Deutsche Bank NOT Out As Boston Sponsor?

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A statement from the bank...

Any report that Deutsche Bank has stepped aside as title sponsor of the Deutsche Bank Championship is false.  As announced during Media Day, Deutsche Bank is in discussions to exercise its two-year extension option for the title sponsorship.  Talks are ongoing, but we are optimistic we will reach an agreement and expect to make an announcement this week.  We deeply appreciate the tremendous support from our Founders Club partners, the players, and most of all the fans of New England for making the Deutsche Bank Championship a New England Labor Day tradition. We look forward to another fantastic event this week, and in the years to come.

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

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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" couldn't recharge his iphone or use a hotel wake up call service.
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Every Gets Three Month Suspension For Misdemeanor

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I wasn't joking when I said the mug shot was probably greater than the crime, but come on, three months for a little brush with Mary Jane? Alex Miceli reports on Matt Every's PGA Tour suspension for conduct unbecoming, and this:

The suspension will provide Every, who is 144th on the money list with $438,517, only one chance to retain his Tour card. Every will be eligible for the last event of the Fall Series, the the Nov. 11-14 Children’s Miracle Network Classic.

It's a good thing conduct unbecoming is not extended to players who violate the Rules of Golf! Especially two different ways on one hole!

Free Admission To A Major!

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Granted, it's one of the fourteen senior majors, but I like the creative use of different sponsors each day to supplement the revenue lost. If carried out properly, it would seem to be an innovative way to bring recognition to secondary event sponsors instead of the tacked-on feel of a "presenting sponsor" in addition to the main sponsor of an event, no?
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"I think the big X factor these days is desire."

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I'm most intrigued by Jaime Diaz's point in this roundtable exchange.

Tim Rosaforte, Senior Writer, Golf Digest and Golf World: We're going to see more of the Oosthuizens and McDowells as long as Tiger is in this holding pattern. If you know enough about global golf, these victories shouldn't be surprising. If you're a general sports fan, you rightfully say, "Who are these guys?" My wife couldn't watch the British Open and she loves watching majors on TV. She's a tennis fan and I said, "It's kind of like one of the grand slam events without Federer and Nadal. She came back saying she'd take the golf equivalent of a Djokovic.

Diaz: I think the big X factor these days is desire. Because so many players make such a comfortable living in today's game, it takes a special person to keep pushing like the old guys -- who weren't getting rich unless they were winning -- did.

Bestrom: There's the best point so far. Too many also-rans are making millions. During a Golf Digest meeting yesterday, I heard that Matt Kuchar and Jeff Overton are having GREAT years. Great? Since when is ZERO wins and a few top-10 finishes great?

Could this explain the theme of one-time major winners (other than Tiger, Phil and Padraig)?

"PGA TOUR is not the place for learning. That's essentially it. You've got to have your game when you're out here."

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Interesting stuff from Padraig Harrington today about the success of non-Americans in the U.S. this year. At least that's where he started, but then he moved into some things I've never heard a player suggest about the advantages of starting on the European Tour.
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