And when these Americans who had dedicated their lives to defending this country came home, many settled on a life of service, choosing to make their entire lives a tour of duty.

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Below, a look at how the infusion of money from a title sponsor and the work of legions of volunteers make a PGA Tour event happen.

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Many are now open to hikers and make for a fascinating, if dank, subterranean tour of a world rarely seen.

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So even if Rory could make more in prize money on the PGA Tour, it would only be a small fraction of his overall earnings.

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And he says his resurgence to the top of the sport has ensured he can make his own choices, including skipping the FedEx Cup - a requirement of the US Tour.

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As a result of all this cash up for grabs, plus the opportunity for a mid-level Tour player to make a seven figure annual income without ever actually wining, there will always be a crop of new young guns following in the footsteps of McIlroy and Bubba Watson.

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