PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, "the man with the soft
CEO demeanor who governs a normally laid-back sport, has turned
tough guy and is playing hardball." Finchem said the PGA Tour
will suspend players who choose to play events, without
permission, on the newly created World Tour (Glenn Sheely,
ATLANTA CONSITUTION, 11/30). Finchem: "If a new tour becomes a
reality in 1995 or thereafter, our members will have to decide
whether they want to continue to play on the PGA Tour or play on
a new tour. This is not dissimilar from the decisions [pro]
athletes in other sports were forced to make when competing
leagues were formed." Finchem laid out some points that need to
be considered when forming more int'l events: The size of the
field, eligibility, purse breakdown/money guarantees, event
selection, charity and governance. Finchem: "I would invite all
PGA Tour members, including Greg Norman, and all other
individuals and organizations involved in the world of golf to
work together to consider a series of international competitions
which could meet the above criteria" (PGA Tour).
ON THE FTC PROBE: Finchem also addressed the current FTC
investigation of the PGA Tour: "We believe the FTC staff's
position is not well-founded. These rules (a) have been
responsible for tremendous growth in professional golf output in
this country (whether measured by number of professional golfers,
number of competitive tournament opportunities, amount of golf on
television or prize money); (b) have provided in excess of $250
million in charitable contributions over the years; and (c) form
the basis for the structure of the sport of golf that is superior
to the structure of any other professional sport" (PGA Tour).
Finchem said the FTC process could take 4-5 years, and it is
possible the PGA Tour will ask for some intervention from
Congress (WASHINGTON POST, 11/30).
