Birmingham, England: The PGA of Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) has launched a new series of tournaments open to all PGA Members in the United Kingdom, Ireland and overseas.

The Open Series comprises seven 36-hole tournaments played over two days across all Great Britain & Ireland PGA regions, with each event carrying a £20,000 prize fund.

The Open Series is designed to provide PGA Members with access to top level competition and to encourage participation in regional tournaments through increased prize funds.

A total of 80 spots will be made available to the host region to secure the Order of Merit status and enable the wider membership to participate.

The remainder of the field, after exemptions, will be available to PGA Members from all other regions up to a maximum field of 156. Exemptions will be available for current PGA champions, national champions and the top few players from each Regional Order of Merit and the WPGA OCEANTEE Series Order of Merit.

In addition to the Open Series, The PGA is boosting prize funds at a regional and national level, with Members now playing for a prize fund of £2.36 million, representing an increase of 35% over 2021 figures.

To combat inconsistencies in participation and prize fund levels across the regions, The PGA intends to support regional Order of Merit activity so that Members in each region will have an opportunity to play for consistent prize funds at a minimum of £15,000 in at least three Order of Merit events.

“This support is intended to optimise an aspirational tournament model, reinvigorate the regional Orders of Merit and provide a series of equitable and consistent playing opportunities across the regions,” said Tristan Crew, Executive Director – Member Services at the PGA of GB&I, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

“In some PGA regions, historic Open tournaments have suffered in recent years from diminished fields and lack of sponsorship. We recognise the importance of tournaments as the primary Members’ service. The Open Series will serve to re-invigorate a number of these events and secure the traditions and history of The PGA,” added Crew.