During my early days as a professional I virtually lived out of my trunk, slept in my car, (not that THAT has changed much), lived off peanut butter and crackers, even grabbed field corn from the side of the road… (well I was a city boy who thought all corn was the same), and counted quarters to see if I had enough gas to get home. I was not alone and never complained. I enjoyed every minute and there are plenty of Tour players from my era in the early 80s that did the same.

Since my article last month, I have attended two PGA TOUR Champions events, one Web.com event, and after the Players Championship, two PGA TOUR events. The differences between my mini Tour event days to the PGA TOUR of today are immense.

The differences from the Web.com boys to the PGA TOUR, or the “big show,” are like driving a 2006 Saturn Vue versus a 2019 Audi Q5. Sure they both get you around, but one you hope will get you there and the other you hope everyone sees you driving.

Web.com tour is the final stage before you become TOUR eligible, with some 20 tournaments scattered throughout the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico. Make it into the top 50 and Bingo; you got a card to the “big show.”

And quite a show it is. Each participant arrives with a new car to drive for the week, Lexus, Cadillac, Buick whomever is the car sponsor for the week. The car acts as a security measure because the players have a sticker on the side door announcing that they are playing in the sponsor’s event; same for most PGA TOUR Champions events. No such cars on the Web.com Tour unless it’s a major. It’s a caravan of trunk slammers. Some veterans of the PGA TOUR who have lost their card trying to regain it, but mostly “kids” recently out of college. Backseats filled with clothes, trunks with golf shoes, clubs maybe a cooler full of beer. Sure they may have balls or clothing sponsorships and yes they’re better off than the mini tour days of old and actually play for a reasonable amount of money, but they don’t get rich! Winner’s get anywhere between $100,000-200,000 in most events and the last checks about $3,000. Consider weekly costs are $2,000 – 5,000. More if you pay your caddie well unlike some PGA TOUR players after a win “Kuch.” Your goal financially is to break even or make a few thousand a week. But the ultimate goal is to get on the TOUR.

After parking that “new” car on either PGA TOUR Champions or PGA TOUR events, players have the option of going to one of two 60-foot TOUR physical therapy trailers. The brand new one has dual bump outs, full of state of the art weight machines, stretch bands, recumbent bikes etc. The other has a full complement of yoga mats, physician, licensed chiropractors, a full-time physical and a massage therapist. Most TOUR players have a routine using both trailers although I was told, The PGA TOUR Champions players need more work on stretching in the back.” I get that! Bernard Langer for example rides a bike 15 to 20 minutes and stretches a good hour before each tee time. With the money they’re playing for now a days I understand why they want to keep themselves in shape for as long as possible.

All three Tours offer a “players and family lounge.” Most offer gourmet spreads daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner complete with an open bar, and my guess is the PGA TOUR Champions guys consume the most alcohol! Although each event differs wildly (Web.com is normally not as good), Minnesota’s own Hollis Cavner, (who runs some 8 events including this year’s 3M Open) is widely known to run the best events and serve the finest cuisine! From my personal experience I agree completely! No wonder they need world-class workout trailers following them around!

Once players arrive in that new car to the well manicured courses most head right to the driving range. At all PGA TOUR events brand NEW range balls that are donated to juniors after. Balls are divided by whom you choose as your ball sponsor. Titleist, Taylor-Made, Srixon, Bridgestone, etc. – not only by brand, but also by type whether that be pro V1 or X or any variety. Your balls are neatly bagged and cleaned by range volunteers. Some players even ask to “hide their new balls for themselves”. Yes, some are spoiled.

Most PGA TOUR players now carry a $10,000 Trackman Launch Monitor that relays immediate info to their phone or PC, that displays everything from spin, impact, launch angle and distance. At the Players Championship, spectators could even watch those results live on a large TV monitor. Very few Web.com or PGA TOUR Champions players use them, maybe it’s the cost or maybe it’s “old school.” I’d guess over 70% of the PGA TOUR players have an instructor and or a coach with them. On the Web.com, the entourage is limited, maybe a mom or dad to offer support.

Arrive at the putting green during practice rounds you will see the manufactures/vendors of various putters and/or training aids. You’ll see bags of putters, mirrors, putting sticks and alignment aids all there to use and or take with them.

On all Tours, let’s say you don’t like the angle on your putter, or your grip needs to be replaced, or you broke a shaft on a tree, or simply you’d like a new shaft to try in your driver because Rory McIlroy is using one. No reason to go to Golf Galaxy! Nope, the Tour van is there to help! They offer almost every shaft, grip and club-head to the players free of charge. All they have to do is ask. The difference is, on most non-major Web.com and PGA TOUR Champions events only one traveling Tour trailer is onsite. At the PGA TOUR events, and most majors, you will see almost all manufacturers in their “Tour trailers” Ping, Titleist, Taylor-Made, etc. to give the players clubs the “tweaks” needed to make them happy.

At PGA events, locker rooms are full of new balls, gloves; sponsor imprinted clothes and shoes for the week as needed. Even overnight laundry is available, unlikely on the Web.com and infrequent on the PGA TOUR Champions.

Yes, the perks differ greatly from Tour to Tour, event to event and country to country. I argue that most of the players are grateful and respectful of the “spoiled“ life on the PGA TOUR. But the next time you see a struggling young or older Tour player maybe you’ll understand a little better why they sacrifice and work so hard to get to the “big show.” Sure the money is great, but the weekly perks aren’t too bad either.

QUOTES FROM THE TOUR

Two of my favorite interviews during the last few events speak of how attitude can have such a profound impact on your game. The first was from Spring Lake Park, Winona State and PGA TOUR winner, Troy Merritt. Who said to me after his recent upper left rib removal surgery and playing his first event back at the Players, “I’m just happy to be out here pain-free and hope to get four rounds in.” Troy missed the cut by one after getting it to three under in round one. But I know as disappointed as he was not getting four rounds just weeks after his surgery, that attitude helped him get that close.

The other was from Jim Furyk who said, “After being one of the last players in the field, I did not expect to even be here, so I feel less pressure and just want to go out and enjoy and perform.” Well I’d say after your eight under 64 in round two, that attitude worked well.

I’ve noticed in my own game especially in the very early rounds of spring that if I hit a good shot I’m happy and somewhat surprised. If I had a bad shot I chalk it up to springtime “rust,” forget about it and move forward with the good thoughts. Oddly if I hit that same bad shot, say mid-July during a major tournament or qualifier my attitude may be different and affect not only my next shot, but also that day’s score. So my goal is to keep that Merritt-Furyk attitude as best I can throughout my whole game this year.

Joe “The Pro” Stansberry can be heard on the SkorNorth 1500ESPN or can be reached at joethepro@teetimespress.com.