Ten years after retiring as PGA Tour commissioner, Tim Finchem and his wife announced a $13 million gift to support the launch of an updated PGA Tour Charities program. The donation comes as the tour unveils a new charitable strategy focused on national campaigns with local impact.
Tour’s charitable vision
Executive Vice President Laura Neal said the next chapter will bring greater focus, coordination, resources, and visibility to the tour’s giving efforts. PGA Tour Charities will fund priority campaigns around health, youth, access, and service, linking with tournaments whose missions align.
Maintaining donation levels
The tour also pledged to cover any shortfall in charitable contributions if events move to the Challenger Series in the 2028 schedule, ensuring that community support remains steady.
Player involvement
Lucas Glover, chair of the Player Advisory Council and incoming PGA Tour board member, leads a committee of players shaping the new initiatives. Glover emphasized that giving back has always been central to the tour’s identity, noting recent challenges have shifted focus toward profit.
Historical context
Since a $10,000 donation at the 1938 Palm Beach Invitational, PGA Tour tournaments have generated more than $4.4 billion for charity. Under Finchem’s tenure as commissioner (1994‑2016), charitable donations topped $1 billion in 2005 and $2 billion in 2014, and he helped create The First Tee in 1997.
Commercial side of the tour
In January 2024, PGA Tour Enterprises was launched as a for‑profit venture with up to $3 billion from Strategic Sports Group, giving players equity for the first time. The nonprofit arm continues to run tournament regulations, while the commercial side handles global business, sponsorship, and media rights.
Additional donations
The tour also disclosed that the remaining $2.5 million from Brooks Koepka’s required $5 million donation—mandated after his return from LIV Golf—will be allocated to charities chosen by nearly 100 players.
Personal note
Holly Finchem expressed gratitude for the tour’s community, while Tim Finchem’s wife disclosed in a letter to Global Golf Post that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
