PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and Tiger Woods met
Monday in CA to discuss Woods' criticism of the Tour earlier
this month in an interview with Golf World, and, in N.Y.,
Clifton Brown calls the session "amicable," as it has
"increased the chances that their differences will be
resolved." Brown writes that it appears Woods and Finchem
are "moving closer together instead of farther apart," but
more discussions between the two will be held. For now, the
first meeting "represents a positive start, considering
Woods has also complained that he and Finchem rarely spoke"
(N.Y. TIMES, 11/30). The AP's Doug Ferguson writes that
Woods and Finchem discussed player marketing rights,
commercial use of player images and the Internet. Following
the session, Woods said that he "reassured Finchem that his
objectives have nothing to do with getting a share of the
next four-year TV contract, which will be negotiated next
year" (AP, 11/29). ESPN's Trey Wingo reported that the
joint news release yesterday from Woods and Finchem "may be
the first move in shrinking the divide that currently
separates the two largest forces in the game." Finchem: "We
had a delightful meeting. It was very positive and I think
the issues were perhaps blown out of context a little bit.
When you really get into them I think certainly [Woods']
business strategies and the strategies of the Tour are very
compatible" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 11/29). On Long Island,
Jeff Williams calls the joint release a "terse statement."
Woods, on the support he has received from "a number" of
players on the Tour: "When I made the statement there were a
lot of players who supported me, a lot more than I thought.
Some more vocal, some more quiet, came up to me and said
something to me. But it was very positive to hear that. A
lot more people than you think" (NEWSDAY, 11/30). The AP's
Ken Peters cites Woods as saying yesterday "pretty much
everything" had been resolved with Finchem, also saying the
meeting was "very positive, very upbeat." Woods: "My
relationship with Tim has definitely improved. He was very
candid, and so was I. We need a few more sit-down meetings
to hammer things out." Woods, on the "untapped areas" of the
Internet he would like to explore: "The Internet is
something we weren't even thinking about 10 years ago. I
believe there are a lot of opportunities there not only for
players, but for the tour as well" (AP, 11/30).
THE SKINNY: In L.A., Karen Crouse writes, "After four
years as a professional, Woods' image no longer is in need
of airbrushing. He speaks like a C.E.O. and carries a mean
driver. ... He is arguably the most famous athlete on the
planet. ... Now if he could just convince a cynical public
that he's not already the greediest." Woods' decision to
"stir the pot (of gold) in public was an improvisational
detour from the script, perhaps, but it was not an impulsive
act." Woods: "I felt that by doing it the way I did it, I
would get everybody's attention just a little bit more. And
I think it did. ... When I first made the statements, it did
polarize people because most people didn't understand what I
had said. A lot of people believed I was asking for the
revenue from the TV contract. That was never the case. I
just want to get some of my rights and some of my
independence, as far as some creative things I would like to
happen in the future" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/30).
COLD WATER OVER TOUR TALK: Woods joked yesterday that
he will start his own tour: "The Antarctica Tour." Tiger's
father, Earl, was present at the meeting, but did not "shed
any light on the discussion." Earl Woods: "I haven't had a
chance to talk to Tiger about it" (L.A. TIMES, 11/30).
TIGER CAM: NBC Sports said that Woods will use its "Eye
of the Tiger" cam, worn on the bill of his cap, for taped
segments only during this weekend's Williams World
Challenge. The taped segments were filmed yesterday and
will be placed into the weekend's live coverage. NBC Sports
VP/Communications Kevin Sullivan disputed a Newsday report
that Woods refused to wear the camera during live play after
trying it out yesterday. Sullivan said, "Word actually came
back Monday from Woods' representatives that Tiger would
only wear the camera for taped segments." But Sullivan
added that Woods "liked the idea" and concept of the camera
(THE DAILY). NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay writes that the idea of
the camera is "to allow viewers to watch Woods' stance, grip
and swing from his perspective" (NEWSDAY, 11/30).
