Golf Tutorials

What Is the Web.com Golf Tour?

By Spencer Lanoue
July 24, 2025

Thinking of the PGA TOUR likely conjures images of Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler, and iconic events like The Masters. But for every one of those established superstars, there are hundreds of elite golfers fighting for their chance to join them. This is where the Web.com Golf Tour comes in. This article will explain exactly what this tour is, its new name, and its vital role as the ultimate proving ground for professional golf.

First, A Quick Name Change Update

If you're looking up the "Web.com Tour," you're on the right track, but it's important to know the name has changed. The tour you're thinking of is now officially called the Korn Ferry Tour. Sponsorships for professional golf tours change over the years, and this one is a perfect example.

Throughout its history, this tour has been known as:

  • The Ben Hogan Tour (1990–1992)
  • The Nike Tour (1993–1999)
  • The Buy.com Tour (2000–2002)
  • The Nationwide Tour (2003–2012)
  • The Web.com Tour (2012–2019)
  • The Korn Ferry Tour (2019–Present)

Even though the name on the banner is now Korn Ferry, its mission remains exactly the same: it is the primary pathway for professional golfers to earn a spot on the PGA TOUR. For the rest of this article, we’ll refer to it by its current name, the Korn Ferry Tour, but everything you'll read applies to what you know as the Web.com Tour.

What Is the Korn Ferry Tour's Main Purpose?

Think of the Korn Ferry Tour as the big leagues' top farm system. In baseball, you have Triple-A, where talented players prove they're ready for the MLB. In golf, you have the Korn Ferry Tour. Its single, defining purpose is to identify, test, and graduate the next generation of PGA TOUR players.

It's anything but a "mini-tour." It's an intense, season-long battle where golfers compete week in and week out across the globe. The courses are challenging, the travel schedule is punishing, and the pressure is immense. Every single shot matters because the ultimate prize is at stake: a coveted PGA TOUR card.

The Path to the PGA TOUR Card

So, how does a player actually get from the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA TOUR? It’s a beautifully simple, merit-based system. The entire season is a high-stakes race for points. Players earn points based on their finish in each tournament, similar to the FedExCup on the PGA TOUR.

There are two primary ways to earn a PGA TOUR card through the Korn Ferry Tour:

  1. The Season-Long Points List ("The 30"): The regular season consists of about 26 events. At the conclusion of the final regular-season event, the top 30 players on the season-long points list are awarded a PGA TOUR card for the following season. This is the main prize. The final events of the regular season are incredibly dramatic, as players on the "bubble" fight tooth and nail to secure their spot inside that top 30. One good week can change a career, while one bad weekend can send you back to the drawing board.
  2. The Korn Ferry Tour Finals: It doesn't end there for everyone else. Following the regular season, there's a four-event series called the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. This serves as a last-chance arena for two groups of players:
    • Korn Ferry Tour players who finished outside the top 30 but still in the Top 75.
    • PGA TOUR players who failed to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs (finishing 126-200 in the standings) and are trying to retain their card.

These two groups compete in the Finals, and originally, a separate points list from these four events awarded another handful of PGA TOUR cards. However, recent changes have streamlined the process, making the season-long points race the sole way to advance. The Finals now serve to finalize the priority ranking for the graduated players, determining who gets into the more desirable PGA TOUR events early in the new season.

Who are the Players on the Korn Ferry Tour?

The field at any given Korn Ferry Tour event is a fascinating mix of talent, dreams, and redemption stories. The players generally fall into one of three categories.

1. The Up-and-Coming Stars

These are often recent college All-Americans and celebrated amateurs who are taking their first steps in professional golf. They are young, full of talent, and hungry to prove they belong. Watching the Korn Ferry Tour is like getting a sneak peek at the PGA TOUR’s future headliners. If you followed players like Justin Thomas, Will Zalatoris, or a reigning world number one like Scottie Scheffler when they were on this tour, you wouldn't be surprised by their current success.

2. The Seasoned Professionals

This group includes former PGA TOUR players who lost their card due to performance or injury. For them, the Korn Ferry Tour isn’t a new ceiling, it’s a necessary step to get back to where they feel they belong. These veterans bring valuable experience. They know how to travel, how to manage their games, and how to handle pressure. Their journey is one of resilience and a testament to just how hard it is to stay at the top level of professional golf.

3. The International Talent

The Korn Ferry Tour attracts incredible players from all over the world. It is the most direct route to the PGA TOUR for golfers from Asia, Europe, Australia, and South America. Players like Sungjae Im and Byeong Hun An are perfect examples of international stars who sharpened their games on this tour before becoming household names on the PGA TOUR.

So, How Good *Are* These Golfers?

This is my favorite part to explain as a coach. It's one thing to say they're "good," but it's another to understand the truly microscopic gap that separates them from the world's best. The easiest way to put it is this: the players on the Korn Ferry Tour are extraordinarily good. They are unquestionably among the top 500 or so male golfers on the planet.

Let's look at scoring averages. In a typical season, the average score on the PGA TOUR might be around 70.5 strokes per round. On the Korn Ferry Tour, it might be around 71.0 strokes. On paper, that half-a-shot difference sounds minuscule. But in reality, it's a monumental gap.

Think about your own a game. What would it take to go from consistently shooting 85 to consistently shooting 75? You'd need to improve every single part of your game: driving, iron play, wedge consistency, and putting. The half-shot difference between these tours represents a similar leap in skill, except it's happening at the absolute peak of the sport.

That half-shot is the difference between:

  • Hitting your iron shot to 15 feet instead of 25 feet.
  • Making one more clutch 6-foot putt per round under pressure.
  • Scrambling for par from a tough lie instead of making a bogey.

Week in and day out, that tiny margin separates earning a solid paycheck from missing the cut, and ultimately, separates a Korn Ferry Tour player from a PGA TOUR regular. These guys can all shoot 64 on any given day. The challenge is grinding out a 69 when you're not swinging your best, on a tough course, on the other side of the country. That's the test of the Korn Ferry Tour.

How Can You Follow the Action?

Getting into the Korn Ferry Tour is a fantastic way to deepen your appreciation for golf. You get to see the stars of tomorrow and witness some of the most compelling competitive drama in the sport. Here’s how you can follow along:

  • Television L'Couverture : The Golf Channel provides significant coverage, especially for the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Check your local listings during tournament weeks.
  • Online and Mobile Apps: The PGA TOUR app is the best place for live, hole-by-hole scoring for every event. You can track your favorite players and see who is making a move up the leaderboard in real time.
  • Social : The tour has active social media accounts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. It's a great way to see highlights, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes content.

Final Thoughts

In short, the Korn Ferry Tour - the tour formerly known as Web.com - is the crucible of professional golf. It's where dreams are tested and careers are forged, all built around the simple, brutal goal of earning a PGA TOUR card. It stands as a powerful reminder of the incredible depth of talent in golf and the razor-thin margin between making it and just missing out.

While most of us aren't out there battling for a Tour card, we all face moments on the course where smarter course management can save strokes. We developed Caddie AI to give you that same kind of strategic advantage. You can stand on a tricky tee box and get a simple plan for the hole, or snap a photo of a poor lie in the rough to learn the smartest way to play it. With instant, judgment-free advice, Caddie AI helps you make confident decisions under pressure, just like the pros.

Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. His mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.

Other posts you might like

How to Throw a Golf Tournament Fundraiser

Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.

Read more
card link

What Is a Golf Handicap?

A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.

Read more
card link

What Is the Compression of a Pinnacle Rush Golf Ball?

The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.

Read more
card link

What Spikes Fit Puma Golf Shoes?

Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.

Read more
card link

How to Use the Golf Genius App

The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.

Read more
card link

How to Not Embarrass Yourself While Golfing

Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i

Read more
card link
Rating

Instant advice to help you golf like a pro

Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.

Get started for free
Image Descrptions