PGA Tour Exec VP & Chief of Operations Andy Pazder said that the ’12 PGA Tour season “will begin with an intentional Monday finish,” with the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Maui concluding on Monday, Jan. 9, according to Sean Martin of GOLFWEEK. Pazder in an e-mail said, “The event is finishing on Monday so the final round will not conflict with the NFL Playoffs. In addition, it moves the event one additional day away from the Christmas/New Year’s Day holiday.” He added that NBC will “promote the Hyundai’s Monday finish during the NFL broadcasts.” Golf Channel will broadcast the PGA Tour event (GOLFWEEK, 6/17 issue). NBC golf analyst Mark Rolfing, whose Mark and Debi Rolfing Charitable Foundation became the tournament's non-profit host organization, said “admission is free” (GOLF WORLD, 6/20 issue).
ON THE UPSWING: In Jacksonville, Garry Smits noted The Players Championship last month “showed modest increases in attendance, corporate support, TV ratings and on-site revenue.” Tournament officials reported that “attendance was up 4 percent for the week and 25 percent for Sunday over the 2010 tournament.” Total corporate hospitality sales “increased 20 percent, on-site food and beverage purchases were up 3 percent and merchandise sales were up 4 percent” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 6/16).
