Conditions of Entry TITLEIST AND FOOTJOY PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 Little Aston Golf Club, West Midlands Tuesday 24 th Friday 27 th July 2018 Prize Money - 91,500 2017 Champion Paul O Hara (North Lanarkshire Leisure Ltd) 1. Conditions of Play (i) The Championship will be a 72 hole stroke play event with 18 holes being played each day. (ii) The Championship will have a maximum field of 144 competitors. (iii) The field will play one round on each of the first two days, after which the leading 50 competitors (and those who tie for 50 th place) will go forward to the third and fourth rounds. (iv) In the event of a tie for first place there will be a hole by hole play-off on holes to be determined by the Tournament Director and will be published at the Championship. All players, other than the Champion, involved in the play-off will share second place. (v) Play shall be in accordance with The PGA Tournament Regulations, the Rules of Golf of R&A Rules Ltd, PGA Local Rules and Conditions of Competition and the additional local rules of the host venue, as approved by the Tournament Director. (vi) Players not exempt under the categories listed under section 3 will be required to qualify from a Regional Qualifying Round (courses listed under section 8). (vii) A minimum of five qualifying places in the Championship are guaranteed for each Regional Qualifying Round. The remainder of places in the Championship will be divided between the Regional Qualifying Rounds and will be calculated as a percentage of the total entries. This will be done after entries close on Wednesday 11 th April 2018. (viii) At each Regional Qualifying Round, in the event of a tie for the last qualifying place, a hole by hole play-off will be held. Alternates will be decided by card count back over the last 9, 6, 3, 1 holes and, if still tied, Matchplay from the first. Results achieved in the play-off for the final qualifying place will supersede the card count back. The play-off will cease once the last qualifying spot has been determined. All players are encouraged to finish the hole they are playing even if the spots have been determined as this will affect alternate spots. (ix) Players are required to pre-qualify in their own region. Exception: From Wednesday 28 th March, players can choose to pre-qualify in any region, regardless of reason, provided there is space in the field. Any requests to play outside of a player s own region before this time will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Any requests of this type must be made in writing to the Tournament Director (entries@pga.org.uk) at the PGA National Tournament Office before the close of entries and must contain details of the reason for their request. 2. Eligibility for Entry The Championship is open to the following: (i) All Class A, AA, A(T), AA(T), members who satisfy the eligibility clause below. (ii) Life members (Class G) and Honorary (Class E) members who satisfy the eligibility clause below.
Eligibility Clause: To be eligible to participate in the Titleist and FootJoy PGA Professional Championship, PGA Members must be actively working for a minimum of 25 hours in a normal week within the golfing industry. For the sake of clarity, working within the golfing industry is defined as working within the Professional Shop environment, teaching, administration or activity of a similar nature. It does not include playing full time tournament golf or voluntary committee work. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Note: PGA Tournament Regulations - Tournaments for PGA Professionals: Any PGA Member representing his country at international level in the Ryder Cup or World Cup, and in the top 100 of the European Tour Order of Merit at the time of selection, shall be ineligible to participate for three years after the date of last selection or failure to make the top 100 of the final European Tour Order of Merit in any year subsequently, which ever period is greater. Any PGA Member representing her country in the Solheim Cup and in the top twenty of the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit at the time of selection shall be ineligible to participate for three years after the date of last selection or failure to make the top 20 of the final Order of Merit in any year subsequently, which ever period is greater. Any PGA Member ranked in the top 20 of the 2015, 2016 or 2017 Ladies European Tour Final Order of Merit is ineligible to participate for a three-year period after their inclusion in the top 20 of the Order of Merit. Any PGA Member ranked in the top 20 of the 2015, 2016 or 2017 European Senior Tour Final Order of Merit is ineligible to participate for a three year period after their inclusion in the top 20 of the Order of Merit. Entrants must satisfy the above entry and eligibility conditions throughout all stages of the Championship. 3. Exemption Categories Provided the PGA Member meets the eligibility criteria outlined in section 2, the following are exempt from pre-qualifying: (i) The leading 20 and ties in the 2017 PGA Professional Championship (exemption expires end 2018). (ii) Members of the 2017 GB&I PGA Cup Team (exemption expires end 2019). (iii) The 2013 PGA Professional Champion (exemption expires end 2018). (iv) The 2014 PGA Professional Champion (exemption expires end 2019). (v) The 2015 PGA Professional Champion (exemption expires end 2020). (vi) The 2016 PGA Professional Champion (exemption expires end 2021). (vii) The 2017 PGA Professional Champion (exemption expires end 2022). (viii) The 2017 PGA Play-Offs Champion (exemption expires end 2018). (ix) A PGA Professional from the host venue of the Final (exemption expires end 2018). (x) The 2017 Welsh National PGA Champion, Scottish PGA Champion and Irish PGA Champion (exemption expires end 2018). Note 1: Exempt players must enter by the closing date otherwise they will be required to pre qualify. Note 2: A Pro-Am may be held on Monday 23 rd July. It is a condition of entry that any player entering the championship must make themselves available for the Pro-Am if requested to play. 4. Entry Fees ( GBP) and Closing Date The entry fee for those pre-qualifying is 30 and an additional 30 will be payable on qualifying. The entry fee for those exempt from pre-qualifying is 60. The closing date for entries will be
Wednesday 11 th April 2018. Late entries may be accepted after the closing date on payment of double the entry fee. Note: All entries and payments for the Regional Qualifiers are to be processed on-line through PGA Members Players Club Accounts (BlueGolf). Access is through the PGA Members section of www.pga.info. Upon successfully pre-qualifying, the player will automatically be entered into the Championship Final and gives consent to The PGA to process the remainder ( 30) of the entry fee. 5. Withdrawal and Reserve Policy Prior to the Championship week, each withdrawal will be replaced by a player from the same regional qualifying round until all reserves are exhausted. After this point, the reserve list will revert to the host region. After 6pm on Monday 23 rd July 2018 the regional reserve lists will be void and the official reserve list will be made up of the host region only. For the sake of clarity, the host region in this instance is deemed to be The PGA in England (Midlands). 6. Championship Final Prize Fund ( GBP) 1. 10,000.00 11. 1,400.00 21. 850.00 31. 600.00 41. 455.00 2. 6,420.00 12. 1,300.00 22. 825.00 32. 575.00 42. 445.00 3. 4,500.00 13. 1,200.00 23. 800.00 33. 550.00 43. 435.00 4. 3,450.00 14. 1,100.00 24. 775.00 34. 535.00 44. 425.00 5. 2,600.00 15. 1,050.00 25. 750.00 35. 520.00 45. 415.00 6. 2,350.00 16. 1,000.00 26. 725.00 36. 505.00 46. 405.00 7. 2,100.00 17. 950.00 27. 700.00 37. 495.00 47. 395.00 8. 1,900.00 18. 925.00 28. 675.00 38. 485.00 48. 385.00 9. 1,700.00 19. 900.00 29. 650.00 39. 475.00 49. 375.00 10. 1,500.00 20. 875.00 30. 625.00 40. 465.00 50. 365.00 Regional Prize Fund ( GBP) 1. 500.00 Regional Qualifying = 13,500.00 2. 300.00 Prize Fund = 63,900.00 3. 250.00 4. 200.00 5. 150.00 6. 100.00 51-144 @ 150 = 14,100.00 91,500.00 If the number of competitors qualifying for the final 36 holes exceeds 50, additional prize money will be added to provide for those finishing in 51 st place and onwards. The prize money for 51 st place will be 355 and the prize money will reduce by 10 for each subsequent place (These amounts include the 150 allocated to positions 51-144). Non-UK taxpayers (including the Irish Republic) may be subject to withholding tax on prize money won above the UK personal tax allowance threshold (income tax year 2018/19 11,850, subject to change each income tax year thereafter). Note: To receive prize money, competitors MUST complete all rounds entered. All prize money is subject to a 6% PGA levy.
7. Overseas Members who are Eligible Overseas Members may nominate the Regional Qualifying Round in which they wish to participate and should do so in writing to the Entries Department at entries@pga.org.uk. 8. Regional Qualifying Courses PGA Region Venue Date of Qualifier Scotland Ladybank Wednesday 25 th April England (Midlands) Little Aston Friday 27 th April England (East) Gog Magog (Wandlebury) Tuesday 1 st May England (South A) Lambourne Thursday 3 rd May England & Wales (North West) Delamere Forest Tuesday 8 th May England & Wales (South West) Burnham & Berrow Friday 11 th May Ireland Carton House (Montgomerie) Monday 21 st May England (South B) Royal Blackheath Thursday 24 th May England & Wales (North East) Fulford Wednesday 30 th May Note: Please be aware that all winners of the Regional Qualifiers and Exempt players playing in the Championship may be required to play in the pre-tournament Pro Am on Monday 23 rd July at Little Aston Golf Club. Those players playing in the Pro Am must attend the prize presentation following the Pro Am. 9. 2018 PGA Play-Offs Antalya Golf Club (Sultan) 21 st 23 rd November The leading two players from the 2018 PGA Professional Championship will qualify for the 2018 PGA Play-Offs. 10. 148 th Open Championship, Royal Portrush, 2019 Upon entering the 2018 Open Championship, the leading ten players (and those tying for tenth place) in the 2018 Titleist and FootJoy PGA Professional Championship will be granted exemption from Regional Qualifying (The R&A reserve the right to amend this exemption at their sole discretion). 11. The PGAs of Europe International Team Championship English/Welsh Teams (i) Welsh Team The Welsh Team for the PGAs of Europe International Team Championship 2018 will comprise of the leading eligible player from the Welsh National PGA Championship and the leading two eligible players, not otherwise exempt, from the 2018 Welsh Rankings List. The rankings list comprises of point allocations from the Welsh National PGA Championship and the Titleist and FootJoy PGA Professional Championship 2018. (ii) England Team The England Team for the PGAs of Europe International Team Championship 2018 will comprise of the leading eligible player from the English PGA Championship and the leading two eligible players, not otherwise exempt, from the 2018 English Rankings List. The rankings list comprises of point allocations from the English PGA Championship and the Titleist and FootJoy PGA Professional Championship 2018. 12. PGA Professional Championship of Europe The leading eligible player from the English PGA Championship and the leading three eligible players, not otherwise exempt, from the 2018 English Rankings List will qualify for the 2018 PGA Professional Championship of Europe. The English ranking list combines the results from both the English PGA Championship and Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship.
In the case of a tie for the last qualifying place the qualifiers will be determined by card count back on the last 18, 9, 6, 3, 1 holes. The results from any play-off held at the Titleist and FootJoy PGA Professional Championship will supersede the card count back. In order to be eligible to qualify through this pre-qualifier players MUST; (i) satisfy the eligibility criteria for the PGA Professional Championship of Europe as laid out in the Conditions of Competition. (ii) be eligible to represent the Nation for which the pre-qualifier is being held (in this case England). Further information on National representation can be found in the PGA Home Nations Selection Policy. (The PGAs of Europe reserves the right to amend this exemption at their sole discretion). 13. 29 th PGA Cup, USA, September 2019 Details of selection criteria for the 2019 GB&I PGA Cup team will be published in due course. 14. Address Little Aston Golf Club Roman Road Streetly Sutton Coldfield B74 3AN Tel: +44 (0) 121 353 2942 Website: https://www.littleastongolf.co.uk 15. Accommodation A list of nearby accommodation will be published in the tournament information on www.pga.info. 16. PGA Rights The PGA reserve the right to change or amend the conditions of entry.