PGA Tour Members Quiet On Talk of Forming Players Association

It has been several months since PGA Tour members who "expressed frustration over not having enough of a voice in PGA Tour politics" brought up the idea of forming a players association, and "little has been heard, of late, regarding the proposed movement," according to Bob Verdi of GOLF WORLD. One golfer said, "Whenever we start complaining about something, they throw more money at us, and everybody goes back to hitting balls on the practice range." Verdi notes golfers "seem at peace with purses and perks," but they "no doubt are wowed by the release of 2008 payroll figures in [MLB] which list 434 players who will make at least $1[M] this season." Tour members could not form a union because they are independent contractors, but they could hire a representative "to bang his fist when issues arise ... regarding policy." However, if players "decide to appoint an ombudsperson, they will have to pay for the privilege." Verdi: "Perhaps golfers wouldn't think twice about signing him up for a heavy six-digit fee, but seeing is believing." A Tour member said, "Never gonna happen. Look at all our guys who turn back courtesy cars on empty. They won't even pay for gas. They're gonna pay a lawyer?" (GOLF WORLD, 4/11 issue).