Since the PGA Tour and GolfWeb merged operations and
launched a "combined site" on August 31, GolfWeb has "read
more like a press release from the Tour than a journalistic
enterprise," according to Gene Menez of SI's Golf Plus.
Menez reports that the new site "prominently displays news
and real-time scoring from the PGA, Senior and Nike tours
but buries everything else. The fact that the Tour has the
last word on content is all too obvious." One recent
example was when the Tour recently changed a headline from
"Tiger Outshines Duval" to "Tiger On A Roll" because the
Tour "disliked the way the original pitted one player
against another." When Callaway dropped John Daly last
week, the site's editors "had to get permission" from PGA
Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem "to display the story
prominently," according to former GolfWeb Exec Editor Stu
Schneider, who resigned last week. Schneider: "The Tour is
running the show." But PGA Tour VP/Communications John
Morris said, "We're not attempting to manage the news."
SportsLine USA President Mark Mariani said the site's
integrity has not been compromised: "Have we been restricted
in what we do and say? No" (SI, 9/27). See (#32).
NEW VENTURE FOR THE LINKS: PGA.com has inked a multi-
tiered alliance with Golf.com, the venture of NBC Sports,
MediaOne and Total Sports. As part of the deal, PGA.com
will gain access to Total Sports' TotalCast, while Golf.com
will provide editorial content on RyderCup.com. PGA.com and
Golf.com will also share editorial content and joint
coverage of the '99 and 2000 PGA Int'l Golf Shows. During
PGA of America-related broadcasts, NBC will provide on-air
promotion of PGA.com, and Golf.com will promote PGA.com
before, during and after PGA events (Total Sports).
