As Casey Martin vs. the PGA Tour resumes today in
Oregon, golf's major governing bodies are "siding with the
PGA Tour's decision to ban carts" during tournament play,
according to Marcia Chambers of the N.Y. TIMES. The Tour,
"in an effort to show that [it] is not alone in its
beliefs," issued depositions to various golf groups last
month. The opinions expressed in those depositions -- from
the LPGA, the PGA of America, Augusta National, and the
PGA's European, South African and Australasian Tours --
"came to light" yesterday, and support the Tour's position.
USGA President Judy Bell and PGA Tour Commissioner Tim
Finchem are "expected" to testify today (N.Y. TIMES, 2/10).
REAX: In Seattle, Steve Kelley called the Martin suit
the PGA Tour's "saddest hour" (SEATTLE TIMES. 2/9). In
Dallas, Randy Galloway: "Finchem and the PGA Tour cannot
win" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/10). In Ft. Worth, Jim Reeves:
"The PGA is simply going to have to set up parameters, deal
with [carts] on a case-by-case basis and take its chances"
(Ft. Worth STAR TELEGRAM, 2/10). In Toronto, Mary Ormsby:
"The denial golfers are in is insane. ... This PGA [PR]
disaster could have been avoided if one rule exception had
been made for one exceptional man" (TORONTO STAR, 2/10).
