Tim Finchem Donates $13M to Launch PGA Tour Charities Strategy

Former commissioner Tim Finchem and his wife Holly have committed $13 million to help launch PGA Tour Charities, a new national philanthropic strategy.

ATLANTA -- Former commissioner Tim Finchem and his wife, Holly, are donating $13 million to launch PGA Tour Charities, a new strategic initiative announced Monday ahead of the season-ending Tour Championship. This donation comes as the tournament prepares to award a $10 million winner's check from a total purse of $40 million. The tour has historically generated over $4.4 billion for charitable causes since its inaugural $10,000 donation at the 1938 Palm Beach Invitational.

Under the new structure, the PGA Tour is committed to maintaining charity levels for events that transition to the Challenger Series in the 2028 schedule, covering any financial gaps if necessary. This organizational shift follows the January 2024 launch of PGA Tour Enterprises, a for-profit venture backed by a $3 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group. While the enterprise arm manages global business and media rights, the nonprofit PGA Tour continues to oversee regulations and tournament operations.

National Campaigns and Local Impact

PGA Tour Charities will fund national priority campaigns centered on health, youth, access, and service. Laura Neal, executive vice president of PGA Tour Strategic Philanthropy, described the Finchems' $13 million gift as a transformative next step for the organization. The strategy aims to align national missions with local tournament efforts to attract new resources and increase visibility.

Individual tournaments, including those managed by the Thunderbirds (WM Phoenix Open), Copperheads (Valspar Championship), and the Salesmanship Club of Dallas (The CJ Cup Byron Nelson), will continue to operate independently. These events typically distribute all net proceeds—calculated after national and local sponsorships offset operational costs—directly to local community organizations. Thousands of volunteers remain the backbone of these operations, motivated by the direct impact on their specific regions.

Player Leadership and Financial Allocations

Lucas Glover, chairman of the Player Advisory Council and incoming board member for next year, is leading a committee of players to shape these philanthropic initiatives. Glover noted that the arrival of LIV Golf and the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the sport's focus toward player earnings, but emphasized that the tour's identity is rooted in giving back.

In a separate financial disclosure on Monday, the PGA Tour confirmed the allocation of $2.5 million from Brooks Koepka. This sum represents the remaining half of a $5 million donation Koepka was required to make as a condition of his return from LIV Golf. These funds are being distributed equally among charities designated by nearly 100 different players.

The Finchem Legacy of Growth

Tim Finchem served as the tour's third commissioner from 1994 until his retirement in 2016. During his 22-year tenure, he capitalized on the rise of Tiger Woods to secure significant increases in television contracts and prize money. He was also instrumental in the 1997 creation of The First Tee.

Under Finchem's leadership, the PGA Tour reached major philanthropic milestones, with total charitable donations surpassing $1 billion in 2005 and $2 billion in 2014. Holly Finchem stated that the $13 million gift serves as a celebration of their belief in the game and a capstone to Tim’s career-long commitment to charity. The tour intends for this dedicated platform to provide players, corporate partners, and fans with a transparent method for direct community investment.