"The restructuring was all one-sided"

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Bill Huffman reveals that the Thunderbirds have been doing some serious renegotiation to keep FBR as sponsor of the Phoenix tour event.

Two different sources close to the Thunderbirds told me a new deal was recently brokered between FBR and the Thunderbirds that reduces FBR's overall financial commitment to the tournament "by millions." And the restructuring was all one-sided, with FBR telling the Thunderbirds it would walk if they didn't accept the terms.

According to those sources, FBR is going to keep its commitment to the tournament on several fronts. It will be the title sponsor and pick up TV costs, but it has reduced its charitable contributions significantly. And, as previously reported by the Tribune, FBR also will cut back on its entertainment commitment, which means the corporate hospitality, the pro-am and Tuesday night dinner.

"The US-Tour schedule is normally out at this time of the year but it is not yet out"

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In this story on Ernie Els turning his attention to 2009, there is this item thrown in at the end:

Els said he would play a little bit more in Europe because he believes that the US Tour in particular could suffer from the credit crunch.

"The US-Tour schedule is normally out at this time of the year but it is not yet out, it hasn't been printed yet some of the events might be under threat, a couple of tournaments might not take place," he said.

"These are very, very difficult times at the moment and probably to the next year."

FYI Big Easy, the PGA Tour announced the 2008 schedule on November 14th.