Southwest PGA

The Southwest PGA, formally known as the Southwest Section PGA, is a regional professional golf organization affiliated with the PGA of America. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, it serves PGA Members, associates, amateurs, junior golfers, and participating golf facilities across Arizona and Southern Nevada. The organization combines member services, competitive golf administration, player development, and tournament operations rather than functioning as a consumer product brand. The Section is one of the regional units through which the PGA of America delivers programs and services to golf professionals throughout the United States. Based on its membership and associate-member count, the Southwest PGA is described as the fifth-largest of the PGA of America's 41 sections. Its geographic responsibilities cover most of Arizona and Southern Nevada, with two local chapters designed to provide more focused support: the Southern Arizona Chapter, serving facilities and association members in the Tucson and southern Arizona area, and the Southern Nevada Chapter, serving members and facilities in Clark County, including Las Vegas. Tournament administration is central to the Southwest PGA's public role. Its principal annual events include the Southwest PGA Match Play Championship, the Arizona Open, the Southwest PGA Championship/PPC, and the Southwest PGA Junior League Section Championship. These competitions provide opportunities for PGA professionals, elite amateurs, and junior golfers, while also helping identify players for higher-level competition. The Arizona Open is the Section's largest annual event. The Southwest PGA also administers qualifying activities connected with selected PGA Tour events. In the 2025 season, its schedule included pre-qualifying and Monday qualifying for the WM Phoenix Open, the Shriners Children's Open, and the Cologuard Classic. The Section has administered the WM Phoenix Open qualifier every year since 1948 according to the referenced material, although that activity predates the Section's stated 1958 founding and may reflect an earlier or broader qualifying history. Beginning with PGA Tour policy changes for the 2026 season, the final WM Phoenix Open qualifier was held on February 3, 2025, at Pinnacle Peak Country Club in Scottsdale. The organization also has a role in allocating or supporting tournament opportunities for PGA professionals. Through 2024, the winner of the Southwest PGA Championship received an exemption for the WM Phoenix Open. The 2023 championship produced a notable eligibility issue when Kim Paez became the first woman to win the Southwest PGA Championship, but did not receive the Phoenix Open place because she had competed from shorter tees under the applicable Whaley Rule. The opportunity instead went to Jesse Mueller. A separate qualifying tournament for Southwest PGA professionals provides an exemption for the Shriners Children's Open. As of 2025, the Southwest PGA was represented on the PGA of America board of directors by Dr. Chris Cain. Its activities place it at the intersection of professional education, competitive golf, junior participation, facility support, and access to major professional-tour events. The organization is best understood as a regional sports governing and member-services body, not as an airline or a conventional commercial brand.

The Southwest PGA was established in 1958 as the Southwest Section of the PGA of America. Its purpose is to organize and support the professional golf community within its assigned territory, rather than to operate as a commercial golf equipment manufacturer or a tour in its own right. From its Scottsdale headquarters, the Section provides services to PGA Members and associates, works with golf facilities, and conducts tournaments for professionals, amateurs, and junior players. The Section's geographic structure includes Arizona and Southern Nevada. To improve local member service, it operates through two chapters. The Southern Arizona Chapter covers the southernmost parts of Arizona, including the Tucson area, while the Southern Nevada Chapter serves Clark County and the Las Vegas area. These chapters connect the Section's broader programs with local golf facilities and association members. Competitive golf has remained a major part of the organization's identity. The Southwest PGA conducts the Arizona Open, its largest annual event, alongside the Southwest PGA Match Play Championship, the Southwest PGA Championship/PPC, and the Southwest PGA Junior League Section Championship. These events serve different segments of the golf community, from PGA professionals to juniors participating in organized league competition. The Southwest PGA also administers qualifying opportunities for PGA Tour events. The referenced history states that it has administered the WM Phoenix Open qualifier every year since 1948, a date that predates the organization's stated 1958 founding and therefore may reflect an earlier qualifying arrangement or predecessor activity. During the 2025 season, the Section conducted pre-qualifying and Monday qualifying for the WM Phoenix Open, Shriners Children's Open, and Cologuard Classic. A separate qualifying event for Southwest PGA professionals provides an exemption into the Shriners Children's Open. Through 2024, the Southwest PGA Championship winner received an exemption for the WM Phoenix Open. The 2023 championship was historically notable because Kim Paez became the first woman to win it. However, she was not eligible for the Phoenix Open exemption because she played from shorter tees under the Whaley Rule. The place consequently went to Jesse Mueller. This episode illustrates how Section championship rules and PGA Tour qualifying requirements can affect the practical value of tournament victories. PGA Tour policy changes planned for the 2026 season altered the qualifying arrangement for the WM Phoenix Open. The final qualifier under the previous system was conducted on February 3, 2025, at Pinnacle Peak Country Club in Scottsdale. By 2025, the Southwest PGA was also represented by Dr. Chris Cain on the PGA of America board of directors. The Section remains an active regional institution within the PGA of America network, combining professional representation, tournament administration, member support, and player-development opportunities.

1. 2025Final WM Phoenix Open qualifier under the previous arrangement

   The last WM Phoenix Open qualifier before new PGA Tour policies took effect in 2026 was held on February 3 at Pinnacle Peak Country Club in Scottsdale.

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2. 2023Kim Paez becomes first woman to win the Southwest PGA Championship

   Kim Paez became the first woman to win the Southwest PGA Championship. The related WM Phoenix Open exemption was not awarded to her because of the applicable tee and eligibility rule.

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3. 1958Southwest Section PGA founded

   The Southwest Section PGA, now commonly called Southwest PGA, was founded as a regional section of the PGA of America.

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4. 1948WM Phoenix Open qualifying history begins

   The referenced material states that the Southwest PGA administered the WM Phoenix Open qualifier every year since 1948, although this predates the Section's stated 1958 founding and may relate to predecessor activity.

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A regional PGA of America section focused on professional membership services, tournament governance, player development, and pathways into major professional golf events across Arizona and Southern Nevada.

• Arizona OpenProfessional golf tournament

  The Arizona Open is the Southwest PGA's largest annual event. It is a prominent regional competition administered by the Section and forms one of the main public expressions of its role in competitive golf.

• Southwest PGA Match Play ChampionshipProfessional golf championship

  A match-play championship conducted by the Southwest PGA for eligible golf professionals and other qualifying participants under the Section's competition structure.

• Southwest PGA Championship/PPCProfessional golf championship

  A principal Section championship for Southwest PGA professionals. Through 2024, its winner was associated with an exemption opportunity for the WM Phoenix Open, subject to applicable eligibility rules.

• Southwest PGA Junior League Section ChampionshipJunior golf competition

  A Section-level championship connected with junior golf league participation, giving young players a structured competitive pathway within the Southwest PGA territory.

• PGA Tour qualifying eventsGolf qualifying event

  The Southwest PGA conducts pre-qualifying and Monday qualifying activities for selected PGA Tour events, including the WM Phoenix Open, Shriners Children's Open, and Cologuard Classic in the 2025 season.

• 2025Transition of WM Phoenix Open qualifying arrangementsStrategy

  New PGA Tour policies scheduled to begin in 2026 changed the qualifying framework for the WM Phoenix Open.

  What changed. The Southwest PGA administered its final WM Phoenix Open qualifier under the previous arrangement on February 3, 2025, at Pinnacle Peak Country Club in Scottsdale.

  Aftermath. The event marked the end of the prior qualifying format as the tour moved toward its new policy structure.

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• 2023Application of eligibility rules after Kim Paez's championshipOther

  Kim Paez won the Southwest PGA Championship and became the first woman to do so, but the championship's associated WM Phoenix Open exemption was subject to the Whaley Rule and tee-selection requirements.

  What changed. Because Paez played from shorter tees, she was deemed ineligible for the Phoenix Open place, which was awarded instead to Jesse Mueller.

  Aftermath. The result highlighted the interaction between Section championship results and the eligibility conditions attached to PGA Tour qualifying exemptions.

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• 2025Final WM Phoenix Open qualifier under prior format held in Scottsdale

  Following PGA Tour policy changes scheduled for 2026, the final WM Phoenix Open qualifier administered by the Southwest PGA under the prior arrangement took place on February 3, 2025, at Pinnacle Peak Country Club in Scottsdale.

  RegulationOther
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• 2025Dr. Chris Cain represented the Southwest PGA on the PGA of America board

  The Southwest PGA was represented by Dr. Chris Cain on the PGA of America board of directors as of 2025.

  Leadership change
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• 2023Kim Paez became the first woman to win the Southwest PGA Championship

  Kim Paez won the Southwest PGA Championship, becoming the first woman to take the title. She was not eligible for the associated WM Phoenix Open exemption because she competed from shorter tees under the applicable Whaley Rule; the place went to Jesse Mueller.

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1. Southwest PGA
2. Southwest PGA official website