PGA TOUR and its tournaments generate more than US$3 billion in charitable funds

Recent donations to the relief efforts of the Australian bushfires by Presidents Cup players Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith were some of the final acts of generosity that pushed the PGA Tour and its tournaments beyond US$3 billion in charitable donations. The charitable total, which includes a record US$204.3 million in 2019, includes donations made by tournaments on the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada, PGA Tour Latinoamérica and PGA Tour Series-China.

Leishman revealed a US$125,000 donation from the 2019 Presidents Cup charitable funds during the Sony Open in Hawaii, which added to the fundraising efforts he and fellow players in the field that week had already committed. Leishman and fellow International Team member Cameron Smith, as well as Tour players Matt Jones, Cameron Davis, Rhein Gibson, Cameron Percy and Parker McLachlin had already announced they would donate funds for every birdie and eagle they recorded in the tournament. The Presidents Cup and PGA Tour matched all player donations from the Sony Open up to $125,000 as well.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan advised “it’s truly a pleasure to thank our fans, sponsors, tournaments, players and volunteers for helping us generate over $3 billion for charity and positively impact millions of lives.

“As remarkable as this milestone is, what really matters are the countless stories (of impact) that every tournament has. Together, we look forward to continuing to reach – and celebrate – millions more.”

The PGA Tour and its more than 100 tournaments across all Tours achieved the US$3 billion mark just six years after surpassing US$2 billion in 2014. The Tour achieved the US$1 billion mark in 2005. In addition, the record US$204.3 million in 2019 beats the previous record of US$190 million in 2018. The Tour’s first charitable donation of US$10,000 was at the 1938 Palm Beach Invitational.

Each PPGA Tour tournament provides individuals an opportunity to give back to the community in one of three ways – attending an event, volunteering, or donating money. Not-for-profit tournaments under the PGA Tour umbrella donate their net proceeds to support local organisations. The impact these tournaments make throughout the year is possible thanks to the more than 100,000 volunteers who commit their time to ensure each event is a success.

For more information on the PGA Tour and the positive impact of its tournaments, volunteers, players, sponsors and fans please visit PGATOUR.COM/IMPACT.

Image of Marc Leishman courtesy of PGA and Getty Images