PGA Tour Latinoamérica was a third level professional golf tour formed in 2012 and operated by the PGA Tour. It was formed in concert with the now also defunct Tour de las Américas.[1] Executives from the Tour de las Américas became employees of the new tour.[2]
 | |
| Formerly | NEC Series-PGA Tour Latinoamérica |
|---|---|
| Sport | Golf |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | PGA Tour |
| First season | 2012 |
| Ceased | 2023 |
| Countries | Based in Latin America[a] |
| Most titles | Tournament wins: José de Jesús Rodríguez (6) |
| Related competitions | PGA Tour Canada PGA Tour China Tour de las Américas |
| Official website | https://www.pgatour.com/latinoamerica |
PGA Tour Latinoamérica was one of a number of lower-tier tours that factored into the Official World Golf Ranking, previously awarding a minimum of six points to the winner and points to the top six plus ties. The top five in the tour's Order of Merit earned status to play on the Korn Ferry Tour, with the money leader being fully exempt. The Order of Merit winner also received the Roberto De Vicenzo Award, named after one of the first golf stars to come out of Latin America. Players finishing 6th-50th retained privileges on PGA Tour Latinoamérica, but were also able to advance to the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament depending on position. Those 2nd-5th could also improve their status at the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament, gaining entry into the final stage.
In April 2023, the PGA Tour announced that the 2023 PGA Tour Latinoamérica season would be the last, as from 2024 the tour would merge with PGA Tour Canada, creating PGA Tour Americas.[3]
History
edit2012 season
editThe 2012 season was the inaugural season of the tour and ran a series of 11 tournaments from September to December in seven Latin American countries.[4] Colombian Jesús Rivas teed the first shot on the new tour.[5] The Order of Merit winner for the season was Ariel Cañete and the five players to graduate to the Web.com Tour based on their Order of Merit positions were Cañete, Óscar Fraustro, Clodomiro Carranza, Matías O'Curry, and Tommy Cocha.
2013 season
editThe 2013 season was the first full season of play on the tour with an increased schedule of 14 tournaments running in 2 distinct swings with events played from March to May and October to December. Under the new format the number of tournaments was increased. In April 2013, the NEC Corporation became the title sponsor of the tour, being renamed as the NEC Series-PGA Tour Latinoamérica.[6] The Order of Merit winner for the season was Ryan Blaum and the five players to graduate to the Web.com Tour based on their Order of Merit positions were Blaum, José de Jesús Rodríguez, Timothy O'Neal, Jorge Fernández-Valdés, and Manuel Villegas.
2014 season
editThe 2014 season continued to be played in the 2 swing format as in 2013 but was extended to a total of 18 tournaments for the season. A notable addition to the schedule was the Bridgestone America's Golf Cup, a new unofficial money event on the tour; the event has the highest purse of any event on the tour at $600,000. Initially it was confirmed that Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar would play in the team event; however, following Woods's injuries in 2014, they did not compete.[7] The Order of Merit winner for the season was Julián Etulain and the five players to graduate to the Web.com Tour based on their Order of Merit positions were Etulain, Marcelo Rozo, Tyler McCumber, Brad Hopfinger, and Jorge Fernández-Valdés.
2015 season
editThe 2015 season had one more event than the 2014 season, with one event dropped from the schedule, the TransAmerican Power Products CRV Open, and two added: the Honduras Open and the PGA Tour Latinoamérica Tour Championship.[8] Rodolfo Cazaubón led the Order of Merit to earn a Web.com Tour card. Also exempt are Kent Bulle, Rafael Campos, Alexandre Rocha, and Tommy Cocha.
2016 season
editThe 2016 season had eighteen official events plus The Aruba Cup, an unofficial event where PGA Tour Latinoamérica competed against PGA Tour Canada. The Visa Open de Argentina gave the winner entry into the 2017 Open Championship. The five players that earned Web.com Tour cards were Nate Lashley, Augusto Núñez, Mito Pereira, Emilio Domínguez, and Samuel Del Val.
Developmental Series
editIn 2013, the tour organized other events from the region into a Developmental Series. The top five finishers from each event qualify for the Dev Series Final, and the top fifteen finishers at the Final earn status on PGA Tour Latinoamérica for the following year. Events on the Dev Series include the Abierto del Sur, Abierto Norpatagónico, Abierto del Litoral, and Abierto de Venezuela.[9]
Aruba Cup
editThe Aruba Cup was a team tournament first held on December 15–17, 2016 at Tierra del Sol Resort and Country Club. A PGA Tour Latinoamérica team played against a PGA Tour Canada team, with ten players in each team. PGA Tour Latinoamérica won the inaugural event.[10]
Order of Merit winners
edit| Season | Winner | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 |  Chandler Blanchet |
1,539 |
| 2022 | Mitchell Meissner |
1,528 |
| 2020–21 | Brandon Matthews |
1,191 |
| Season | Winner | Prize money (US$) |
| 2019 |  Augusto Núñez |
148,734 |
| 2018 | Harry Higgs |
101,336 |
| 2017 | José de Jesús Rodríguez |
119,001 |
| 2016 | Nate Lashley |
140,897 |
| 2015 | Rodolfo Cazaubón |
129,203 |
| 2014 | Julián Etulain |
92,394 |
| 2013 | Ryan Blaum |
99,135 |
| 2012 | Ariel Cañete |
91,396 |
Notes
edit- ^ Schedules also included events in the United States.
References
edit- ^ "PGA Tour Latinoamérica to launch in 2012". PGA Tour. October 20, 2011. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ "Tim Finchem Q&A regarding PGA Tour Latinoamérica". PGA Tour. May 2, 2012. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
At the conclusion of the 2012 schedule the Tour de las Américas will cease operations and its key staff will work for PGA Tour Latinoamérica.
- ^ "PGA Tour announces formation of PGA Tour Americas". PGA Tour. April 25, 2023. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ "PGA Tour Latinoamerica announces 2012 schedule". PGA Tour. May 2, 2012. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ "Jesús Rivas of Colombia struck PGA Tour Latinoamérica's first tee-shot". PGA Tour. September 5, 2012. Archived from the original on September 20, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ "NEC becomes umbrella sponsor of PGA Tour Latinoamérica". PGA Tour. April 24, 2013. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ "Woods, Kuchar commit to America's Golf Cup". PGA Tour. August 11, 2014. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ "PGA Tour Latinoamérica announces 2015 tournament schedule". PGA Tour Latinoamérica. January 20, 2015. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ "New events strengthen 2015 Dev. Series schedule". PGA Tour. March 3, 2015. Archived from the original on December 4, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ Decker, Brian. "PGA Tour Latinoamérica Holds On To Win Aruba Cup". British Columbia Golf. Archived from the original on May 10, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2023.