"Hereafter, should a player be late for his pro-am starting time, the situation will be handled as a matter of unbecoming conduct."

What an embarrassment for the Commissioner and the PGA Tour Policy Board. After all, they had reviewed the policy, heard from players and media that it was silly to DQ someone for being late to a pro-am, and been told that their effort to protect sponsors ultimately could hurt the sponsor. Yet they could not envision the potential problem until one of the "good guys" who lives in Ponte Vedra couldn't recharge his iphone or use a hotel wake up call service during the floundering-for-credibility "playoffs."

So only when it became humiliating do they act, and in acting so quickly, prove that this could have been dealt with long ago had there been foresight, joining an ever-growing list of oddly handled issues that should make players nervous about their leadership heading into the television negotiations.

Thanks to readers Mel and Buster for the link.

PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem Tuesday announced the suspension of the regulation that resulted in Jim Furyk's disqualification last week from The Barclays for being late to his pro-am starting time. This part of the regulation will be suspended for the duration of the 2010 season.

Hereafter, should a player be late for his pro-am starting time, the situation will be handled as a matter of unbecoming conduct. Such player will be required to participate in the remainder of the pro-am round and may be required to perform additional sponsor activity. A player who misses his pro-am obligation in its entirety will still be ruled ineligible for the tournament unless he has been excused in accordance with the provisions of the regulations.

The commissioner has asked the Player Advisory Council and Player Directors to evaluate the current pro-am regulations to determine whether alternative measures can effectively ensure that players honor their pro-am obligations without placing them at risk of disqualification. The matter will be discussed at the Policy Board meeting in November.

Comments

[Buster]

I'm not sure the attempted fix is any better than the former cruel and unusual punishment. Anyway, it all will be discussed in November. Until then, all the tournaments with pro-ams are insignificant and deserve no special attention. Yes, it is time to retire Timmy.

[John]

Actually, it looks like it depends on who gets dinged with the penalty. If it was a pro less popular with their peers, maybe this isn't such a big deal. Which is too bad.

[Giovanni]

Geoff, aren't you blowing this out of proportions? They are changing a policy that wasn't working for the benefit of all parties. Hang them for that! Hindsight is too cheap

[Bob S]

Are these PGA Tour regulations available through an App on the iPhone?

[Del the Funk]

Mickelson not posting much in the way of on-course results these days but when he makes a point off course (grooves, tasking Flinchem on this pro-am thing) he sure is an agent for change!!

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Jim Furyk is an all around good guy and a true stalwart among his peers (pre-shot routine on the putting green could use a little work, though). He even showed up at The Greenbrier this year after being asked by Li'l Tim. THEN he oversleeps and misses a tee time for a Pro-Am during the PLAYOFFS!, but gets there in time to play 16 or 17 holes with his group and is still disqualified. This is all about the Panjandrums of Ponte Vedra having a terminal case of craniorectal inversion and only realizing it when one of their Favored Few runs afoul of one of their silly rules. No imagination on their part whatsoever. Had it been someone with less stature they would not care in the slightest.

[vwgolfer]

Geoff- good point about the upcoming TV stuff.

[OWGR Fan]

I wonder if Furyks pro-am partners are really all that disappointed he didn't get to play. I would guess that they were quite pleased with the result of the pro-am they got to play with Marc Leishman. Winning can smooth over lots of hard feelings.

[fatgoalie]

John makes a very solid point.
The right player getting DQ'd IS the agent of change. Had it been a lesser known player
the TOUR would simply say "they know the rules".

There ARE different rules for the stars. Maybe there should be as far as business/marketing goes.
But regardless, there are different rules

[thusgone]

i'm with klg and fatgoalie.

[Michael B]

First off, I agree that the DQ penalty is too harsh, but have a major problem with changing it before the end of the season. I think that it would be extremely unfair to Furyk if someone this week is late and gets to play (and possibly beat him out of a spot in the remaining events, or even a possible shot at the FedEx Cup itself). Again, the rule isn't fair, but should remain until the end of the season.