The FedEx Cup Picture...

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fedexcuplogo.jpg...is finally getting murkier by the day. Why finally? Because we've known since the announcement. But now that writers and players are facing its arrival, questions are being asked, scenarios contemplated and the word "playoffs" scrutinized.

Doug Ferguson reports that players are already talking about changing it because of the silly idea of 144 players qualifying for a playoff, especially when only 125 theoretically get to come back the next year.

Meanwhile in the USA Today, Jerry Potter analyzes how the point system will work and includes this quote from the PGA Tour's Ric Clarson:

"We've run hundreds of computer models," Clarson says, "and no player came from lower than 13th seed to win the Cup. If you're not in the top 15 going into the playoff, your chances of winning aren't great."

But Commissioner Tim Finchem has contradicted with his Yankees analogy several times, including Wednesday's press conference at East Lake:

But the only question I've gotten is the seeding. If a player plays at an exceedingly high level and he basically has to start over again, is that fair? Actually they're not starting over again. They have a bit of an edge because the seeding -- it's kind of like home field advantage maybe in team sports.

But my reaction to that, in every conversation and my reaction back has been the same. If the New York Yankees win 315 games and they win 20 more games than everybody else, they still start over. That's what the playoffs are all about. And in every single conversation the reaction back is, Yeah, I get that. That makes sense to me.

What the players have asked for, Let's make it as much as possible like a real playoff. That's what we've tried to do, and I think there's real enthusiasm. We're just going to have to see how it plays out in '07. I, for one, am pretty confident it's going to be spectacular.

So we've got one guy saying only 15 have a chance to win, the other saying that the elite merely have a slight edge going in, but by and large, it's a virtual free market setting once the four weeks of playoff golf commence.  

Okay, so here's the problem. The system that rewards the top point-getters going into the playoffs also emphasizes playing more often. Great.  Except, come playoff time, it locks in top players to positions that will make it hard for anyone outside of a small group to win, making the playoffs less likely to produce wild point swings or Cinderella stories.

An alternative system would not emphasize "seeding" and therefore create no extra incentive to play more often during the season. But that system would leave things wide open going into the "playoffs." Great for an exciting finish, but bad for making stars play more often during the course of the year.

Ultimately, they are going to have to decide what is more important. A system that rewards those who play more often and play well, or a system that sets things up for an exciting finish. I'd go with the latter of the two, since the stars have proven that they will only play where they want to play.

"I mean, I think that if -- if the reaction were flat, it's not a negative. I mean, I don't think there's a hurtful thing."

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...That's the Commissioner talking about the FedEx Cup, which was the focus of his "State of the PGA Tour" gathering with the media.

Commissioner, take it away...

First of all, we had a great season during the course of the year. This concludes the official money portion of the season. Certainly Tiger had another great individual performance and has a string going.

Has a string going? Yeah, and this week he looks to, oh wait...well, the string gets going in January at the Mercedes...maybe.

After reviewing the PGA and Nationwide Tours, he had this to say about the Valiant Competitor's Tour:

The Champions Tour also had a good year. We had a great finish between Jay Haas and Loren Roberts for the Schwab Cup. Charity dollars will exceed $10 million for the third straight year, and we had new winners and veteran members performing well.

I think the important thing about the Champions Tour is that the transition that began in 2000 when Watson, Wadkins, and Kite came over is now almost complete.

Yes from popular tour to moribund.

We said, I think in '01 or '02, that by 2007 you would see just a fundamental redo of the leaderboards on the Champions Tour, and that's certainly come to pass when you consider Jay Haas and Curtis Strange and Larry Nelson, Chip Beck, the players that have come out in the last five or years six.

Curtis Strange? He's been on leaderboard?

Talking television...

We now are at over 200 countries. Our television passes 450 million homes outside of the United States. The focus of interest in Asia and South America to go along with the historical focus in Australia, South Africa, Japan. And Europe is astounding, really, in terms of the interest level in PGA TOUR golf.

Astounding? Uh, European correspondents, could you please track down some numbers so that we can understand what constitutes astounding interest level?

Okay here goes with the FedEx Cup stuff...you've been warned.

Let me start first with the season-long competition, the FedEx Cup. This is a major shift for the PGA TOUR. It is designed to really do three things: One, increase the importance of every week on the PGA TOUR, and as a consequence we think improve the quality of fields on average as we go through the season;

Now, if 144 guys make it, why will guys play more during the year?

secondly, create our version of the playoffs. Like most other sports, playoffs are the most dynamic portion of the season, and we want to take advantage of the opportunity to create some playoffs that we think will drive fan interest, television interest, and carry our audience somewhat further into the year.

Yes, great, but in those other playoffs, they play, and people who lose, go off the eligible list. As far as I can tell, no one is eliminated in the PGA Tour playoffs until the Tour Championship field is set. I'm quibbling again, I know, I know.

Now get the ma$$age oil out...

We want to thank FedEx. I think it was a year ago today that we announced our partnership with FedEx. We said at that time that not only are they a global brand, but they are incredibly skilled marketers. All the work that's gone on since that announcement confirms, certainly in my mind, that we picked the right partner. We have some people who are dedicated to making this a very special thing in golf as we enter what we now call the New Era.

Who's we? Why isn't that NEW ERA?

Now, about the clubhouse at the, gulp, "Players Stadium" course of Ponte Vedra...

We tore down the old clubhouse and rebuilt a new clubhouse. It's on kind of a different schedule. It's on schedule, that's the good news. The bad news is, as I've said over and over, that the schedule has an opening about two hours before the first tee time of The PLAYERS. It's a little tight to the tournament, but we think we'll get it done. It's just spectacular, and it's going to be a great addition to the quality and texture of The PLAYERS.

There's that texture stuff again. Notice THE PLAYERS is now The PLAYERS. Subtle branding touch.

Oh and on the subject of spectacular, wait until you see the locker room where the commissioner has his own shower protected by eye recognition security so only he can use it. Just kidding.

The third thing I'll mention is television. We had NBC officials here today, and we're going into a new environment. Again, another change for us with a two-network partnership as opposed to three, and a single-platform carrier for all of our early rounds with the Golf Channel. CBS and NBC, we think, are ideal partners for this arrangement.

There were 5 platform mentions in all, a new record I believe.

It's a very different direction for us. I might just pause here.

Oh, time for ten seconds of silence on behalf of our lost platform partners at ABC who we liked even though they introduced humor to their telecasts over the last couple of years...

This is the last official money event that we're doing with ABC, ESPN, and comment that they've been a great partner for us for a good number of years. We are indebted to them for the energy they put into this partnership.

And for all of the millions they lost too, thanks.

I would also point out, however, that they're still our partner. We have an ongoing relationship with ESPN. The world has changed.

When did ESPN buy the world? 

There are a lot of different distribution vehicles for media and telecasting messages, and we are partnering with ESPN and utilizing some of those avenues, but our tournament coverage will be with CBS and NBC, and totally from a cable standpoint on The Golf Channel. While we thank ABC and ESPN, we look forward to this new environment.

Partnering with ESPN? Anyone know what he's talking about?

I'm sure the scribblers will ask...eh no, they asked about the FedEx Cup and little else...

Q. Is it fair to say this is the biggest change in Tour history? Maybe, I guess, the all-exempt Tour, but I don't know that most people knew what that meant. Is there an element of risk with this at all? Do you think that you will be judged by how this thing comes off? I guess that's three questions.

COMMISSIONER TIM FINCHEM: I don't think it's unfair to suggest that it's the biggest change certainly in the modern era from a competitive structure standpoint. If it doesn't come off -- we've talked about that. I don't see any downside. I mean, I think that if -- if the reaction were flat, it's not a negative. I mean, I don't think there's a hurtful thing. But as I say, we feel very strongly that there are going to be a lot of positives.

If the reaction were flat, it's not a negative. Well, unless you are FedEx and your brand is tied to something perceived as flat, confusing and a get-rich scheme for a few already rich players.

Q. You said just in the first question that it would create more of a connection with fans and it would add more value to the sponsors. Do you see that the connection with fans of the PGA TOUR is waning? And do you also see that the value for the sponsors is waning if this is why you created that?

COMMISSIONER TIM FINCHEM: I don't see it waning. Three years ago at our 20/20 conference we had a company called DYG come in, and actually they came in again this week to make a presentation. But they did a presentation on society today and time constraints.

Without boring you with all the details,

You could never bore us...

the sad fundamental bottom line is that getting people in today's world to do anything, watch something on television, certainly get up, get in a car, go to a tournament, is more challenging than it was 30 or 40 years ago just because there are so many options.

They even pointed out that in today's world, psychiatrists -- you used to go and spend an hour on the couch. Now you do it for 15 minutes and pay for 15 minutes.

Of course, the Commissioner knows nothing about that psychiatrist stuff. It's just what the DYG people tell him about shrinks. 

That's just the way the world is. When USA Today came along, it was all about snippets of news 25 years ago, and that's the recognition.

Oh okay.

So you're fighting for fans' time, interest, and attention. All the sports are doing that and all entertainment vehicles are doing that, and we have to -- if we're going to stay even, we have to work harder, and hopefully this initiative is going to help us move up. That's what we're hoping to do.

Tiger, close your eyes, this is where you get criticized lightly scolded.

Q. You've mentioned players like to go head to head against the best players -- and talked about a lot of other things -- but this week the big story so far is that neither Tiger nor Phil chose to play here for various reasons. We wonder what you think of that? Can your new system keep that from happening again?

COMMISSIONER TIM FINCHEM: Well, I'm against it (laughter). I'm disappointed, candidly. There's no other way to characterize it. I'm disappointed.

Phil was not a surprise to me.

He's a shlub and I've accepted him as nothing less.

Now that I know the details of Tiger's thing from last week,

...whoa, what? His thing last week? What's this in reference to? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

I understand how he came to his conclusion. It doesn't make me less disappointed, but I understand how he got there. And I recognize that there were -- I recognize, A, there were some unique circumstances this year that changed his schedule dramatically, and I recognize that he's had a good, solid run of commitment to this tournament.

Back to the TV platforms...we finally get an answer why they are on The Golf Channel for 15 years!

The other piece is getting the attention of the viewers. Now, the magic there we think is the consistency of the platform on Thursday and Friday all year long, and the fan base -- right now over the years you had to look for us -- where are you on Thursday? Where are you on Friday?

My father watches The Golf Channel about 60 hours a week. He's 87.

So that's who is watching the Big Break! 

When he can't find something on The Golf Channel, he needs help. We're on The Golf Channel every Thursday and Friday, every Thursday and Friday night replay. That's a great platform. Once that kicks in with our fan base, it's a marvelously strong lead-in to our weekend program.

We will see how marvelously soon, won't we? 

Different Takes On Star Absences

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From Jeff Rude's Golfweek.com column defending Tiger...

The opinionated Arron Oberholser, a TC newcomer, joined some press pundits in impaling America's two big shots for their absence. "I think the biggest players have a responsibility to the Tour to play in these," said perhaps the only young Republican from San Francisco. "Tiger might not want to hear that and Phil might not want to hear that, but they don't write my paycheck, so I don't care. I think it's about having a responsibility to your place in the game."

And from Geoff Ogilvy...

"The Tour is so good because of people like Tiger and Phil, so you can't say that Tiger and Phil are hurting the Tour by not (playing here)," the Australian said. "Where would the Tour be without Tiger and Phil? We'd be playing for $2.5 million a week, we'd have 20 tournaments, not one would be watching it on TV. We'd be back where we were 15 years ago.

Live at 3 EST...

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Is there any other time zone? Of course not. Anyhow, Commissioner Tim Finchem's "state of the PGA Tour" news conference will be webcast live at 3 today.

I, unfortunately fell asleep just thinking about it, so I'll be reading the transcript later.

Early prediction on big, fancy, law/MBA degree words used by the Commish: 3 platforms, 1 contextualize, 2 brands and what the hell, I'm going with 1 coterminous. 

Oh and scribblers lucky enough to attend in person, don't forget to consider asking these questions. 

Elling On Champions Changes

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Steve Elling makes a decent case for the elimination of Champions Q-school exemptions and the introduction of expanded Monday qualifiers:

Sure, it sounds like a return to the frenetic and controversial "rabbit" qualifiers staged on the PGA Tour before it went to the current all-exempt format. But for the publicity-starved Champions, it should generate regional interest well before the 54-hole tournaments begin on Friday.

"There's no doubt it should generate some early buzz, because you'll have some recognizable names in those Monday and Tuesday qualifiers," George said.

Plus some names that are synonymous with anonymous, so to speak, which is the most interesting part of the changes from a purity standpoint. Senior tour history is rich with unheralded success stories guys such as the journeymen who struck gold at 50, Dana Quigley and Bruce Fleisher. Not to mention Mark Johnson, the aforementioned beer-truck man who didn't turn pro until his mid-40s.

For years, the Champions played it safe, striking a delicate balance. To wit, would its older fan demographic rather watch aging warhorses such as Chi Chi Rodriguez and reminisce about the good old days, or watch lesser-known players who actually have a chance of contending? An increasing problem is that graybeards such as Palmer and Jack Nicklaus don't play much anymore, and younger 50-somethings such as Tom Watson and Greg Norman play abbreviated schedules.

With the Champions Tour's television ratings falling behind those of the LPGA, something needed to change. Since many of the marquee drawing cards aren't playing regularly, why not open the doors for some new blood? Will title sponsors balk?

"In theory, there are some real positives to it," George said. "But it's a big change."

"She should not be put through that torture again"

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Thanks to reader DGS for sending this Mark Garrod story which I had glanced at and missed when it appeared a few days ago. I think George O'Grady might want to better choose his words when describing the whether Michelle Wie should be given future sponsor's exemptions:

"All our players back completely the invitation, but they actually share a concern for her that she should not be put through that torture again."

Yes, the torture of fulfilling an obligation to sponsors. It can be rough. 

Public Gets Reprieve As TPC Valencia Goes Private

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Jill Painter reports the public golfer no longer can enjoy the power lines, concrete wave bunker and tract housing views at TPC Valencia:
The decision to change its status was made in September.

"It was just to primarily focus on the membership and to accommodate their needs and keep the golf course in excellent condition," said Hillary Ames, the director of membership.

The club, which is in the gated Westridge community, will expand the Oaks Grille restaurant and its patio area as well.

Cost of the average membership is $40,000, which is a refundable deposit if the member leaves, according to Ames. They are not equity memberships, meaning members don't own a part of the club.

Since the TPC already was a semi-private club, it had between 300-330 members.

"People are asking us if we're dropping our name, but we're not. We still have networking privileges with the (other) TPC courses," Ames said.

No Overtime For Rules Officials

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In writing about the Tour rules officials losing a court decision on overtime pay, AP's Doug Ferguson says:

U.S. PGA Tour rules officials have been working without a contract since 2003, and they suffered a setback last week in Jacksonville, Florida when a federal jury ruled in favour of the tour over whether the rules officials should be paid overtime.

Rules officials are often at the course at dawn and leave two hours after the completion of play, although they don't work every week. The tour argued the rules officials are administrative employees and exempt from overtime pay.

"The PGA Tour is gratified that the court system confirmed that our long-standing classification of the rules officials was appropriate," the tour said in a statement.

You know, considering how much the Tour is wasting on executive pay and how horrible pace of play is, I think the officials really have no alternative but to start dishing out 2-shot penalties to speed the day up.

They'll be doing everyone a favor.

The Heritage Campaign Has Arrived

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Somehow, I don't see the kids posting these on YouTube and watching them over and over again...

PGA TOUR DEBUTS “HERITAGE” CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE INAUGURAL FEDEXCUP SEASON DURING THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA, NOV. 2-5

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – This week the PGA TOUR will unveil the first two television spots in a year-long campaign to promote the inaugural FedExCup competition, which launches in January and concludes in September 2007. The campaign is the largest and most integrated in the TOUR’s history and will be supported by television, print, radio and
online promotion throughout the year.

Created by the PGA TOUR and its advertising agency, GSD&M of Austin, Texas, the television spots will roll out in three phases and can be seen during network and cable golf telecasts during the rest of 2006 and in additional sports programming, including professional football. Print ads, also breaking this week, will run in national consumer, sports and golf publications this fall.

The first phase, titled “Heritage,” celebrates golf's storied tradition, while looking ahead to the exciting major changes happening with the sport. “Heritage” comprises :30 and :60 versions of two spots called Evolution and Who Will Be First?

EVOLUTION – is a trip through time with golf’s all-time greats, as they progressed from the early years to modern day. The spot takes viewers through one golf hole with drives from legends like Ben Hogan and Walter Hagen, approach shots from the heroes of the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s like Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Greg Norman, and putts by today’s biggest names including Ernie Els and Tiger Woods.
Do we get to see how they've moved the tees back 70 yards on the hole in question? Sorry...
WHO WILL BE FIRST? – takes a look at some of the famous “firsts” in golf and teases the fact that winning the FedExCup will be an important part of the sport’s history. The spot features footage of Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson.
So glad Phil's in there. He's such a supporter of end-of-season tournament play.
“We're ushering in a new era in the history of the PGA TOUR with the inaugural FedExCup, so we're approaching our 2007 campaign in a completely different way,” said Ric Clarson, PGA TOUR SVP, Brand Marketing & Retail Licensing. “It's important that we spend time educating our fans about the season-long points competition and first-ever Playoffs, and how these major changes will lead to more drama, meaning and excitement for everyone.”

Uh huh. 

The Scorecard Readers

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Thanks to reader Ken for this release on Callaway reaching out to an older demographic that clearly has too much disposable income.

Callaway Golf Eyewear, a licensee of Callaway Golf (NYSE: ELY), is pleased to announce the introduction of the Callaway Golf Eyewear Scorecard Readers. This patented collection of rimless reading glasses feature unique spring-hinged, stainless steel temples, black frames, and fold easily into either a fliptop case or standard clamshell case.

Today baby boomers are realizing that their vision isn't the same as it was when they were younger. As a result, the need for reading glasses is on a steady increase. There are more than 76 million baby boomers--those born between the years of 1946 and 1964. In addition to baby boomers, people getting LASIK Surgery to correct their farsighted vision - Myopia - still need to wear reading glasses for their nearsighted vision - Presbyopia, all resulting in a need for a more fashionable high-end reading glass. "People don't want to buy the drug store reading glasses that their grand parents wear". "They are looking for something more hip, more fashionable," said Marcel Schiro, VP Sales and Marketing of Callaway Golf Eyewear. No more carrying that big bulky pair of reading glasses for the past 18 holes writing in your score on your scorecard. The patented, Callaway Golf Eyewear Scorecard Reader, folds conveniently into a case—smaller than your average cell phone.

The Music Ranking Has Arrived...

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musickennyg.jpgI know you've been wondering if Marty Roe is finally going to get the recognition he deserves. Well it seems so!

Check out Golf Digest's latest list, their top 100 musicians, or at least, people who play instruments and golf. That doesn't guarantee you've heard of them.

However they did okay by putting Lloyd Cole on there at #11. Especially since he just loves rankings of all kinds. And he's only ten spots behind the Coltrane of my generation, Kenny G.  That's Steve Coltrane of Macon's very own Lou E. Armstrong Band.

Questions For The Commissioner

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image_4607670.jpgWednesday of Tour Championship week means it's time for Tim Finchem's annual "state of the PGA Tour" press conference. This is where he says how wonderful things are, even when the two stars that he looked to for FedEx Cup have passed on four rounds at boring East Lake and the Coca-Cola people are really, really grouchy.

As usual, I'd like to offer a few questions for the lucky scribblers working this week. And naturally, your questions posted in the comments section are welcome too. I suspect they'll be better than mine. Anyhow, here goes:

  • Commissioner, do you consider PGA Tour players to be role models even though it now regularly takes them 5 hours to finish a weekday round? (I like to warm him up with something benign.)
  • As a follow up, do you foresee any initiatives that would improve pace of play, which is undermining fan enjoyment of the sport (and scaring off the 18-34 y.o.'s!).
  • Was your recent $28 million contract extension endorsed and voted on by the player portion of the PGA Tour policy board?
  • At the 2003 Tour Championship you talked about the ShotLink initiative and its usefulness for USGA distance analysis. The USGA has issued an initial report to manufacturers suggesting that U-grooves are de-skilling the game at the highest level. Does the Tour share a concern that U-grooves are dramatically changing the game?
  • In 2003 you told the Palm Beach Post that "there is some point -- nobody knows where it is -- when the amateur player feels divorced and really doesn't appreciate the game at this level, just because it's so different that it doesn't become particularly relevan. The second thing is, if everybody is driving every par 4, it's not particularly interesting to watch."  

    Does the PGA Tour do market research that asks fans if they feel divorced from the professional game? And if so, what kind of feedback have you gotten?
  • There were reports last week that the PAC boards were presented with the concept of an elimination process in the FedEx Cup "playoffs" so that they are like, you know, like real playoffs.  Is this in reaction to the lukewarm reception that the FedEx Cup has received?
  • And with apologies to Colbert...Mark Foley. Great Congressman from Florida who you are glad you never gave money to like Greg Norman did, or, the greatest Congressman from Florida who you are glad you never gave money to like Greg Norman did?

Okay, that's enough.