Why Won't The PGA Tour Pay For Full Time Telecast Monitors?

As we put a wrap on 2013, it's impossible not to think back to all of the rules controversies that made things fascinating and slightly awkward at times.

So consider the following anecdotes and you tell me if the PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem is earning his millions.

• The PGA Tour's biggest star was considered "cavalier" with the rules in 2013 and there is no sign that the governing bodies plan to change the rules in any serious way to prevent phone-in rules aficionados from calling in possible violations.
• The unionized PGA Tour rules staff worked for months without a contract, and even then, will have to work 15 years to receive the same pay and benefits package of a second-year PGA Tour agronomist. The difference between the two jobs? One is union-connected, one is not.
• The PGA Tour employs hundreds of people, including someone to monitor the networks (standing in the truck!), ShotLink experts to help the telecasts and plenty of other unknown by vital folks to helping the tour look as good as possible on television. Yet when it comes to the rules issue that is so obviously remedied by a full-time staffer monitoring things? No way Jose!
• Because of YouTube, DVR's and golf websites, players seen in a possible infraction will continue to be noticed no matter what rules are changed by the governing bodies to reduce the impact of outside agencies phoning in violations.

Yet Commissioner Bottom Line has steadfastly refused to hire a few additional rules staffers to monitor all of the PGA Tour telecasts. This is a man who gladly pays Vice Presidents CEO money and gets the Willies just thinking of any potential controversy that might taint the vaunted "brand." Yet he apparently despises union workers so much that he's willing set aside his primary predilections and put the sanctity of his product at the mercy of more phoned-in rules violations in 2014.

Thankfully, the drumbeat continues as very intelligent people are calling on the PGA Tour to expand its rules staff to include a full-time telecast monitor who saves players from penalty and embarrassment in the HD era. Considering what HD television is doing to make golf more compelling to watch, this is a small price to pay for the PGA Tour flush with cash.

Jack Ross in a special to ESPN.com, notes the reluctance by the USGA and R&A to add more pages to the Decisions book for what is essentially a PGA Tour financial decision.

So far, the USGA and R&A do not seem inclined to place restrictions on input from television viewers. The ruling bodies of golf have long maintained that, since most golf competition is not supervised by rules officials, the vigilance of players, caddies and spectators is necessary to maintain the integrity of the competition and protect the field. In fact, the reliance on input from spectators is well embedded in the Rules of Golf. Rules decisions say that testimony of spectators and television footage must be evaluated in resolving rules issues.

Former USGA Executive Director David Fay in the January Golf Digest lays out all of the particulars from 2013, the past attempts at telecast monitors (pre-HD and pre-DVR), and explains why it's time for the PGA Tour to have a full-time monitor.

And Fay, Feinstein and yours truly discussed this very topic on the season finale of Grey Goose 19th Hole.

Senator Coburn Continues Assault On PGA Tour Practices

John Strege reports that Oklahoma Republican Senator Tom Coburn has released his annual "Wastebook" of 100 examples highlighting 100 examples of wasteful and low priority spending.

Following ESPN's Outside the Lines report, Coburn has a newfound love for the PGA Tour's practices.

"Despite generating over $900 million in revenue, the PGA Tour classifies itself exempt from federal income taxes on earnings," it states on page 71 of the 177-page report. "Eliminating the ability for the PGA to claim tax-exempt status could result in nearly $10 million in increases [in] federal revenue annually. Taxpayers should not be asked to subsidize sports organizations already benefiting widely from willing fans and turning a profit, while claiming to be non-profit organizations."

Most interesting this time around is how Coburn's report focuses on the PGA Tour's retirement package, laying out the backstory as to how the program developed and why he views it as a scam of sorts.

Digging taxpayers further into the golf subsidy sand trap, in 2004 Congress created yet another tax loophole for golfing superstars, who bring home millions of dollars in tournament winnings every year.

With passage of the 2004 American Jobs Creation Act, Congress granted the PGA an exemption for its unique deferred compensation structure, which allows a portion of player winnings to be put into a tax-free account based on their performance. The 2004 American Jobs Creation Act limited the use of certain types of compensation packages used to avoid taxes, but exempted the professional golfers receiving compensation packages from the PGA, further reducing their immediate tax liability.

The full cost of these handouts to the professional golfing industry are unknown because of the clever and cryptic nature of the tax loopholes. Yet, it is clear taxpayers lose more than $10 million every year, likely more, subsidizing some of the highest paid athletes in the world.

Even (Presumed) Murderers Love A PGA Tour Superstore

The AJC's Marcus K. Garner and Alexis Stevens report that murder suspect Benson Kyle Lloyd was captured while enjoying himself on a PGA Tour Superstore simulator in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Thanks to reader Rob for this:

Benson Kyle Lloyd, of Jasper, was arrested Wednesday without incident while teeing off inside the PGA Tour Superstore on George Busbee Parkway in Kennesaw, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Jay Baker said.

“He was caught by surprise,” he said. “I think he thought it was the last place investigators would think to look for him. I don’t think he had any idea investigators knew where he was until they put their hands on him.”

Lloyd, 28, was wanted in connection with the murder of 47-year-old Christopher Pierce, the man found dead Sunday at his Misty Hollow Way home.

Another Sponsor Re-ups: Sony In Hawaii Though '18

Another impressive re-signing by the PGA Tour, inking Sony to sponsorship of the Honolulu stop through 2018 even though there have been rumors for some time that Sony was lukewarm about continuing on. Instead, they have locked in to Hawaii for another four years.

For Immediate Release:

PGA TOUR and Sony Corporation Extends Sponsorship of Sony Open in Hawaii through 2018

4-year extension will bring Sony’s commitment to 20th year with PGA TOUR tournament

HONOLULU, Hawaii (November 20, 2013) – Sony Corporation, the PGA TOUR and tournament host organization Friends of Hawaii Charities today announced a four-year title sponsorship renewal of the Sony Open in Hawaii. The new agreement takes effect following the 2014 tournament at Waialae Country Club and extends Sony’s commitment through 2018, the 20th anniversary of its sponsorship.

“Sony Corporation has been a fixture with the tournament since first becoming involved in 1999, making it one of our longest continuous tournament sponsors on TOUR,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “In addition to supporting the charitable initiatives of the Friends of Hawaii, Sony has actively showcased its new products and technology at the tournament, uniquely adding to the fan experience. We are delighted that Sony will continue these efforts through this new four-year commitment.”

The 2014 Sony Open in Hawaii will be held January 9-12 and will be televised on Golf Channel from 2 p.m.-5:30 p.m. local time (7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. ET) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. (7 p.m.-10 p.m. ET) on Sunday.

Sony is among the five longest-running tournament sponsors on the PGA TOUR. The tournament, which has always been held at Waialae Country Club, dates back to 1965. Since its inception, the Sony Open in Hawaii has generated more than $13 million for local charities.

“The extension of Sony Corporation’s sponsorship of the Sony Open in Hawaii is exciting for Hawaii’s not-for-profit and tourism sectors, as well as the many community constituencies that receive benefit,” said Corbett Kalama, President, Friends of Hawaii Charities. “The blessing of financial resources to Hawaii charities is once again doubled by a tandem commitment from Sony Open charity partner, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc.

“Additionally, valuable support from the State of Hawaii and Hawaii Tourism Authority leverages hours of Sony Open live television coverage,” Kalama continued. “This Sony Open showcase of our beautiful island home reaches a massive global audience each January, providing valuable top-of-mind promotional benefit for Hawaii's tourism industry. Together, these valuable partnerships enable Friends of Hawaii Charities to distribute $1 million to Hawaii-based, not-for-profit grant recipient projects.”

The defending champion is Russell Henley, who won in his first tournament as a member of the PGA TOUR.