Gordon Sargent made history Wednesday.
The 20-year-old junior at Vanderbilt became the first player to earn PGA Tour membership via PGA Tour University Accelerated. He earned his 20th and final point needed when he teed off in the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship in Abu Dhabi.
Sargent will be able to accept PGA Tour membership after the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA National Championship in Carlsbad, California, upon turning professional. If he chooses this path, he would be eligible for open-full-field events for the remainder of the 2024 season, including the FedEx Cup Fall, and he would be a Tour member for the 2025 season.
The PGA Tour University Accelerated program was announced in November 2022 as a way for high-achieving underclassmen – juniors, sophomores or freshmen – to earn PGA Tour membership. Players earn points based on their accomplishments in college, amateur and professional golf. If a player earns at least 20 points by the end of their third year of NCAA eligibility, they become eligible for Tour membership.
Sargent is currently second in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Here’s how he earned his 20 points.
- Oct. 18, 2023 – Competes for United States at World Amateur Team Championships (1 point)
- Sep. 2, 2023 – Competes for United States at Walker Cup (2 points)
- July 7, 2023 – Makes cut in PGA TOUR event at John Deere Classic (1 point)
- June 16, 2023 – Makes cut at major championship at U.S. Open (1 point)
- June 15, 2023 – Makes major championship start at U.S. Open (1 point)
- June 8, 2023 – Competes for United States at Arnold Palmer Cup (1 point)
- April 6, 2023 – Makes major championship start at Masters Tournament (1 point)
- Feb. 15, 2023 – Reaches No. 1 in World Amateur Golf Ranking (5 points)
- Aug. 31, 2022 – Competes for United States at World Amateur Team Championships (1 point)
- July 1, 2022 – Competes for United States at Arnold Palmer Cup (1 point)
- June 1, 2022 – Wins 2022 NCAA Division I Outstanding Freshman Award (2 points)
- May 30, 2022 – Wins individual medalist honors at NCAA Championship (3 points)
In May, Ludvig Aberg became the first to earn a Tour card via PGA Tour University. He has since won on the DP World Tour, lost in a playoff two weeks ago at the Sanderson Farms Championship and was a part of the victorious European Ryder Cup team in Rome last month.
