The Demise Of The Florida Swing?

It's about to come out of the words of some writer any day now, because Lord knows they won't want to give the West Coast any credit.

Bob Harig got close in this story revealing a switch of dates again in 2009, with Bay Hill set to get the last spot for reasons unknown.

Florida has seen some dramatic change in recent years. From 1987 through 2006, the order of the four tournaments was exactly the same: The Doral event in Miami, followed by the Honda Classic in the Fort Lauderdale area, Bay Hill and then the Players Championship at PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach.

For years, the Florida Swing was viewed by many as the unofficial start to the season. Many of the international players skipped the West Coast events and began their seasons at Doral, which gave them a month of warm-weather events to get ready for the Masters.

But the advent of the World Golf Championship events -- specifically the Match Play Championship -- a decade ago began a change in player habits. And when the tour revamped its entire schedule in 2007, moving the Players Championship from March to May, it created an opening in Florida and shuffling of tournaments.

Then again Alan Shipnuck, in reviewing the West Coast swing, says Tiger only making two appearances is devaluing its place.

True, but what would you rather watch or play (block out The Classic Club for a moment): Kapalua, TPC Scottsdale, Torrey Pines, Pebble Beach and Riviera, or PGA National, Innisbrook, Bay Hill and Doral?

In case you forgot how dreadful PGA National is, Daniel Wexler posts his weekly preview and aerial photo link. 

Policy Board Sides With "Under" Bettors On Cuts Policy, "Over" Takers On Playoff Points Fare Well Too

Strap in, here comes the spin...

PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem said, “As we have previously discussed, we feel that the FedExCup in its inaugural year was very successful, and we did not feel the need to make significant changes to its essential structure. But because of significant feedback from players and fans asking for more volatility and an increase in the number of players in the hunt at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola, we are making two adjustments that we feel will result in an even higher level of fan excitement and interest as we move into and through the Playoffs.”

You'll be shocked to know they did not take my advice, but instead, are just adding to the points permutation tedium for another year:

A narrowing of the gap between players’ point totals at the reset going into the Playoffs.  For example, the gap between the 1st and 2nd ranked players was 1,000 points at the reset last year.  That gap has been reduced to 500 points this year, with similar reductions being made all the way down to 144th place. (See Attachment for specifics).

The number of FedExCup points available at Playoff events has been increased by 2,000 additional points per finish position.  For example, a 3rd place finish was worth 3,400 points in 2007; it is now worth 5,400 points.  In essence, players who play well will move up more dramatically than in 2007.  (See Atttachment for specifics. Note: For rounding purposes, the points increases at THE TOUR Championship will differ slightly from the first three Playoff events).

And this means?

The effect of these two changes will be some improvement in a player’s ability to make substantial gains in overall position based on excellent play in the Playoffs, while also increasing the number of players who will have a shot at winning the FedExCup.

If these two changes had been in place for the 2007 Playoffs, for example, the effect would have been to increase from six to 12 the number of players with a mathematical chance of winning the FedExCup, and instead of only four players with a realistic chance of winning, there would have been six.

Well, at least they confirmed that only four had a chance of winning last year.

And now for the new cut policy:

Under the amended regulation, the starting field will still be reduced to the lowest 70 professionals and ties after 36 holes.  However, should the 36-hole cut total more than 78 professionals, there will be a second cut to the lowest 70 professionals plus ties at the conclusion of 54 holes of tournament play.  Players not advancing to the final round of play will receive their appropriate share of the official prize money in accordance with their respective positions.  The change is effective immediately, beginning with this week’s Honda Classic.

In other news...

An increase in the field size at the Memorial Tournament from 105 players to 120, in keeping with the Board’s intent to stage all invitational events with a field size of no less than 120 players. The change is effective with the 2008 event.

And...

Following two additional years (2008 and 2009) at Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor Course, The Fry’s Electronics Open will move in 2010 to the Fry’s Electronics-owned course called The Institute, located near San Jose, California. Upon its move to The Institute, the event will be renamed The Institute Championship and will become an invitational event with a 120 player field.

And invitational in the fall? Hmmm...interesting.

And should someone decide to take out Stephen Ames if he dares to win again...

The LG Skins Game eligibility has been slightly modified to address a situation where the defending champion or leading money winner is unable to participate. Under the new regulation, a floor of 5th place on the prior year money list has been implemented, and if a player among the top 5 places on the money list is not available to complete the field, the field will then be completed with an additional player of the host organization’s choosing.

"The problem is with the Ping lawsuit, everybody is scared."

Craig Dolch looks at the demise of shotmaking and talks to players who offer several different takes, including this from Tom Pernice:

Purists believe that the USGA has dropped the ball, so to speak, and the only way for shotmaking to become the premium it should be is for the PGA Tour to implement its own set of rules in terms of grooves.

"I personally think the tour should step in, but Tim (Finchem, the PGA Tour commissioner) is never going to go that way," tour pro Tom Pernice Jr. said. "Tim is going to do everything to be as non-confrontational as possible as commissioner.

"That's just his personality. Is that good or bad? Who knows? But almost every other sports organization has their own set of rules instead of us. The problem is with the Ping lawsuit, everybody is scared."

Pernice is correct: Finchem, when asked at last month's Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, made it clear he and the tour are not ready to implement its own set of rules. He says they will continue to monitor the situation, but believes the USGA and the R&A are the ones to make the rules - something he's been stressing for more than five years.

"There seems to be a slippage in recent years in that area," Finchem said of shotmaking. "You could interpret the data different ways. But we have taken the position that the USGA and the R&A should take the lead in that area and we should be in a supportive role."

I can't imagine why Finchem would want to stay out of the rule making business. It only lead to his predecessor's demise.

Close Encounter of the Congressional Kind?

Thanks tor reader Ari for the Leonard Shapiro Washington Post story on Congressional agreeing to host the 2009 AT&T National.

Congressional also is the site for the 2011 U.S. Open, and club and USGA officials plan a major restoration of the club's greens to make them suitable for Open play. The project will begin after Woods's tournament in 2009 and is expected to be completed by the spring of 2010.

The club plans to use the proceeds from the 2009 AT&T event to help pay for the restoration, estimated to cost about $2.5 million. The Tiger Woods Foundation also has pledged $500,000 toward the green restoration project.

Isn't that cutting it a bit close to the U.S. Open? Considering the problems they had with the greens last time, I'm amazed the USGA would sign off on such a short window between seeding greens and the tournament.

Shark: I Still Don't Like What Tim's Done With My Idea

Mark Lamport Stokes reports that like just about everyone else on the planet, Greg Norman isn't too wild about the direction the WGC events have headed.

"I am very disappointed with it," Australian Norman, 52, told reporters during preparations for Thursday's opening round at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

"I felt that the whole concept was a fair concept. It obviously was, or it wouldn't have been picked up and run with on another level.

"At the end of the day, my priority is the game of golf and hopefully we'll be able to get a true World Tour one day because then we can all share.

"Golf is a truly international game and we've been represented by great players on just about every continent on this planet," added Norman, who was a leading proponent of a global golf tour in the early 1990s.

"I always wanted to make sure that the general public and the other 24 million golfers had an opportunity to see the best players in certain locations around the world.

"We play all over the world, so it (a World Tour) does fit, it really does."

And hard to disagree with this as well... 

"There's a new direction on the European Tour where they actually start thinking about doing a global approach to the game to have an ultimate goal, which is the Road to Dubai."

"AT&T Oaks and AT&T Canyons Courses to Open with JW Marriott Resort in 2010"

To call this the tackiest thing the PGA Tour has ever done would not be a stretch...

AT&T TO BE NAMING RIGHTS SPONSOR OF TPC SAN ANTONIO GOLF COURSES

AT&T Oaks and AT&T Canyons Courses to Open with JW Marriott Resort in 2010

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 4, 2008 — The PGA TOUR and AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced that AT&T will be the naming rights sponsor of the two new TPC golf courses, which are located at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa.

The long-term sponsorship agreement will incorporate AT&T into the names of the courses at TPC San Antonio. The courses will be known as the AT&T Oaks Course (designed by Greg Norman, with player consultant Sergio Garcia) and the AT&T Canyons Course (designed by Pete Dye, with player consultant Bruce Lietzke). The golf courses and the adjacent 1,002-room JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa are schedule to open in early 2010.

Let the quote pile-on begin...

“AT&T is pleased to associate our brand with these courses,” said Cathy Coughlin, AT&T Senior Executive Vice President and Global Marketing officer. “We also look forward to working with the PGA TOUR, TPC San Antonio and JW Marriott to assure that the golfers and resort guests enjoy access to the latest AT&T broadband, voice and video services.”

Yep, that's why you go to play a golf course. Good broadband connection.

The adjacent residential development, Cibolo Canyons, already is an AT&T Connected Community. Details of specific applications to be made available at the resort and golf facility will be available closer to opening.

Just as soon as we figure out what that means.

“AT&T, a long-standing partner of the PGA TOUR, has been a tremendous supporter of this exciting project and has played an important role in bringing the TOUR and TPC brand into the fold,” said David Pillsbury, President of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties, which oversees the TOUR’s network of 25 TPCs. “Through its brand and technology, AT&T will very much be at the forefront of creating a unique, world-class golf experience at TPC San Antonio. We’re very excited to work with AT&T at TPC San Antonio.”

Nice, could have been a bit more succinct and dropped at least on platform, so we'll give you a 7 David.

"AT&T played an integral role in making the TPC development at Cibolo Canyons possible," said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. "We are grateful to be home to one of the world's most environmentally friendly golf course development projects, and we congratulate AT&T and the PGA TOUR on the naming rights announcement."

Wait, there's another...

"We are excited that AT&T and the PGATOUR created this sponsorship and we are pleased to have AT&T as a partner in this quality development," added Jim Miller, President of Miller Global Properties.  Miller Global is the developer of the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa, which will be owned by Miller Global in partnership with Principal Real Estate Partners.

TPC San Antonio will feature 36 holes of golf on 2,800 acres of contrasting topography.  Norman’s AT&T Oaks Course will feature rolling terrain and majestic native oak trees. Dye’s AT&T Canyons Course will showcase dramatic elevation changes with beautiful views of the surrounding AT&T Texas Hill Country.

Just slipped that last one in to see if you were still reading.

Finchem Gets Big Raise In '06

Jon Show in the Sports Business Journal manages to get ahold of the latest Form 990 showing PGA Tour salaries for 2006.

Tim Finchem earned $5.2 million in salary and bonuses in 2006 as commissioner of the PGA Tour, an increase of $1 million from the $4.2 million he earned in 2005.

Well, cost of living is going up in Jacksonville...and wherever else he's got a second home.

Show also gets into the PGA Tour "Holdings" racket structure.

Without commenting directly on Finchem’s compensation, Ron Price, CFO of the PGA Tour, said executive compensation tied to PGA Tour Holdings varies depending on responsibilities within the subsidiary. “We look at how individuals actually spend their time during the year and come up with an allocation to Holdings,” he said.

Both entities pay most top executives a salary, annual and long-term incentive bonuses, and benefits payable after retirement. Bonuses are based equally on the performance of the company and individual performance, such as whether an employee met both financial and nonfinancial goals.

Finchem’s $3.9 million income from PGA Tour Inc. consisted of $922,500 in salary and nearly $3 million in incentive bonuses. The organization paid him $3.16 million in 2005 and $3.05 million in 2004.

Another $1.3 million of Finchem’s pay in 2006 was paid by PGA Tour Holdings, including salary, incentive bonuses and deferred compensation. PGA Tour Holdings paid Finchem $1 million in each of the previous two years.

The piece also lists these salaries and benefits and benefits payable after retirement: 

Tim Finchem Commissioner $5,222,240   $38,635  $1,018,016
Charlie Zink EVP, co-COO $1,308,162   $28,869   $189,334
Ed Moorhouse  EVP, co-COO  $1,308,144  $22,266  $202,490
Ron Price EVP, CFO $908,554  $22,686 $55,948
Tom Wade  EVP, CMO  $899,795  $25,284  $25,000
Henry Hughes  EVP, chief of operations  $621,195  $24,018 $23,400
Richard George President, Champions Tour; EVP, champ. mngt. $531,050 $17,501 $11,000
Bill Calfee President, Nationwide Tour $527,098 $20,545 $18,806
Richard Anderson EVP, chief legal officer $508,395 $16,648 $11,000
Bob Combs* SVP, public relations and communications  $372,494 $15,674 $13,053
Ty Votaw**  EVP, communications and international affairs $266,346  $8,470   $11,000

I'm running to catch a plane, but if anyone bored with a calculator would like to tally up that sum, it would be nice to know! 

Ames, Ogilvie Blast Commissioner's Absence

Doug Ferguson reports on the only exciting thing to happen during day one of the Mercedes Championship.

"It's the opening of the year, this is important," Stephen Ames of Calgary said after completing the first round of the year at 1-under 72. "I think he should be here.

"He's here at the end. Is this any different? It should be the same."

Is that any way for a former Players Champion to treat a Commissioner?

Finchem doesn't travel to every tournament, and he isn't always at Kapalua for the first event of the year. PGA Tour spokesman Bob Combs said the commissioner was at the Mercedes the last two years and "will be attending again."

"It was a combination of business commitments and trying to manage a very challenging travel schedule over the course of a full season," Combs said of his absence.

Well that makes sen...oh wait.

More troubling to Joe Ogilvie, a member of the PGA Tour policy board, was not seeing any member of the tour's executive staff at Kapalua for the first shot, the first round, the first tournament.

"I'm pretty disappointed there's no senior staff from the PGA Tour here on opening day," Ogilvie said before adding a heavy dose of sarcasm. "Of course, when you shut down your offices from the 21st of December to the second of January . . . I don't know of a $1-billion company that does that. It's puzzling."

Well, it is a non-profit, Joe.

"I think it does (send the wrong message) when you've got four of the top 10 not here at a marquee event," Ogilvie said. "It seems to be common sense to me.

"The tour tells the players, you have to be there for the first tournament, but there's no senior staff. If I was commissioner, I'd be here."

"Woods either uses things as motivation to take his seemingly indestructible golf game to higher levels or simply blocks them out of his mind."*

Yahoo!'s Martin Rogers is the only scribe (golf.com's Michael Walker also weighed in*) to cover the odd events at Tiger's Tuesday press conference, but he draws a much different conclusion from the incident than I have.

Despite the intrusion of a rogue television crew from a British dating program that tried to embarrass the world's No. 1, there was not a crack in his professional demeanor or a flicker of annoyance.

"Hi Tiger, my boyfriend is a big fan of yours, but he often calls your name out during sex," squealed a pile of mascara and cleavage from the third row. "Do you think he might be gay?"

"That's a very interesting question," replied Woods.

The conversation continued, with the woman making a suggestive comment about a golf club – too lewd for this online publication – and Woods giving a neutral answer.

"I think I should dump him and get back with my ex," the woman said of her "boyfriend" toward the end of her routine.

"I guess you have to figure that out," Woods said.

"I think I should meet someone new. Do you think I should join a dating Web site?"

With that, the woman and her camera crew were ordered to leave by tournament staff.

Immediately, the event's PR crew started fretting as to how annoyed Woods would have been by the exchange and how it might affect him.

Somehow, I don't think they need to worry.

Woods either uses things as motivation to take his seemingly indestructible golf game to higher levels or simply blocks them out of his mind. If more than a decade's worth of the best golfers in the world have failed to shake him out of his stride it will take more than a Spice Girl wannabe and her misguided humor to throw him off.

After sleeping on it, I'm of the school that this incident needs to be examined by the PGA Tour quite carefully. The AP's Doug Ferguson has noted for some time that these meet-and-greet sessions with Tiger are out of control. If I'm Tiger or his agent, I would have to see Tuesday's incident as more than just an annoying little incident, but instead as a serious security issue.

He certainly can handle a heckler better than just about anyone. But what if one of these mysterious TV types that now get access to press conferences so that the PGA Tour can reach out to the coveted youth demo included someone who wanted to do physical harm?

"For some reason, the tour keeps eliminating Q-school spots."

Buried on page 4 of the designed-to-generate-page-views setup of Steve Elling's latest Knockdown Shots, was this  item:

News item: All precincts have reported and the toll at the polls can be tallied. A whopping 14 of the 25 Nationwide players who will receive promotions to the PGA Tour for 2008 have previously played in the major leagues. Conversely, of the 26 who navigated though Q-school to land their cards, 15 will qualify as big-league rookies.

Knockdown shot: For some reason, the tour keeps eliminating Q-school spots. This year the number of cards was pared from 30 to the low 25 and ties. Why, for heaven's sake? Players like Gainey (a former furniture mover and assembly-line worker), Yong-Eun Yang (who beat Woods in China last year), Cody Freeman (an insurance salesman) and Bob Sowards (a club pro) are interesting folks and represent the American ideal, even if Q-schoolers do often struggle to retain their cards. Note to Ponte Vedra: From a storytelling perspective, rookies trump retreads nearly every time.

I will never understand why our friends in Ponte Vedra continue to eliminate the chances for those potentially outstanding stories that make golf so unique. And not just on the PGA Tour, but also the Champions where I'd sure rather hear about a Jim Albus or Tom Wargo than some Tour player who was boring in his prime, is just as boring now and who doesn't need the money. 

"The saturation point came when it opted to serve as title sponsor for the AT&T National, the event hosted by Tiger Woods."

Stan Awtrey details AT&T's decision to opt of the Atlanta tour stop after 2008 and includes this:

The saturation point came when it opted to serve as title sponsor for the AT&T National, the event hosted by Tiger Woods.

And when the decision was made to dump a tournament, the Atlanta tournament — not the one affiliated with Woods — drew the short straw. AT&T officials notified Kaplan that it was invoking an escape clause, which allowed the corporation to withdraw upon giving a six-month notification.

It's amazing what havoc the Tour's decision to abandon the Chicago/Western July 4 date has wreaked: the demise of the International, horrible press and fan relations in Chicago that the Tour is trying to remedy, and now one less sponsor for Atlanta. I'm sure there's something else I'm forgetting.

Sweet Home Chicago**

Essentially, it appears the PGA Tour is admitting in its own special way that it made a mistake taking the Western BMW out of Chicago:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2007

       BMW CHAMPIONSHIP TO MAKE THREE-YEAR CHICAGO RUN (2009-2011)

     Crooked Stick Golf Club to host PGA TOUR Playoff event in 2012

(PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL) — The PGA TOUR, Western Golf Association (WGA) and BMW of North America today announced that the BMW Championship, the third event in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, will play three consecutive years in the Chicago area beginning in 2009.

Crooked Stick Golf Club, outside Indianapolis, originally scheduled to host the BMW Championship in 2010, will now host the event in 2012. The previously announced 2008 schedule remains unchanged as the event will be played Sept. 1-7 at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis.

The  Dubsdread  Course  at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club, located 30 miles southwest  of  Chicago and the site of the 2007 BMW Championship, is set to undergo  a  re-design by Rees Jones in 2008. The tournament is scheduled to return to Cog Hill G&CC in 2009.

BMW entered a six-year partnership agreement in June 2006 with the PGA TOUR and  the  WGA  to sponsor the third of four PGA TOUR Playoff events for the FedExCup.  Tiger Woods won the BMW Championship at Cog Hill G&CC in 2007 en route to capturing the inaugural FedExCup. Woods is a four-time champion of the BMW Championship.

“The  PGA  TOUR is delighted with the support of Crooked Stick, the WGA and BMW  for  this  schedule  change.  We believe this new sequence for the BMW Championship  will only enhance the tremendous appeal of this great event,” said  PGA  TOUR  Commissioner  Tim  Finchem.  “The BMW Championship will be exceptional  next  year  at  Bellerive  Country Club in St. Louis, and then Chicago-area  golf  fans  will  enjoy  four  straight years of watching the world's  best  players  through  three  consecutive  playings  of  the  BMW Championship followed by the 2012 Ryder Cup.”

“The  new  schedule  for  the  BMW  Championship  is  a  plus for everyone, especially  the  golf  fans  of  Chicago and Indianapolis,” said Tournament Director  John  Kaczkowski  of the Western Golf Association. “We’re looking forward to playing three consecutive years in Chicago beginning in 2009. It also makes sense to move the BMW Championship to Crooked Stick in 2012 with Chicago  set  to  host the Ryder Cup that year at Medinah Country Club. Our partnership  with  BMW  and  the PGA TOUR allows us to generate significant funds for the tournament’s sole beneficiary, the Evans Scholars Foundation, and this schedule will enhance that commitment.”

“Chicago  is a tremendous sports town, and 2007 marked an outstanding debut for  the  BMW Championship at Cog Hill,” said Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO, BMW (US) Holding Corp. “We look forward to returning to Chicago for another three  years  and  are  already  working on ways to further enhance the BMW Championship experience for fans over the coming years.”

“We’ve  been  looking  forward  to  the  arrival of the BMW Championship in Indianapolis,  but with our club already hosting the 2009 U.S. Senior Open, the  2010  date  would have presented some challenges in preparation,” said Doug  Cook, Crooked Stick Golf Club president. “With the club now scheduled to  host  the  BMW Championship in 2012, we have some breathing room to get ready.  We’re  expecting  great  support from Indiana golf fans for the BMW Championship,  and with the extra time to prepare, that support should only grow.”

Update on 2007-11-21 14:56 by Geoff

**Thanks to reader Al for Ed Sherman's Chicago Tribune story where it's even more clear that they know they goofed:

Beyond 2012, indications are that the tour intends to keep the BMW anchored in Chicago. Bob Combs, the tour's senior vice president of communications, wouldn't speculate because current television and sponsor contracts only run through 2012.

However, Combs did say, "It's clear from the tour perspective that Chicago is the home of this golf tournament. We hope this change makes clear that's the case."

Combs acknowledged public reaction played a big part in this decision. The PGA Tour received a strong backlash with the tour's original plan to rotate the BMW out of Chicago every other year.

Players, led by Tiger Woods, thought it was ludicrous for the PGA Tour to abandon the nation's third-largest market, especially because fan support always has been strong at Cog Hill.

"The public and media response was a factor," BMW Executive Director John Kaczkowski said. "This is something we wanted to address and we can. From our standpoint, the Western Golf Association is Chicago-based. This is a big victory for the golf fans in Chicago."

"Keep trying seemed to be the consensus."

Ken Klavon at the USGA blog reports on the PGA Tour's now-annual excuse to gather everyone in Ponte Vedra to try out the latest MBASpeak they've picked up in Forbes (and yes attendees, I'm still awaiting a transcript in my email box...chop, chop!).

Judging by the tone of Klavon's piece, not much progress was made in improving media access to players. Then again, PGA Tour players are pretty accessible one on one. Dealing with their agents is another story.

More interesting was the context in which Klavon put the decline of newspapers as compared to Internet numbers. Granted, I still wonder if these U.S. Open and PGATour.com page views include those automatic leaderboard refreshes, but even cutting the numbers, the are staggering.

In my humble opinion, online journalism still isn’t being fully embraced. For those of us who have made the transition from traditional media to the digital age, there is an element of credibility that has been brought along. But that wasn’t the crux of the question. It was based on the following: (and this is where I throw dazzling stats at you):

Consider that in 1990 the total U.S. newspaper circulation equated to roughly 60 million readers. Now chew on this: this year that figure is down to 40 million. Why is this significant? Because the advent of the Internet, with its slew of deliverable content platforms over the past 10 or so years, has overtaken this fossil. (And you’re talking to someone who worked in newspapers and continues to hold it dear to his heart).

Last year usopen.com gleaned 265 million page views. The year before the number came in around 112 million. The reach of the Internet seems limitless. Those figures are more than the entire newspaper circulation combined in the United States. Incredible. Yet some still are having a hard time embracing it. Hate to say it but the ship is sailing. Or has it sailed?

To get back on track, few of the panelists except for Bob Harig, a golf writer at ESPN.com, had much in the way of a solution to my question. Keep trying seemed to be the consensus.

"That (report) got some attention" **

The first reactions are in on the PGA Tour's Tuesday announcement and it's apparent there are a few questions that need to be raised.

Gary Van Sickle analyzes the changes (or lack thereof) to the FedEx Cup and notes the inclusion of marijuana and cocaine on the banned list. He also isn't too wild about the Tour's decision not to deal with FedEx Cup points.

Steve Elling asks what took so long to rejig the schedule. Of course, with not even a cosmetic change in the points structure and no decision on tweaks to the playoff points structure, you have to wonder if the particulars of a drug testing program have overwhelmed the boys in Ponte Vedra.

I find it inexplicable that the playoff points volatility was not addressed. Now, Elling points out in his piece that this will be revisited in February, as does Doug Ferguson in his recap, but a major sports organization of the Tour's caliber should not be tinkering with a playoff format midseason.

Buried late in Elling's column is this little shocker regarding the change in FedEx Cup payout and Finchem's gabfest with writers following the PGA Tour's media summit:

Finchem said governmental pressures contributed to the tour's decision to back away from giving the FedEx winner's bonus out in deferred payment. Instead, next year, the winner will receive $9 million in cash and $1 million in deferred payment. Elected representatives in Washington, D.C., are taking a long, dim look at large deferred payment plans, Finchem said.

One publication reported that if Woods won six FedExs Cup titles, he would have a $1 billion nest egg by the time he retired, based on earnings projections.

"That (report) got some attention," Finchem laughed.

Should be interesting to see if anyone pursues this angle.

I wonder if this hits at some of the complaints players like Sean Murphy have had about the deferred compensation? 

Update on 2007-11-14 17:29 by Geoff

** Looks like I'm not the only one who can't comprehend a mid-season playoff adjustment. Both Jason Sobel and Bob Harig at ESPN.com don't get it either.

Sobel, after suggesting a leaner look to the points system I hadn't seen mentioned before, writes:

February??? As in, three months from now? As in, during the season? The PAC and the Policy Board were in constant discussions about these matters -- which also, we believe, may include whether the number of players in each playoff field will remain the same -- from season's end until now, but still couldn't come up with a worthy decision.

What's the hold up? Why not work to finalize such decisions prior to Tuesday's announcement? Instead, it seems like the tour is taking a make-up-the-rules-as-we-go-along mentality. Call us old-fashioned, but we'd like to see everything in place prior to the schedule taking effect.

And Harig:

Apparently, the discussion didn't last too long, at least as it pertained to the FedEx Cup. Other than the Tour Championship move -- a no-brainer, considering all the talk this year about the heavy late-season schedule that would have asked the top players to compete for five straight weeks in 2008 -- and a change in how the bonus money will be paid, we are left with the same points-earning system and qualification for the playoffs that was largely met with indifference this year.

And that is disappointing, given the healthy amount of opinions offered by players, fans and media that the system could use some tweaking.

"The biggest complaint we heard was that the system was too complex," Finchem said. "And we just didn't share that view."

It's not that the system was complex -- players are awarded points based on their finish in a tournament, with everyone who makes the cut getting something in a similar proportion to how prize money is paid at each event -- it's the fact that the compilation of points didn't create the kind of drama tour officials envisioned throughout the year. Despite incessant hype, few paid attention to the FedEx Cup standings until after the British Open, when the playoffs drew near. And with 144 making the playoffs and only a dozen or so players truly capable of winning the whole thing, the regular season remained more about the major championships and the individual tournaments, not something greater.

Finchem did leave open the possibility of change to the playoff events, but it won't be decided until the tour's policy board meets again in February. That smacks of changing the rules in the middle of the game, but with so many players qualifying for the playoffs, changing how they operate will hardly have any effect so early in the year.

Finchem Memo On Policy Board Actions

No surprises here based on the calculated previous leaks. Just thought you might be out of Lunesta and in need of a sleep aid... 

TO:        PGA TOUR Membership
FROM:    Tim Finchem    
RE:        Policy Board Actions
DATE:    November, 13, 2007

The PGA TOUR Policy Board met on Monday, Nov. 12, and took action on several key items.

But before I share the results of the meeting, I want to take a moment to thank you for your support in helping to make the inaugural FedExCup such a great success. The FedExCup absolutely accomplished what we envisioned it would by “connecting” the season and providing a strong, compelling conclusion with our first-ever PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. It delivered significant value to our players, sponsors, television partners, and added something new and attractive to our fans.

Moreover, the four Playoff events delivered record television viewership at a time when sports fans historically have watched the start of the NCAA football season and NFL pre-season and opening games. We certainly saw a change in the tone of coverage as media and fan interest grew through the season and Playoffs, keeping the focus on our sport through mid-September, and ultimately delivering a fitting conclusion.

So again, thank you for helping to make this happen.

The Policy Board’s objective is always to provide the best possible experience for fans, tournaments, sponsors, and, of course, our membership, and to present our sport in the best possible manner. With that as our focus, the Policy Board has approved the following actions:

Policy Board Actions

1) Policy Board Structure
I am very pleased to inform you that Vic Ganzi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hearst Corporation and a member of the TOUR Policy Board since 1994, has succeeded Dick Ferris as Chairman. As you know, Dick announced in August that he would be retiring at the end of 2007. He has been a tremendous leader in his 14 years as Chairman and has helped guide the PGA TOUR to unparalleled heights as a business. We all owe Dick our appreciation for his outstanding work on our behalf.

As we announced earlier, Edward E. Whitacre, Jr., Chairman Emeritus of AT&T Inc., will be joining the Policy Board as the fourth Independent Director effective January 1. Additionally, we welcome back Brad Faxon and David Toms to the Policy Board, replacing Davis Love III and Joe Durant. This will be Brad’s third term on the Policy Board and David’s second. We also want to thank Davis and Joe for their excellent service as Player Directors.

2) 2008 Schedule
The Policy Board has approved a schedule of 48 official events that will offer $278 million in official prize money. The 2008 schedule will offer 5,672 playing opportunities for members, up from 5,585 in 2007. The 2008 schedule is attached.

As you can see, no changes were made to the first three weeks of the Playoffs. In deference to the 2008 Ryder Cup, the Policy Board has approved THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola – the fourth and final PGA TOUR Playoff event – being moved back two weeks so that it will be played immediately following the Ryder Cup in 2008. This move provides a one-week gap between the third Playoff event, the BMW Championship, and the Ryder Cup, so as not to adversely affect either the Ryder Cup or THE TOUR Championship. We felt it was important to give those members of both the U.S. and European teams who will be competing in the Playoffs the ability to prepare for the Ryder Cup while also focusing on THE TOUR Championship the following week.

As a consequence of the move, all Fall Series events will be moved back one week. This situation is unique to next year and we do not anticipate the need to alter the Playoffs schedule beyond 2008. The tentative schedules for 2009-2012 have built-in gaps between THE TOUR Championship and the corresponding team event, either The Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup.

3) Potential Changes to the FedExCup
In evaluating the first year of the FedExCup, the Policy Board did not feel the need to make fundamental changes to the overall structure of the competition. Accordingly, no changes have been made in the points distribution in the PGA TOUR Regular Season.

The Policy Board will continue to assess the point structure as it relates to the reseeding and points distribution throughout the Playoffs, in order to consider ways we might create more volatility and keep more players in contention for the FedExCup at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola.  We will be seeking more feedback from the PAC and the membership between now and making a final determination on these matters at the February meeting.

4) Tournament Cuts
The Policy Board also approved a change in the regulation pertaining to the 36-hole cut at tournaments.  Currently, the cut following the second round is to the low 70 professionals and ties.  Under the new regulation, the cut will continue to be to the low 70 professionals and ties, unless that results in a weekend field size of more than 78 players.  Under that circumstance, the cut would be made to the number closest to 70.

5) Retirement Plan/Deferred Compensation
The Board has approved a change to the distribution of the $35 million FedExCup bonus pool, whereby it no longer will be 100 percent deferred. Beginning in 2008, $16.5 million in cash will be paid to the top 10 finishers and the remaining $18.5 million will be paid on a tax-deferred basis into the Retirement Plans of the top 150 players. The maximum tax-deferred-payment amount will be $1 million to the winner of the FedExCup, who will also receive $9 million in cash, for a total first place payout of $10 million.

This decision was part of a comprehensive evaluation that was conducted in regard to the payout structure of the FedExCup. This new formula is consistent with the earning projections previously provided to our members under the Retirement Plan.  

6) PGA TOUR Anti-Doping Program
The Policy Board has approved the PGA TOUR’s Anti-Doping Program.  The TOUR’s primary objective is to have a credible program that will aggressively deter the use of any prohibited substance.  The key elements of the program include extensive player outreach and education; a comprehensive list of prohibited substances and methods; therapeutic use exemptions; a testing protocol and procedure; and guidelines governing sanctions and program administration.  A summary of each of these significant elements follows.

Player Outreach and Education
The TOUR’s Anti-Doping Program will be implemented on all three Tours, on a phased-in basis.   On the PGA TOUR, player education and outreach will begin in December 2007 and extend through June 2008, with testing beginning no sooner than July 2008.  The education phase will commence on the Nationwide Tour in mid-2008, with testing to begin in late 2008.  On the Champions Tour, education will begin in January 2009 and testing will be implemented in mid-2009.

PGA TOUR players will receive an Anti-Doping Program Manual in early December 2007.  The manual will contain significant detail about all aspects of the Program.  Additionally, players will have 24-hour-a-day confidential access to medical and program advisors who can respond to any questions relating to specific substances, medications or testing procedures.

The player education process will include weekly player education sessions at tournament sites, beginning in January at the Sony Open in Hawaii.  Medical experts will also be available on a weekly basis for one-on-one meetings with players.  You may also include family members and support staff (managers, trainers, nutritionists, physicians, etc.) in any of the educational sessions offered.  A mandatory player meeting will also be scheduled at the 2008 Buick Invitational, at which time the Program will be covered in comprehensive detail.

Prohibited Substances
As previously announced in September, the PGA TOUR and the other member organizations of the World Golf Foundation have collaborated to create a Model Prohibited Substances and Methods List.

The list includes:
•    Anabolic Agents (e.g., steroids)
•    Hormones and Related Substances (e.g., human growth hormone, testosterone, EPO)
•    Agents with Anti-Estrogenic Activity (to artificially increase testosterone level)
•    Diuretics and Other Masking Agents
•    Stimulants (e.g., Ritalin)
•    Narcotics
•    Cannabinoids
•    Beta Blockers
•    Enhancement of Oxygen Transfer (blood doping)
•    Chemical and Physical Manipulation (tampering with a sample)

The Anti-Doping Program Manuel that will be delivered to players on December 1 will contain a comprehensive list of prohibited substances that fall under the categories listed above, as well as a list of those substances that will not be prohibited under the Program.

Therapeutic Use Exemptions
The TOUR’s Anti-Doping Program includes a process for players to apply to receive a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) to use a banned substance if there is a legitimate medical need as determined by the PGA TOUR’s medical committee.

This TUE medical committee will be created and chaired by the TOUR’s anti-doping medical advisor, Tom Hospel, M.D.  Dr. Hospel is Board Certified in Sports Medicine, has served as the team physician for The Ohio State University, and shares a practice with the Medical Advisor for the NFL Anti-Doping Program.   The TUE medical committee will also include a number of other highly-regarded physicians from various medical disciplines.

Testing Protocol
As with the overall Anti-Doping Program, the PGA TOUR’s primary objective with its testing protocol is to have a credible process that will aggressively and effectively deter the use of any prohibited substance. Under the terms of the program, the TOUR has the authority to test players at any time or place.  All testing will be without prior notice. Testing done at tournament sites may be conducted both on practice/pro-am days and before or after competitive rounds. There are not a stated minimum or maximum number of times a year that an individual player may be tested.  

The TOUR is taking significant steps to ensure that the confidentiality, security and integrity of the entire process is preserved for the membership.  To implement the testing process, the TOUR has engaged the National Center for Drug Free Sport (Drug Free Sport).  Individuals employed by Drug Free Sport are specifically trained to ensure a confidential and secure testing experience for the player and the TOUR.  

Drug Free Sport will assist in the player education program in addition to conducting the actual testing.   Beyond its new relationship with the TOUR, Drug Free Sport also provides drug testing or education services for the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA and hundreds of colleges and universities.

Sanctions
Players who have been tested will be notified of the results by the PGA TOUR Program Administrator (see next section).  If it is determined that a player committed a violation of the Anti-Doping Program, the player will be notified of the violation and the sanction.  Players will have an opportunity to appeal a sanction at a hearing to be held by the Commissioner or his designee.

Under the program, the TOUR has the authority to impose a variety of sanctions, which may include: disqualification; ineligibility for up to one year for a first violation, up to five years for a second violation, and up to a lifetime ban for multiple violations; and fines up to $500,000.

In addition, for drugs of abuse (marijuana, certain narcotics, cocaine), the Commissioner will have the discretion to require treatment and rehabilitation in lieu of or in addition to other sanctions.

For any player who fails a test and is issued sanctions, the PGA TOUR will disclose that the player violated the TOUR’s Anti-Doping Program and will report the penalty.

Program Administration
The Program will be handled through the PGA TOUR’s Office of the General Counsel led by Rick Anderson, EVP and Chief Legal Officer.  Allison Keller, Assistant General Counsel—Anti-Doping, will be the Program Administrator.

The PGA TOUR has engaged outside policy and medical experts to assist in the development and implementation of the program, including player education programs and the testing process.  In developing the program, the TOUR has worked closely with Richard Young, one of the world’s foremost anti-doping experts, and the principal draftsman of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code.  Mr. Young has served on the WADA Board since 2004.

I realize this is a significant amount of information on several very important areas that impact you and your fellow members. We firmly believe that these actions will enhance the overall position of the PGA TOUR for years to come and we will continue to communicate frequently with you on these key topics.

Again, I want to thank you for all that you do as a member of the PGA TOUR and for helping to make the 2007 season such a great success. I also want to extend the Board’s appreciation for the diligent work and feedback by the PAC on the members’ behalf. Player input is a highly valued component to the overall process of making these significant decisions.

And finally, if you have any questions about this information, please do not hesitate to contact me or our management team.  


Sincerely,


Tim Finchem