Golfers across the United States will have an opportunity to qualify for the inaugural U.S. Putting Tour Championship, being held September 24-30 in Carlsbad, California, throughout the summer at official qualifying events, it was announced today.
There will be two types of qualifying events, those run by the U.S. Putting Tour and those run independently by golf courses, men's and ladies clubs, charities, and individuals. All of these events, however, will qualify golfers to compete in the USPT Championship.
Jim Hartley, president of the U.S. Putting Tour, indicated that his organization will hold a number of official qualifying events throughout Southern California starting in May. The entry fee for each of these tournaments is $20 and one in every five entrants will earn a spot in the USPT Championship.
The tournament format, entry fee, and number of qualifiers at USPT qualifying events run by golf courses and individuals are set by each tournament's promoter, although the USPT provides guidelines for these
putting tournaments at its website.
"Our hope is to have hundreds of qualifying events across the country," said Hartley. "We want to give as many golfers as possible a chance to compete for the title of America's Best Putter in September."
Mr. Hartley went on to say that golfers can view a calendar of upcoming USPT
putting events at the tour's website. Individuals who have a qualifying event scheduled can email the USPT at info@usputtingtour.com with details of their tournament and the USPT will post the information on the event calendar page.
Golfers also can enter the
putting championship directly and that they can do so now at the USPT website for $100. The advantage of entering now, according to Hartley, is that golfers can get their first choice of which day to play their first round. Each golfer will compete on one of four separate round-one days.
The USPT Championship features a guaranteed first prize of $10,000. The total prize purse will be announced prior to September 1. Amateur golfers also will compete for merchandise prizes and all entrants will be gunning for the USPT Championship title and trophy.
