Trying to figure out which professional golf tournament is on TV this weekend can sometimes feel like a moving target. With multiple tours playing across different continents, it can be tough to keep track of who is playing where. This guide will show you exactly how the pro golf world is organized and where you can look to get a clear, up-to-the-minute answer on what golf is happening right now.
The Main Stages: A Guide to the Major Professional Golf Tours
First, it helps to understand the different leagues, or "tours," where the pros play. While there are many professional tours around the world, a few major ones command the most attention and feature the world's best players. Knowing the difference is the first step to finding the tournament you're looking for.
The PGA TOUR: The Premier Men's Tour
The PGA TOUR is the top-tier professional golf tour for men in North America and widely considered the most prestigious in the world. When you hear about legendary events like THE PLAYERS Championship, the Memorial Tournament, or the Arnold Palmer Invitational, you're hearing about the PGA TOUR.
- Who Plays Here: The biggest names in golf, like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Thomas, spend most of their time on the PGA TOUR.
- The Schedule: The main season runs from January through August, culminating in the FedExCup Playoffs. A "Fall Swing" follows, offering players a chance to get a head start on the next season's points. Essentially, it’s a year-round affair.
- How to Follow: The best place for information is the PGA TOUR's official website (pgatour.com). The "Schedule" tab gives you a full calendar of events with dates, locations, and past winners.
DP World Tour: A Global Golfing Powerhouse
Formerly known as the European Tour, the DP World Tour is a global circuit with tournaments held across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It has a strategic alliance with the PGA TOUR, meaning top players from both tours often compete in each other's biggest events.
- Who Plays Here: You'll find a stable of European stars here, alongside international players from all corners of the globe. Big names on the PGA TOUR often play in DP World Tour events, especially the most prestigious ones.
- The Schedule: The season runs from November to November, ending with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where the winner of the "Race to Dubai" is crowned.
- How to Follow: The official site (europeantour.com/dpworld-tour) is your best resource. Like the PGA TOUR, it has a comprehensive schedule that lists all upcoming events.
LPGA Tour: The Pinnacle of Women's Golf
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour is the world’s leading professional tour for women golfers. It’s an incredibly diverse and global tour, featuring top talent from countries like South Korea, Thailand, Canada, Sweden, the USA, and more.
- Who Plays Here: Stars like Nelly Korda, a dominant force in the game, alongside Lydia Ko, Jin Young Ko, and a host of other world-class athletes.
- The Schedule: The LPGA season typically runs from January to November, with events played all over the world. It culminates in the CME Group Tour Championship.
- How to Follow: Head to LPGA.com for the official schedule, player information, and live leaderboards during tournament weeks.
LIV Golf: The New Kid on the Block
LIV Golf is a newer professional tour that has made a big splash with a different format. It features 54-hole tournaments (instead of the traditional 72), shotgun starts (where everyone tees off at the same time on different holes), and a team component that adds a unique dynamic.
- Who Plays Here: LIV Golf attracted several major champions and popular players like Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, and Phil Mickelson.
- The Schedule: Their schedule is smaller, consisting of a set number of events played in various locations around the world.
- How to Follow: LIVGolf.com is the best place for its schedule, team information, and a list of players.
PGA TOUR Champions: The Legends Live On
This is where you can watch the greats of the game compete after they turn 50. It’s a highly competitive and entertaining tour that brings back iconic players and their classic swings.
- Who Plays Here: Think legends like Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples, Jim Furyk, and Steve Stricker. Watching them play is a fantastic way to appreciate different styles of course management and precision.
- The Schedule: The season runs from January to November, ending with the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
- How to Follow: Check the "Champions" section on pgatour.com for their full tournament schedule.
How to Find Out What's On This Week: A Simple Guide
Now that you know the major players, here's your playbook for finding out exactly what tournaments are going on right now, or any given week.
Step 1: Go Straight to the Source (Official Tour Websites)
The most reliable way to find information is to visit the official websites we mentioned above:
On each homepage, look for a "Schedule" or "Tournaments" tab. This will show you exactly what's on the calendar, often with TV broadcast times and links to the live leaderboard.
Step 2: Use an All-in-One Sports App
If you don't want to check multiple sites, a good sports app is your next best friend. Apps like ESPN, CBS Sports, or theScore have dedicated golf sections. Simply open the app, navigate to "Golf," and you'll typically find a list of all major professional tournaments happening that week. This is also the fastest way to check leaderboards on your phone while you're on the go.
Step 3: Check Your TV Guide and Streaming Services
Once you know which tournament is on, the next question is where to watch it.
- The Golf Channel: This is a golfer's home base. During a tournament week, it broadcasts early-round coverage of most PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour events, as well as full coverage of many DP World Tour and PGA TOUR Champions events.
- Broadcast Networks (CBS, NBC): For the big PGA TOUR events, weekend coverage (Saturday and Sunday) usually switches over to one of the major broadcast networks.
- ESPN+: This streaming service has become a major player, offering extensive coverage of the PGA TOUR with its PGA TOUR LIVE feature. You can watch featured groups and follow specific players long before the main TV broadcast begins.
Understanding the Golf Calendar's Major Moments
While golf is on nearly every week, a handful of events stand above the rest. These are the ones the players, and the fans, circle on their calendars. Knowing these will give you a better feel for the rhythm of the entire golf season.
The Four Men's Major Championships
These are the four most important tournaments in men's golf. Winning a major cements a player's legacy in the sport.
- The Masters Tournament (April): The only major played at the same course every year - the beautiful Augusta National Golf Club. Known for its iconic green jacket.
- PGA Championship (May): An event run by the PGA of America, it moves to different elite courses across the United States.
- U.S. Open (June): Known for being the toughest test in golf, with courses set up to punish mistakes and identify the most complete player.
- The Open Championship (July): The oldest golf tournament in the world, played on classic "links" courses in the United Kingdom. It’s often called the "British Open" by fans in the U.S.
The Season Finale Playoffs
To add excitement at the end of their seasons, the major tours have playoff systems that crown an overall champion.
- FedExCup Playoffs (PGA TOUR): A three-event series in August that sees the field of eligible players shrink each week until a final group of 30 competes at the TOUR Championship for the FedExCup.
- Race to The CME Globe (LPGA Tour): The LPGA has a season-long points race that culminates in the CME Group Tour Championship, where the winner is crowned.
Keeping these flagship events in mind will help you know when the stakes are highest and the must-watch golf is happening.
Final Thoughts
In short, understanding the landscape of the major professional golf tours - from the PGA TOUR and LPGA to the DP World Tour and LIV Golf - is the first step. With their official websites and general sports apps, you have all the tools you need to find out exactly what golf is on, anytime, anywhere.
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