Michael Kim has revealed some interesting things about the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. The 32-year-old only played five DP World Tour events but insists that it is enough of a sample size to compare with his PGA Tour experience. The American’s observations offer a rare inside look at how the two major tours differ in course setups, staffing, dining, equipment support, and transportation.
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Kim Outlines Differences Between PGA and DP World Tour
Course Variety: DP World Tour vs PGA Tour
One of the biggest differences Kim highlights is the variety of golf courses on the DP World Tour. The DP World Tour travels to so many countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, so the course styles naturally vary much more than on the PGA Tour. Kim points out that his tournaments in India provided some of the most unique experiences. The designs featured sharper doglegs and more position-based golf that demanded different strategies. He contrasts this with the PGA Tour, where many of the courses are built around long hitting and more open layouts.
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The American also revealed that the average green speeds on the DP World Tour feel slightly slower. They are still quick and challenging, but players do not encounter the extremely fast conditions sometimes seen in the United States. Some events on the PGA Tour have greens that can reach 14 or more on the stimpmeter, which Kim describes as “stupid fast.” While even in America that level of speed is rare, it is almost never seen on the DP World Tour. However, the final two events he played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were more similar to American setups, with larger, more modern courses.
Staffing Structure and Player Experience
Kim also outlined differences in staffing. There are two types of staff present each week on the PGA Tour, and tournament staff handle the logistics of the event itself, which can include large agencies such as Wasserman or smaller local groups depending on the tournament. Then there is the PGA Tour staff, who focus on player relations, collecting feedback and managing the overall experience. By comparison, Kim says he noticed that many of the same staff members on the DP World Tour appear at every event, which gives the tour a tighter, more consistent feel. He said it often felt as if roughly ten people ran the entire tour, giving it a close-knit, streamlined feel.
How The PGA and DP World Tour Differs In Player Meals and Logistics
Player Dining: Consistency vs Cultural Variety
The PGA Tour offers a more standardized approach to player meals. Most events have similar setups that include salad bars, grilled meats and healthy dishes. Some tournaments add local touches, such as Korean flavors at the CJ Cup or Cajun dishes at the Zurich Classic, but overall the food remains consistent from week to week. Kim finds this predictability useful for players who like routine. However, the DP World Tour takes a different approach. Since the events move rapidly from places like London to France to India, the dining experiences reflect each region’s local cuisine. Players get a taste of different cultures every week, which adds variety but also makes the experience less predictable.
Equipment Support and Tour Resources
Major equipment trucks are present at nearly every PGA Tour event. Players can request adjustments, repairs or even entirely new clubs on short notice. Kim revealed that he can ask for something unexpected and have it made the same day. Although equipment reps and workshops are available on the DP World Tour, the full trucks are not always available due to the heavy travel schedule. Players can still get what they need, but it may require shipping items to the next event or waiting for them to arrive, which creates delays.
Main Photo Credit: © Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
