KPGA Tour Seed Category Discussion
Choi Kyung-Ju and Yang Yong-Eun Secure Permanent Seeds for Only 6 Players
Genesis Points and Top Prize Money Rankings
Tournament Host Entry Rights to Revitalize the Tour
The professional world is ruthless. Without results, you can even lose the chance to participate. The Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour is no different. Even players with winning records must go through the Qualifying Tournament (QT) if they fall into a long slump. At minimum, they must finish within the top 40 in the QT Finals to participate in individually hosted tournaments. Let's take a look at the seed categories of the KPGA Tour.
Choi Kyung-ju recorded more than 20 professional wins in total and received a lifetime exemption on the KPGA Tour. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News
There are players who have received permanent seeds. Those with over 20 career wins and winners of the four major championships have no worries about their seed. Six players fall into this category: Han Jang-sang, Choi Sang-ho, Park Nam-shin, Choi Kyung-ju, Yang Yong-eun, and Kim Kyung-tae. The next category includes the Genesis Point leader and the Genesis money list champion. This category requires consistent performance throughout the year.
The 'Big Matches' category is also a top seed category. It includes winners of the KPGA Championship, Korean Open, Shinhan Donghae Open, GS Caltex Maekyung Open, SK Telecom Open, DB Insurance Promy Open, Gunsan CC Open, Descente Korea Match Play, and winners of each respective tournament in order.
Even without a win, players can maintain their seed. Those ranked within the top 70 of the Genesis Point, top 70 of the Genesis money list, and first place in the KPGA Challenge Tour overall ranking can participate in all tournaments except co-hosted ones. QT winners, KPGA Challenge Tour overall rankings 2nd to 10th, top finishers in QT, and QT final qualifiers also compete in tournaments. There is also a seed category to promote the tour: KPGA Tour tournament hosts. They can participate in their respective tournaments.
Song Min-hyeok won first place in the KPGA Tour QT and received the Rookie of the Year award this year. Photo by KPGA
The 2024 KPGA Tour held 22 tournaments. The number of participants varied depending on the tournament. The tournament with the most players was the 67th KPGA Championship held last June. A total of 156 players competed over four days for a total prize money of 1.6 billion KRW. The 14th Descente Korea Match Play in May (total prize money 800 million KRW) also saw 152 players compete for the championship.
Typical tournaments have an entry of 144 players. More than half, 12 tournaments, had this number. From the season opener, the 19th DB Insurance Promy Open in April (total prize money 700 million KRW) to the May KB Financial Live Championship (total prize money 700 million KRW), 7 consecutive tournaments were included, totaling more than half with 12 tournaments.
The number of participants decreased as the second half of the year progressed. In September, the 40th Shinhan Donghae Open (total prize money 1.4 billion KRW) and Golfzon-Doray Open (total prize money 1 billion KRW) had 138 players; in October, the Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Choi Kyung-ju Invitational (total prize money 1.25 billion KRW) and Baeksong Holdings-Asiad CC Busan Open (total prize money 1 billion KRW) had 126 players; The Charity Classic (total prize money 1 billion KRW) and Genesis Championship (total prize money 4 million USD) had 120 players; the Dong-A Membership Group Open (total prize money 700 million KRW) had 102 players; and the November KPGA Tour Championship (total prize money 1.1 billion KRW) had 68 players.
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