Michael Kim is that one guy in the golf world who’s known more for social media rants than his scores. And if you’ve followed him for a while, you’d know his rants aren’t just random—they usually spill some real behind-the-scenes tea about life on the PGA Tour. This time, he’s back with another eye-opening revelation, and it’s about something that affects every pro golfer: travel.
In a recent social media post, Kim gave fans an inside look at the PGA Tour’s charter flight setup for players and caddies. These flights don’t happen every week, but when they do, it’s usually because getting from one tournament to the next would otherwise be a nightmare. Think places like Puerto Vallarta to West Palm Beach or Bermuda to Jacksonville—basically, spots that aren’t exactly easy to get to.
Now, this isn’t a brand-new concept—tournaments like the RBC Canadian Open have organized charters before, especially when players need to hop between big events like the British Open. But what makes Kim’s breakdown interesting is the little details most of us don’t hear about.
For starters, these flights aren’t free—at least not always. Players usually have to pay between $500 and $1,000 per seat, while caddies get a slight discount. Most players don’t mind paying because of the convenience. But when it comes to longer international flights, the tournament covers the cost, so those rides are free for the players. The planes themselves vary—some come with lie-flat seats (which is a huge win), while others are more standard, though there’s usually plenty of space for everyone.
Charters on the pgatour:
-It’s not often but once in a while the tour/tournaments provide a charter. It’s usually to a tough destination and we’re at a smaller city and really tough to get to the next spot. For ex. this week from Puerto Vallarta to West Palm beach or Bermuda to…
— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) February 25, 2025
Then comes the most surprising part: seating priority. According to Kim, it’s all based on merit. That means your seat on the plane depends on last year’s FedEx Cup rankings. The better your ranking, the better your spot—simple as that. While this setup is meant to be fair and avoid complaints, it raises some eyebrows. Imagine working your way up to the PGA Tour only to find that even your seat on a plane is tied to your rankings.
Kim also pointed out how things were different during the pandemic. Back then, with so many planes sitting unused, the PGA Tour could reserve weekly charters, making travel much easier and safer for everyone. It was part of a bigger effort to keep the tour running smoothly during a chaotic time.
All in all, Kim’s latest post gives fans a rare look at what really goes down when it comes to travel on the PGA Tour. Some of it makes perfect sense—like making travel easier for players—but that whole seating-based-on-rankings thing? Yeah, that definitely got people talking. And you know the golf world has plenty to say about it.
Golf community chime in with all PGA Tour “seating arrangement” thing
Where there’s gossip, there’s the golf community chiming in with their opinions. And after Michael Kim’s spicy take on player travel, fans aren’t holding back. One fan raised a fair question: “Not sure if you’ve went into this before, but on a normal week is it common for players to pay for their caddies travel/lodging? If a player misses the cut does the caddie make $0?” Interestingly, caddies usually cover their own expenses. Matt Minister, Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, once said, “In 99 percent of caddie cases, we pay all of our expenses.”
Their pay typically includes a base salary plus a percentage of the player’s winnings, but if the player misses the cut? That base salary might be all they get—sometimes not even enough to cover costs. Another fan brought up an interesting point: “They still provide a free charter to Augusta from the Valero Texas Open? They started that when I worked for a manufacturer to allure players to San Antonio the week before the Masters. Always thought it was a great idea…. I always wondered if it was to you guys.” Turns out, this isn’t just a rumor. Tournaments like the Valero Texas Open have offered free charter flights to major events like the Masters as a way to attract players. It’s a smart move—who wouldn’t want an easy, hassle-free trip to Augusta?
Of course, some fans are questioning why players even have to pay for charters in the first place. One person bluntly pointed out: “If Monahan cared about his players, he’d let them use the Tour’s private jet. He makes $18,000,000 a year, so he can afford to fly first class.” Ouch. Jay Monahan certainly isn’t struggling, and with the Tour bringing in hundreds of millions, fans are wondering why players still have to pay for their own seats—especially when the commissioner flies in luxury.
Another fan chimed in: “Do they make players pay for themselves or just pay for caddies? Seems to be pretty cheap on the Tour’s part that they couldn’t just cover it at least for players” Yes, even players have to pay. In 2020, PGA Tour charters cost players around $600 per seat, while caddies paid $300. With the Tour’s deep pockets, fans are asking why they don’t just cover these costs instead of making players pay out of pocket. Some fans actually seem fine with this seating system, with one fan saying: “Charter seating based on FedEx Cup>>>”
It’s a performance-based sport, after all. But others feel like even travel has turned into a ranking competition. And then there are those who believe the Tour should fully cover travel costs. One fan put it bluntly: “The tour should be providing this for ZERO cost to the players. Absolutely ridiculous they take in what they do and don’t take care of their most vital asset, you the players. Shame on them.”
And they’re not alone. A lot of fans believe that, given the Tour’s financial success, they should be making life easier—not more expensive—for their players. At the end of the day, Michael Kim’s revelations have opened up a much bigger conversation about how the PGA Tour operates. Should players and caddies be covering their own travel? Is seating based on rankings fair? And with all the money the Tour makes, should they be doing way more for the athletes who make the sport what it is?
What do you think of the PGA Tour’s travel policy? Should they cover the costs? Let us know in the comments!
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