In 1895 10 professional golfers and one amateur played in the first US Open, but although other tournaments did spring up around the country, the seeds of the PGA Tour were not really sewn until the arrival of a commercially-backed exhibition by English golfers Harry Vardon and Ted Ray.

The duo travelled across the country, attracting sizeable crowds wherever they stopped during the summer of 1913. That year 20-year-old Francis Ouimet defeated the pair in a play-off for the US Open. Suddenly golf became front-page news and a game for everyone.

It was in the late 1950s, with the introduction of televised coverage, that the PGA Tour started its most important period of expansion. The new exposure inspired millions to try the game and at the same time television rights fees gave a substantial boost to prize money.

The touring professionals took over control of the Tour from the American PGA in late 1968. Initially, they became known as the Association of Professional Golfers, but the following year after moves for a compromise they returned back within the PGA fold to become the Tournament Players Division of the PGA. Three years later the organisation was renamed PGA Tour and it is now based at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Charitable giving has become an important part of life on the modern-day tour. In 2005 the Tour surpassed the US $1 billion mark for the total of monies raised, while in 2008 over US $1 million was raised for individual charities at 19 different tournaments.