This week, the PGA Tour announced changes to the PGA Tour University Accelerated program.

Over the last few years, PGA Tour University has proved an effective way to help college players get a start in the professional ranks.

Here are the changes to the program.

• Lifetime 26 weeks as No. 1 in WAGR: 1 point 
• Lifetime 52 weeks as No. 1 in WAGR : 1 point 
• Top-5 in an official PGA Tour event or select DP World Tour events: 1 point 
• Top-10 and ties at Division I NCAA Championship: 1 point 
• Jones Cup winner: 1 point 
• Northeast Amateur winner: 1 point 
• Southern Amateur winner: 1 point 
• African Amateur winner: 1 point (previously 2 points) 
• Asia-Pacific Amateur winner: 1 point (previously 2 points) 
• D-I NCAA individual champion: 2 points (previously 3 points) 
• European Amateur winner: 1 point (previously 2 points) 
• Latin America Amateur winner: 1 point (previously 2 points) 
• The Amateur winner: 2 points (previously 3 points) 
• U.S. Amateur winner: 2 points (previously 3 points) 
• Western Amateur winner: 1 point (previously 2 points) 

Unfortunately for Luke Clanton, points are not rewarded retroactively, so he would jump from his current 17 points to 20 points due to his top-five finishes on the PGA Tour.

After the National Championship, the top 10 seniors in the PGA Tour U will become fully exempt from the Korn Ferry Tour. This is an increase from the five Korn Ferry cards that have been given out in the past.

The top-five players in combined points earned between the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour during their first season after graduation will also keep their KFT status. Previously, only three players had that ability.

One final tweak is that if the runner-up in the PGA Tour University rankings earns more than 13,000 points, he will also earn a PGA Tour Card. While no runner-up has reached that threshold in the past, it's another big step in providing pathways for seniors into the PGA Tour.

John Daly II headlines leaders after round one of New Year's Invitational

PNC Championship: Team Langer wins again, defeats Tiger, Charlie Woods in a playoff

Tiger Woods beat six finalists in his USGA streak. Where are they now?

COMPLETE: 2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying

On his 49th birthday, let's revisit Tiger Woods six USGA amateur wins