"The PGA Tour needs the players a lot more than the players need the PGA Tour."

Jason Sobel on the accelerated globilization of golf with this week's news:

It remains to be seen what kind of foresight and creativity can be employed to keep more top players competing in the U.S. more often. One thing is certain: This is a critical juncture for the PGA Tour and without a proper plan in place, its power could be severely weakened by those players who wish to ply their craft elsewhere around the world.

How Does The FedExCup Return In 2013?

The PGA Tour's next television contract negotiation will occur in 2011 and with the recent defections of Europeans Westwood and McIlroy citing the FedExCup as the final straw in opting to remain loyal to the European Tour it would seem that the FedExCup foundations are crumbling.

Since many writers have touted the Cup as a success because it brings top players together at a time they wouldn't otherwise play, this latest episode of non-commitment to the tour from Euros would seem to deflate that argument. Throw in the absurd points system, the branding as a playoff with almost no authentic playoff characteristics, and general apathy from fans, and the tour would seem to have no choice but to be radically rethink the cup in every respect.

Thoughts?

"The team’s mantra is ‘212 Degrees,’ the temperature at which water boils."

Sean Martin, filing a must read for the college-golf-coaches-have-too-much-time-and-money-at-their-disposal files, tells us that UCLA now sports numbers on their uniforms and bags to give the players a sense of "ownership." The coach also has a number.

Freeman is No. 212. Why? The team’s mantra is ‘212 Degrees,’ the temperature at which water boils. Since water cannot boil at 211 degrees, the implication is that one degree – the degree that pushes water to its boiling point – makes a huge difference. It’s an effort to push players to put in that small incremental increase in effort that makes a huge difference.]

Way too cerebrial for me!

"His head doesn't bother me as much as his pants."

Thanks to reader Thomas for this Photoshop Disasters post of John Daly snowboarding with a golf club in hand and loud pants to match. The comments are great fun. If they only knew our John is that flexible.

"The problem is the US Tour is just too rigid in terms of making you play 15 but with long-term suspensions if you don't."

I am fascinated by agent Johan Elliott's comments in suggesting Martin Kaymer will not take on a PGA Tour membership next year.

"Martin will follow Lee Westwood and not take out US Tour membership next year," said Elliott. "He just feels that joining the US Tour would be too much work and give him no freedom in his schedule. You have to play your 15 events and with everything else that he wants to play that would mean playing 30 tournaments."

Okay, first of all, if he plays four majors and four WGC's, he's more than halfway there. But anyway...this is what got my attention.

"The problem is the US Tour is just too rigid in terms of making you play 15 but with long-term suspensions if you don't."

Long-term suspensions?

"We definitely want to set the record straight."

Mark Hayes reminds us that this week's Australian Masters host Victoria, which looks sensational and is ready to go, was home to a green speed debacle the last time it hosted in '02.

As the famous Cheltenham Sandbelt club puts the finishing touches on preparations for next week's Masters, Victoria general manager Peter Stackpole said it was the perfect time to exorcise the demons of the 2002 Australian Open debacle.

The Australian Golf Union's push to quicken the course's greens backfired when they became too crusty and unplayable midway through the first round.

After a player revolt, the round was cancelled in a major embarrassment for Australian golf. While the club was not to blame, Stackpole said the Masters was redemption time.

"In 50 years' time, history will look back on that and make its judgment," he said.

"All we can do is make sure that the 2010 Masters is looked on favourably.

"We definitely want to set the record straight."

Westwood Affirms #1 Ranking With Runner-Up Finish

Jason Sobel on the HSBC results and Westwood solidifying his spot at the top:

For now, though, all accolades and celebration should be heaped upon Westwood, who emerged from his first week atop the world ranking by putting greater distance between himself and the competition. That he failed to triumph at the HSBC should only serve as a symbol for his career: He might not always be good enough to win, but he is indeed good enough to be the best.

Sure, it sounds like a bizarre conundrum, but in a week that began with the world's best players brandishing swords in one another's company, bizarre might very well now be the norm anyway.

The SI guys weren't so kind.

Morfit: It is a bit odd that Westwood is winning so infrequently. On the other hand, he's played golf pretty infrequently, so maybe finishing second this week isn't so bad. I'm a lot more worried about a few other players who got a lot of publicity coming into the week.

Shipnuck: I'm way past the point of getting excited about Lee Westwood racking up another lucrative top-5 finish. To paraphrase "Glengarry Glen Ross," he needs to put down the coffee. Coffee is for closers.

Hack: Second place, a set of steak knives.

Shipnuck: Third place, you're fired. That means you, Luke Donald.

Rolfing Has Even More Reason To Rave About All Things Hawaii

Ann Miller reports on announcer Mark Rolfing's charity becoming the beneficiary of the renamed Hyundai Tournament of Champions. It pays to go fishing with the Commissioner!

Note how Miller puts the current PGA Tour buzzwords in quotes. Underpin! New energy! Energize!

Now SBS will "underpin" the tournament through 2019, according to the tour. That will include hospitality and other on-site activities. The Mark and Debi Rolfing Charitable Foundation became the non-profit host organization, required by the tour, in August.

Back then Rolfing, an NBC golf analyst from Kapalua, characterized his involvement as a "last-gasp" effort to keep the tournament in Hawaii. Hyundai's sponsorship gives the event room to breathe.

Rolfing's vision is to bring "new energy" to the tournament, which he considers vital for its future. Starting in 2011, there will be no admission charge -- a first for the PGA Tour. Rolfing plans to turn the TOC into a weeklong event that will attract people from the whole state and "energize" the world about the start of the golf season.

There will be a Hawaii Junior Golf Festival the Sunday before the tournament and three days of special events similar to baseball's all-star week, with a long-drive contest and pros interacting with amateurs, juniors and celebrities. The night before the tour tees off (Jan. 5), Golf Channel will have a 2-hour prime-time special from the first tee.

"I felt if we could create energy for the tournament by doing different things it would make it more attractive to a new sponsor and, lo and behold, it did," Rolfing said. "I don't think anybody imagined we'd get a new sponsor two months out, but this is going to continue because the new sponsor basically bought into the concept."

And don't you know we'll hear all about from Rolfing during the telecast.