Pro Reveals Huge Financial Cost Of Developmental Tour Entry Fees
A professional golfer on the LPGA Tour’s official development tour has revealed the huge cost of her entry fees and yardage books in 2022. Kenzie Wright, who plays on the Epson Tour, explained on Twitter that ‘After working on her tax return, she discovered the cost was $16,826.47.
*not looking for sympathy at all, I know it’s a choice* but I spent $16,826.47 on entry fees and distance books alone in 2022🫢January 31, 2023
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In 2022, the Epson Tour offered a total prize pool of $4.41 million across its 21 tournaments, averaging $210,000 per event. Wright, who was in her first year on the Tour, played 14 tournaments. However, his income of $8,015 was considerably less than his expenses.
The reveal brings to light the reality that for many players, going on a tour isn’t necessarily enough to pay the bills. For example, DP World Tour pro Scott Hend revealed last April that his tour participation cost him $50,000 after nine missed cuts in his first nine starts.
The three-time Tour winner also took to Twitter to write: “Some useful info for golf fans out there… So far in 2022 I’ve missed 9 out of 9 cups and haven’t haven’t earned a dime. …I’ve been playing on the road since Jan 17. I’ve burned about $50,000. They’re Pro Golf folks and I love it. Better times are coming soon. #golflife”
Meanwhile, even the most high-profile players making the cut aren’t immune to losses, as 2017 PGA Women’s Championship winner Danielle Kang has revealed. During the build-up to last year’s Chevron Championship, she explained that she won $6,000 in a tournament and didn’t break even. She said: “I won $6,000 last week, I made the cut; I didn’t break even last week. I’m the budgeter. I have to drive, rent a car, get a hotel room. Fortunately for me, I am sponsored by BMW, which provides me with the car. That saves about $500, $1,000, etc. »
Of course, for players on the development tour, like Wright, there’s no opportunity to make big money, even for a win. For example, the player who finished 2022 at the top of the Epson Tour money list, Sweden’s Linnea Strom, picked up a win that netted her a relatively healthy $30,000. However, to earn $119,190 last year, she needed seven top 10 finishes from her 17 tournaments, highlighting the pressure of consistent performance.
With an unprecedented amount of money pouring in at the top of the game, it’s sad to note that further down the pecking order, making a living as a pro remains considerably less clear cut than it seems.