November 23, 2010

Why Couldn't Designated Tournaments Opt-Out?

November 23, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

I heard from another couple of tour insiders who insist that Tiger and Phil were NOT to blame for the demise of the designated tournament concept, but instead, it was a select few events fearful of the branding issues that came with such a designation.

November 23, 2010

Kaymer Passes On PGA Tour Membership, With A Twist

November 23, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

He is going to play a few more times in the U.S., so hardly the slap that it will may be portrayed as. Alistair Tait reports.

November 23, 2010

"It's time to accept that the sport is in a much better place than it was 10 years ago, but it's not the next great sport that's going to give the NFL, NBA or Major League Baseball a run for its money in terms of nationwide relevance."

November 23, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

That's Darren Rovell writing for CNBC about...NASCAR and its second straight year with a big ratings decline and the dreadful 10-race chase inspiring no one.

November 22, 2010

Louis Oosthuizen To Surface On The PGA Tour!

November 22, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

The Oxford shirt set must be dancing in the Ponte Vedra hallways over this news.

November 22, 2010

“With Lee No. 1 in the world, that’s something we’ve got to talk to advertising about."

November 22, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

Michael Smith talks to Ron Rogowski of UPS and they are "pleasantly surprised" to have the world No. 1 and FedExCup holdout under contract. And there was this about UPS on the PGA Tour.

November 21, 2010

Cell Phones Allowed: PGA Tour Hopes To Make Fans Less Disconnected

November 21, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

Golf Channel's Steve Sands is reporting a change in the PGA Tour cell phone policy for 2011. The GolfChannel.com item notes it this way:

November 18, 2010

Who Killed Designated Tournaments?

November 18, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

Not surprisingly, the reviews are in and they aren't pretty: no one can figure how a simple, common sense proposal to help struggling PGA Tour stops attract a few more top players died after no significant opposition.

November 17, 2010

"The so-called sure thing was first downgraded to a long shot, then was scratched from the race entirely." **

November 17, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

Steve Elling talks to several folks who are disappointed with the PGA Tour's abandonment of the designated tournament policy that had been in the works, including a tournament director who was not afraid of becoming designated.

November 16, 2010

XM/Sirius Ending PGA Tour Radio Deal?

November 16, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

Steve Elling offers up several items of note in his Up and Down column but this one is the most depressing about the solid PGA Tour Radio Network and rumor that XM/Sirius likely will not be renewing:

November 15, 2010

WGC Match Play Final Going To 18?

November 15, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

I was taken aback by the policy board appearing likely to veto the designated tournaments, as reported by Sean Martin. So I went back to read it and I still can't fathom how such an intelligent policy change designed to help struggling events was nixed.

November 14, 2010

“It’s been passed, but I think we’re going to backtrack on it."

November 14, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

It's not often that Tim Finchem shepards an initiative through his policy board and they reject it, but Sean Martin reports that the PGA Tour's "designated event" policy designed to help out some struggling events by mandating occasional appearances is about to die on arrival.

November 12, 2010

Viking Classic To Become Opposite Event On FedExCup Schedule

November 12, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

I really don't see how it's an upgrade to go from the fall to a spot opposite the Open Championship or WGC Bridgestone. But whatever makes Viking happy and supplying ovens at cost to the PGA Tour VP army...

November 10, 2010

"Damned right it's the land of opportunity."

November 10, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

Steve Elling with some interesting math on the number of playing opportunities as the tour wraps up it's final official event this week in Orlando.

November 10, 2010

Say It Ain't So: Poulter Says He May Have To Pick A Tour

November 10, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

Frankly, I don't know if the PGA Tour could survive if the fashionista, Orlando resident and master Tweeter were to devote himself to Europe.

"Hopefully it won't get more difficult as I will have to make a decision myself," said Poulter ahead of his Singapore Open title defence this week.

November 09, 2010

"We are in the process of sending a note to Rory and his management."

November 09, 2010/ Geoff Shackelford

Steve Elling checks with the tour about Rory McIlroy's decision to not take his membership for 2011 and finds that Rory's plan of still playing 11 or 12 events is, well, not within the rules.