Suppose you miss the first five cuts of the year. Might be tempting to complain about your wrist to your doctor and get a note. To my knowledge, the PGA Tour has never denied an application. You'll receive a disability payment of up to $10,000 a month that can be tax-free. It used to be $20,000, but in 2008 the tour changed it to ensure the program would be sustainable. Most guys on extensions are at home playing every day, with no caddie or travel expenses, working on their games until they feel ready to return. When they come back, they pick their favorite courses. If a guy has 20 events and wants to milk it, he might play his five favorite events over four seasons. There's no limit to how long a major medical can last, as long as you reapply each season. Erik Compton competed five months after his second heart transplant. That should cause anyone who nurses a sore shoulder across multiple seasons to stop and think.