How Long Do Professional Golf Tournaments Really Last? Complete Timeline
Professional golf tournaments typically span four days, starting on Thursday and ending on Sunday, with players completing 18 holes each day for a total of 72 holes. However, the actual duration can vary depending on several factors.
A standard PGA Tour tournament day usually starts early in the morning, around 7:00 AM, and can run until approximately 7:00 PM, depending on daylight and weather conditions. Players are grouped in threesomes for the first two rounds (Thursday and Friday) and pairs for the final two rounds (Saturday and Sunday).
After the first two rounds, there's a "cut" where only the top-performing players (usually those within the top 65 plus ties) continue to play the weekend rounds. This helps maintain a manageable field size and ensures competitive play during the final rounds.
Major tournaments like The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship follow the same four-day format but might have different cut rules and slightly longer daily schedules due to larger field sizes and more challenging course conditions.
Weather delays can significantly impact tournament duration. If play is suspended due to lightning, heavy rain, or darkness, the tournament may extend into Monday or, in rare cases, Tuesday. Tournament organizers always attempt to complete all 72 holes, even if it means adding extra days.
Some shorter tournaments also exist: - Pro-Am events typically last 1-2 days - Senior tour events sometimes run for three days - Monday qualifiers are single-day events - Some developmental tour events may be three-day tournaments
For television viewers, tournament broadcast coverage usually runs for about 6-8 hours during each round, with featured group coverage often starting earlier in the day. However, the actual time commitment for players, including warm-up, practice, and post-round activities, can extend to 10-12 hours per day.
Playoff situations, which occur when players are tied after 72 holes, can add additional time to the tournament. Most PGA Tour events use a sudden-death playoff format, while major championships might employ different playoff formats that could extend play by several holes or even an additional day.
Remember that these timeframes are for professional tournaments. Amateur and local tournaments often follow different formats and may be shorter in duration, typically lasting one to three days depending on the event's level and organization.