If you’re a fan of competitive golf and consistently low scores week in and week out, then you may want to pay more attention to the Korn Ferry Tour in 2022.
The future stars of the PGA Tour begin their new season with a pair of Sunday starts in paradise, starting with this week’s Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, Jan. 16-19.
Before the 26-event season (with three playoff events) embarks on its journey across four countries and 18 different states, here’s what you need to new for the new season, from players to watch to what’s new on tour in 2022.
Exotic start
The 2022 season begins with the return of international events, including a double dip in the Bahamas to open the season at the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, Jan. 16-19, and the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club, Jan. 23-26 (note the Sunday starts). After that, weeks three and four are in Panama and Colombia, respectively. The tour won’t play its first event in the United States until the Lecom Suncoast Classic in Lakewood Ranch, Florida (Feb. 17-20).
The 11th green at Sandals Emerald Bay Resort in Great Exuma Island, Bahamas. (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
Exemptions on the line
Earlier this week the U.S. Golf Association announced a new exemption category for the winner of the season-long Korn Ferry Tour points list that will begin with the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. The player with the most points from the tour’s 23-event regular season and three-event playoffs in 2022 will earn the exemption, as well as a spot in the Players Championship.
“The USGA is pleased to offer an exemption to a tour that has been well-represented in the U.S. Open and has developed an accomplished group of professionals for more than three decades,” said John Bodenhamer, chief championships officer for the USGA. “Past U.S. Open champions Lucas Glover and Bryson DeChambeau are among the many who have started their careers on the Korn Ferry Tour.”
Players to watch
After finishing one position shy of a PGA Tour card not once, but twice in a single month at the end of last season, all eyes will be on Taylor Montgomery in 2022. Montgomery finished as No. 26 on both the 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour regular season and final points standings. Talk about so close, yet so far away.
Professionals seem to keep finding early success after leaving college, so don’t be surprised if the trio of Davis Thompson, John Augenstein and John Pak make some noise in 2022.
John Pak tees off on the 10th hole during the first round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course on October 28, 2021 in Southampton, Bermuda. (Photo: Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
New in ’22
A new event hits the schedule this year. Well, sort of. The Lake Charles Championship will be contested for the first time after its originally planned 2020 debut was delayed due to COVID. Last year’s event was postponed due to hurricanes along the Louisiana coast.
Also new in 2022: increased purses. The minimum purse for regular-season events is now $750,000, with the season finale at $850,000. All three playoff events will feature a $1 million purse, and the tour hopes to have all regular-season events feature a minimum $1 million purse by the 2023 season.
If you want to get a glimpse at the future stars of the PGA Tour, you’ll have a handful of chances this season with six of the tournaments, including all three KFT playoff events, on Golf Channel.
