Officials from the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour recently revealed the 18-player field for the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational. This marks the start of the APGA Tour’s 2024 season. The event features 18 top minority players showcasing their skills on Torrey Pines North and South Courses on Jan. 27 and 28, in collaboration with the PGA TOUR’s Farmers Insurance Open. Additionally, the tournament’s final round will be broadcast live on Golf Channel. The move emphasizing Farmers® and APGA Tour’s commitment to removing financial constraints and providing opportunities in golf.

Financial Support and Opportunities

Farmers® and the APGA Tour collaborate to support players and foster golf opportunities. Both prioritize providing tools and support for players’ career paths and development. Notably, the purse for the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational is an impressive $100,000, with the winner receiving $30,000. Furthermore, APGA Tour Co-Founder Ken Bentley is excited about celebrating five years of competition at Torrey Pines. He emphasizes players’ invaluable experience on a world-class golf course under PGA TOUR conditions.

Diverse Player Field and Qualification Criteria

The 18-player field showcases diverse talent, each with unique qualifications. Importantly, player rankings play a crucial role in the selection process. These rankings range from the top player in the season-ending 2022-23 Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking to nominees approved by the APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational exemption committee. Quite a few notable players are participating. Chase Johnson recently earned the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption. Kamaiu Johnson also had a strong 2023 performance, bringing additional impressive rankings and achievements to the competition. Additionally, inclusion of both amateur and professional players reflects a commitment to providing opportunities at various career stages.

APGA Tour Farmers Insurance Invitational Player Profiles

Chase Johnson: Recently awarded the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption, Johnson had a standout 2023 season with three wins and six runner-up finishes. He qualified for the Farmers Insurance Invitational field by finishing first in the Farmers Fall Series standings.

Kamaiu Johnson: Familiar with Torrey Pines, Kamaiu earned an exemption into the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open and finished T4 at the 2023 Farmers Insurance Invitational. His victory at APGA Scottsdale highlights strong performances on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica and the APGA Tour.

Kevin Hall: A veteran of the APGA Tour, Hall had a remarkable season with wins at the APGA Black History Month Classic and APGA at PGA Golf Club. Importantly, diagnosed profoundly deaf at age 2, Hall became the first black golfer to play at Ohio State University, winning the 2004 Big Ten championship.

Wyatt Worthington II: Qualifying for the PGA Championship for the second straight year in 2023, Worthington earned a place in the Farmers Insurance Invitational field with a fourth-place finish in the Lexus Cup Standings. This included wins at APGA at Las Vegas and APGA Cisco Invitational.

Troy Taylor II: Graduating from Michigan State, Taylor II earned a spot in the 2024 Farmers Insurance Invitational by finishing on top of the 2022-2023 Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking. His rookie season included six top-10 finishes.

These player profiles exemplify the diversity and talent within the APGA Tour, enriching the Farmers Insurance Invitational. Excitement is building for a showcase of talent and Farmers® and APGA Tour’s commitment to diversity, financial assistance, and growth in golf. Notably, the tournament not only serves as a competition platform but also as an opportunity for players to learn from interacting with PGA TOUR professionals. Ultimately, the Farmers Insurance Invitational is poised to highlight players’ incredible stories and achievements. It also reinforces ongoing efforts to advance diversity and growth in golf.

This article originally appeared on PGATour.com