their PGA Tour cards. The SwingThought Tour is the third largest tour in the US after the PGA and Web.Com Tours.[4] In 2015 the SwingThought Tour produced 89 players out of the 150 that advanced to the Web.com Tour. In 2016 a similar result with over 80 SwingThought Tour players advancing to earn their Web.com Tour cards for 2017. On average over 40% of PGA Tour and 55% of Web.com Tour fields are SwingThought Tour alumni.[5]

Prize money

Unlike the PGA Tour and Web.Com Tour, for which prize funds are provided by sponsors, the bulk of the prize fund paid out in SwingThought Tour events comes from player entry fees. Like poker tournaments, players are competing to win back their entry fees (and the entry fees from others). However, thanks in part to sponsorship, the SwingThought Tour players actually play for over 100% of their entry fees in some events, while other developmental tours typically pay back only 65%-90% of entry fees. Additional purse bonuses and prize related offerings are typical on the SwingThought TOUR.

Tournament structure

Each National Series event on the SwingThought Tour follows the same structure as the PGA and Web.Com Tour. Entry fees range from $750 to $1400, depending on Tour membership, amateur status, and if one plays in the qualifier.

The SwingThought Tour has helped hundreds of players acquire PGA Tour and Web.Com Tour cards, more than any other developmental tour, because the SwingThought Tour focuses on providing the best opportunity to develop and advance their professionals instead of offering large cash prizes to the few performing well.

Former players on the SwingThought Tour

Major championship winners:

Other golfers who have won at least one PGA Tour event:

Combined money leaders

YearMoney leader(US$)
2013 Jon Curran 99,718
2012 Brandon Brown 115,904
2011 Jeff Corr 159,199
2010 Michael Thompson111,817
2009 Ted Potter, Jr.202,517
2008 David Skinns 134,809
2007 Casey Wittenberg 122,881
2006 Ted Potter, Jr. 102,609
2005 Dave Schreyer 86,682

References

  1. ↑ Elizabeth Olson (August 19, 2003). "Hostesses in Shorts? This Is No Ordinary Flight". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ "An Alternate Route For Reaching the PGA". The New York Times. July 14, 2003.
  3. ↑ "About the Swing Thought Tour". Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  4. ↑ Jolley, Frank (February 19, 2011). "Hutchins goes low to win tourney". The Daily Commercial. Leesburg, Florida. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  5. ↑ "News - SwingThought Tour". www.swingthought.com. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
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