Greenbrier Classic Extended To 2021

For Immediate Release, a pretty amazing commitment from such a new event that had so many question marks going in. And doing it all without a major corporate sponsor.

The Greenbrier Classic Extends PGA TOUR Agreement by Six Years

Added to current contract, third-year tournament now secured through 2021

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The PGA TOUR and The Greenbrier announced today that they have signed a six-year extension that carries The Greenbrier Classic agreement through 2021.

By extending the original six-year contract, which runs through 2015, The Greenbrier Classic now becomes the longest tournament commitment on the PGA TOUR. It also extends through the length of the TOUR’s television agreements with CBS, NBC and Golf Channel. The Greenbrier Classic, which begins Thursday at The Greenbrier’s The Old White TPC Course, is televised by Golf Channel through the first two rounds and by CBS during the weekend.

“The first three years of our contract with the PGA TOUR have been a thrilling ride,” said Jim Justice, Chairman and Owner of The Greenbrier. “The TOUR is a fantastic partner and we’re so proud and excited to announce that The Greenbrier Classic will remain a bright light on the landscape of the PGA TOUR and continue to give our fans heart-pounding tournament action for years to come. The entire state of West Virginia and the region as a whole have embraced the tournament from the very beginning. Without the passion and support of our local and regional communities The Greenbrier Classic could not have grown so quickly into one of the premiere events on TOUR.”

A West Virginian who was born and raised near The Greenbrier, Justice wanted to bring a PGA TOUR tournament to The Greenbrier from the time he purchased the resort in May 2009, believing a top-tier tournament would help restore The Greenbrier’s reputation as a five-star resort.

In just its second year, The Greenbrier Classic received several awards from the PGA TOUR at last year’s Annual PGA TOUR Tournament Meeting in December, including the coveted Best in Class among all tournaments.

“Jim Justice has shown genuine passion and commitment to not only host a PGA TOUR event, but to build one into a premier stop on the PGA TOUR,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “Through his dedicated efforts, Jim has managed to achieve his goal in just two years, as evidenced by last year’s Best in Class Award. He has turned The Greenbrier Classic into a true celebratory event during Fourth of July week. We’re obviously thrilled that Jim had a desire to move forward and extend beyond his original commitment after just three years.”

"The PGA Tour’s expanding schedule might shrink one invaluable opportunity for its members."

Scott Michaux makes a strong case for the PGA Tour's new calendar year schedule putting the folks at Augusta National in an awkward position, reminding us how much Chairman Billy Payne appreciates the win-and-you're-in status of PGA Tour events. They have time to decide whether to invite all PGA Tour event winners into the Masters, but it's hard to see the Masters going to split tees to accommodate the new-look schedule.

Parliament Hounding One Of Tournament Golf's Most Visible CEO's

Bob Diamond, Barclays CEO, is under increasing heat a day after his British bank agreed to pay more than $450 million to settle accusations that it attempted to manipulate interest rates.

The good news? This year's Scottish Open is no longer a Barclays-sponsored event. Barclays remains sponsor of a PGA Tour playoff and Phil Mickelson.

Mark Scott reports.

Finchem: Sponsors Wanted To See "A closer relationship" Between PGA Tour And Nationwide Tour

At least the Commish was honest about the reason for the convoluted, as-yet-determined PGA Tour playoff system that will replace Q-School in 2013. It was a business decision. I would have been worried if he thought this was a better way to graduate players or to sift through the 126-and-beyond players to form the strongest possible tour each year.

The transcript of Wednesday's Web.com announcement is here, if you have a few hours to read through the introductory remarks of Brown and Finchem.

The central question was asked about the new PGA Tour qualifying process, and out of it we learn that it sounds like Web.com came along only recently. And more impressively, the honest answer that this new fall finish/playoff for livelihoods was driven by the sponsors and is not necessarily what is best for feeding players to the PGA Tour. At least the Commish admitted the sponsors drove him to this.

TIM FINCHEM: I agree. I don't have much to add to that. We were way down the road before these discussions began. I think because of the things that David said, though, that going forward the way the structure will be starting next year is more of an integration with the PGA TOUR, which is kind of what prior sponsors of this TOUR have always talked about. They'd like to see a closer relationship. David saw that given the restructure, and it's something that'll be part of where this TOUR is now.

But these negotiations had little to do with the direction of the restructure. This has been going on for 16 months.

Worse, check out the options for the new PGA Tour-Web.com season ending playoff at this point, as outlined by Doug Ferguson in his story today.

In one model, the top 15 players from the Web.com Tour would start the three-tournament series with whatever money they earned that year. It would be enough money to guarantee their cards. Everyone else would start from scratch, meaning 35 cards would be up for grabs.

Make $800k on the PGA Tour playing against Tiger and Rory, and start from scratch against guys who were playing against weaker fields. Yes, that makes sense.

In the second model, the top 25 players from the Web.com Tour would be guaranteed their cards. They would join the others in the three-tournament series, with everyone starting from scratch, so only 25 cards would be at stake. The only thing the top 25 players from the Web.com Tour could lose, even if they missed every cut, would be their priority ranking for getting into tournaments.

Oh fans can really wrap their arms around that one!

Let's face it, we'll never figure this one out. And that's just the way the algorithm writers like it. Unfortunately, sports fans don't like their competitions decided by beancounters.

Steve DiMeglio includes some eye-opening comments from Web.com CEO David Brown about his business.

"But we believe that mass adoption of the internet by small businesses is happening now, so now we think it's time to strike. We looked through all the different opportunities, and we felt that the PGA Tour was the best opportunity not only to create a voice in the marketplace but to create a positive voice. That professionalism, that integrity, that dedication that is associated with PGA Tour, that's what we are, as well. And we want that to rub off on us as we build our brand in the marketplace."

I'm sorry, is it 2005 again?

And the video:

Wittenberg Passes On PGA Tour Spot And Wins On Nationwide Tour

Ryan Ballengee explains the terrific move by Casey Wittenberg to pass on the Travelers Championship, even though he was guranteed a spot based on this T-10 at the U.S. Open. He instead stuck to the Nationwide Tour where he is playing in hopes of earning a PGA Tour card and won this weekend's Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open by two.

Earning $108,000 for the win, Wittenberg jumped from 10th to second on the Nationwide Tour money list, all but ensuring a return to the PGA Tour in 2013. The top 25 players on the Nationwide Tour money list earn full PGA Tour status.

I wonder if a player will do that in 2013 when the Nationwide money list may not mean as much, all because of the atrocious playoff system that looms?  Assuming they ever figure it out.

Former PGA Tour Sponsor Gets 110 Years Without Parole

Clifford Krauss on a "defiant" Allen Stanford getting sentenced to prison for a Ponzi scheme that cost several professional golfers savings.

A defiant Mr. Stanford, in a rambling statement to the court before the sentencing, intermittently fought back tears and shuffled papers, and said, “I’m not up here to ask for sympathy or forgiveness. I’m up here to tell you from my heart I didn’t run a Ponzi scheme.”

He blamed the government for the collapse of his businesses and asserted that “we could have paid off every depositor and still have substantial assets remaining.”

In response, federal prosecutor, William J. Stellmach, called Mr. Stanford’s version of events “obscene.”

Casey Martin Successfully Sued The PGA Tour, But You Wouldn't Know That If You Read PGATour.com

I suppose it is wise for PGATour.com to edit out references to the darkest days of Commissioner Tim Finchem's tenure. After all, Commissioner Aladeen, who appealed all the way to the Supreme Court but who won't endorse penalty shots for slow play, might realize he once made a truly awful, career-defining executive decision. 

But gosh it's fun to read the red-lined version of the AP story.

Here are two separate paragraphs from the PGATour.com version:

Martin, who won the right to ride a cart because of a rare circulatory disorder in his right leg, earned a spot in the U.S. Open on Monday night when he holed a 5-foot par putt in darkness on the final hole at Emerald Valley Golf Club.


Martin earned his way onto the PGA TOUR in 1999. He failed to keep his TOUR card after one year, and eventually became the golf coach at Oregon.

And how the story appeared on the wires, with underline added to highlight the dreaded truth cut from the PGATour.com copy:

Martin, who successfully sued for the right to ride a cart because of a rare circulatory disorder in his right leg, earned a spot in the U.S. Open on Monday night when he holed a 5-foot par putt in darkness on the final hole at Emerald Valley Golf Club.


Martin earned his way onto the PGA Tour in 1999 and eventually won his lawsuit to ride a cart. He failed to keep his PGA Tour card after one year, and eventually became the golf coach at Oregon.

Beem On Euros: "They want to win any tournament, but they really want to win the big ones."

John Huggan profiles Rich Beem, who has a lot to say about life on the European Tour (playing off his major championship win exemption) compared with the PGA Tour. This was interesting:

“In the US we sometimes lose sight of what is important. There’s a lot of ‘flash’ over there right now. Wins are what really count though. And major wins count even more. Ask anyone how many events Jack Nicklaus won and not many will know. Ask how many majors he has and almost everyone knows. I would hope that the young kids on the PGA Tour think that way too, because it’s very evident to me that their counterparts over here think of nothing else. They want to win any tournament, but they really want to win the big ones.”