PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem's first year as head of
the Tour is examined by John Hawkins of the WASHINGTON TIMES.
Hawkins reflects on the challenges Finchem faced from the
Fox/Greg Norman World Tour idea to the FTC probe. Hawkins writes
Finchem "has done a fine job steering this Good Ship Lollipop.
... Finchem is plenty sharp enough to know the Tour should be run
from the inside out. ... Television is obviously a major piece of
the puzzle, but as long as an individual sport like golf can give
birth to personalities and superstars ... the
marketing/promotions manual will write itself" (WASHINGTON TIMES,
6/1). Finchem also had a Q&A with the Associated Press. On golf
widening its fan base: "Golf is moving in the direction of being
more accessible to more people. There is more diversity to the
sport. More minorities. More women." On the impact of TV: "The
changing world of TV in the next five to 10 years is very, very
important" (AP/WASHINGTON TIMES, 6/1).
IMMIGRATION POLICY: Finchem is trying to get more foreign
players to play on the PGA Tour. Foreign players may currently
play five Tour events if eligible, but Finchem will recommend an
increase to seven exemptions for them. Finchem: "It is healthy
from the standpoint of strengthening our sponsor group, our
corporate title sponsors, our television and the rest" (Steve
Hershey, USA TODAY, 6/1).
DEFENDING THE LPGA: "Contrary to some misconceptions making
the rounds in the wake of the (Ben) Wright controversy, the LPGA
is doing just fine," writes SI's Sally Jenkins. Jenkins does
take some of the LPGA players to task for not responding during
the flap: "Surely it doesn't do the LPGA image any good when
players seem unwilling or unable to speak intelligently about a
cultural or social issue. Confronted with some of the more
profound problems in women's sports ... and given a national
forum to discuss these problems, the players reacted with all the
independent thought and spirit of the Stepford Wives" (SI, 6/5
issue).
