PGA Tour to assume control of Canadian Tour

• By Will Gray
• Oct 18, 2012 11:32 AM ET

Having offered financial support to the struggling Canadian Tour earlier this year, the PGA Tour announced Thursday that it has agreed to assume operational control of what will now become PGA Tour Canada in 2013. The conversion process will begin Nov. 1.

Starting next year, the new developmental circuit will provide direct access to the Web.com Tour for its leading money winners. The top five players at season's end will receive playing privileges on the Web.com Tour, while the next five in the final Order of Merit will be exempt into the finals of Web.com Tour Q-School.

"We believe that PGA Tour Canada has an important place in professional golf and will continue to help identify and develop talented players who aspire to one day play on the PGA Tour," explained PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem. "With that in mind, it makes sense to give its top players direct access to the Web.com Tour."

Details on a full schedule and the new Tour's executive structure will be announced at a later date. PGA Tour Canada will feature a minimum of eight tournaments in 2013, each with a minimum purse of $150,000, with a goal of eventually increasing to 12-13 events per year. All tournaments will be held during the summer months, with the Tour serving as a complement to PGA Tour Latinoamerica, which will feature a spring/fall split schedule and will also offer playing privileges on the Web.com Tour to its top five money winners.