PGA of America CEO On Samsung Deal: "This will be a game changer for us."

I tried to translate the jargon in the press release on Samsung and the PGA of America signing a three-year "multi-platform agreement. On about the fourth platform mention, I gave up and emailed PGA of America CEO Pete Bevacqua in hopes that he might translate.

Not surprisingly, his response was much more helpful. And as longtime readers know, I've been a huge fan of past USGA, AmEx and PGA of America efforts to beef up the fan experience through CourseCast TV's. While I'm not sure this deal is going in the handheld TV direction, it does sound like the world's largest consumer electronics company is going to deliver some fun stuff at PGA of America events and on telecasts.

"This will be a game changer for us," Bevacqua said from the Consumer Electronics Show, where the deal was announced. "We want to be at the forefront of the use of technology in the game to make it more enjoyable on site for our spectators and off site for our viewers."

Bevacqua says smartphones and tablets will be part of redefining the spectator experience and Samsung's 84 and 105 inch monitors will be in heavy use on-site.  

"[Spectators] will be able to follow all the action from any spectator area and we're already working with Samsung and Turner--who partners with us in PGA.com--to develop apps and other uses of technology in that pursuit," he said. "We'll also use second screen and muti-screen technology to add to the viewing experience.  So when you're watching the PGA Championship on CBS or the Ryder Cup on NBC you can augment your viewing experience by drilling down on data and other information." 

Ultimately, Bevacqua says the Samsung deal aims to make viewing better by arming fans with technology "that delivered everything in terms of data and information that is pertinent.

"Golf has tended to reject technology...we will embrace it with open arms."

Actually, golf has embraced club and ball technology, but has rejected progress when it comes to the kind of compelling innovation that will be necessary to hold the modern fan's attention.

Three big issues have to be resolved and maybe Samsung can do it.

• Enough bandwidth to actually be able to pull up stuff on your smartphone or a tablet. The CourseCast TV's relied on other signals

• Screens with less glare so you can actually read or watch a highlight of a hole-in-one while you're sitting in the grandstand of another hole.

• Battery life that lets you listen to a telecast or interact with your device while not dying by 10:45 am.

Let's face it, golf spectating is not easy and something has to be done to spice things up. Hopefully this is the beginning of a new era.

Internationals Love PGA Going Abroad; Yanks Not So Much?

When we reached 500 votes, 75% had endorsed a once or twice a decade PGA Championship played abroad, while 25% said no.

An east coast reader who was having trouble sleeping after airing a grievance earlier in the day, noticed that in the early polling that would likely be comprised mostly of international readers, the numbers were even stronger. And then the east coast of America woke up, followed by the west coast, where the PGA hasn't been since 1998.

From that reader noting the shift, though it never was profound enough for the PGA to do anything but continue to strongly consider this. All times ET:

About 4a, first look it was 81 percent yes.

845a: 133 yes, 40 no (77-23 percent)

958a: 181 yes, 62 no (74-26 percent)

1141a: 232 yes, 85 no (73-27 percent)

In the comments division, the pro-America contingent spoke up. However, I didn't see many arguments beyond the xenophobic "America is in the title of the PGA" as a sound reason to keep the PGA locked in place.

Funny, and here as an American I think sharing the championship with other parts of the world when the schedule allows, would only solidify the PGA's place as a major and the PGA Professional as an important figure in the game.