In Phoenix, John Davis noted the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa “signed a one-year agreement to host” the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup on March 18-20, but LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan said that the tour “is determined to continue playing tournaments in Arizona on an annual basis.” Whan: "We really want to be in Phoenix full time, and I know we've got more than a couple title sponsors interested in staging an event. What we didn't want to do is announce a three- or four-year deal and have it get in the way of other potential events with new sponsors. The Founders we feel is a movable event, but this will be a great starting point. We might be able to stay here, but my hope is that we will showcase this tournament next month and that will hatch another tournament” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/9).
CALENDAR CHANGE: In London, Jeremy Wilson noted the European Club Association has outlined its “opposition to players competing" in both soccer's Euro 2012 and the London Olympics next year. The ECA “expressed its dissatisfaction” at the way FIFA has “unilaterally increased the international football calendar.” The ECA “tabled a proposal on Tuesday that there should be a limit of one international tournament per player per year.” That would mean “players having to choose next year between representing England at the European Championships and playing for a Great Britain team at the London Olympics” (London TELEGRAPH, 2/9).
MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL: IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard yesterday said that the series’ race at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan “didn’t work for either party, and that’s why the annual event won’t be held after this year.” The final race is Sept. 18. Bernard: “To us, it didn’t fit in that time of year. Here we are gaining momentum for the championship and we have this race at 2 in the morning. It would make more sense if you had a big TV following in Japan” (INDYSTAR.com, 2/9).
JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY: PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem indicated that he would “like to see more common sense used in enforcing penalties for rules infractions phoned in,” but on Tuesday said halting fans’ input completely is “not an option.” Finchem: “We like the fact that people call in. We like the fact people who watch the telecasts get excited about something they see. We don’t want to turn those people off. We want to accept the information and deal with it” (AP, 2/8).
