| World Golf Events [message #1025492] |
Mon, 08 May 2006 10:40 |
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Here is the main thrust of an article on World Golf that appeared
recently in an Australian publication.
There is no doubt that PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem, has
hi-jacked the "World" events for the benefit of his tour.
When Greg Norman first proposed setting up an organization of the
various tours to organize and schedule prestigious world events at
wide ranging venues, it was Finchem and his PGA Tour supporters who
called Greg a traitor and totally undermined the proposal. Later
Finchem himself, after doing much homework on organization,
sponsorship etc., came up with proposals for the world events which
have since taken place. Largely because the Americans on the PGA Tour
will not travel outside the US (except for a number who travel to the
Open Championship each year and odd ones to other specific events), we
now find that all the world events are to be held in the US this year.
It must be said that Tiger Woods has been the exception, traveling to
most of the world events that have been held, wherever they have been
in the globe.
It can be argued that it is difficult for US Tour players to tour
abroad with the requirement to play a minimum number of Tour events
(15 from memory), and to earn sufficient to keep their qualification
for a place on the Tour. However, those concerned in the world events
would be the cream, and the PGA Tour has made all of them very wealthy
people. Surely a small sacrifice to promote golf around the world
while having the opportunity to make even more money, is not asking
much.
What to do? Somehow the representatives from the other tours on the
world tour organization must develop the clout to overpower Tim
Fincham and his clique, and allocate world events to other tours on
some sort of roster basis, including the US. Surely there would be no
difficulty finding top courses, sponsorship money etc in Europe, in
Asia (especially China), the Middle East or Japan. Australasia/Africa
may not be as easy, but not impossible.
How to achieve this? Perhaps a groundswell of prominent golf writers
from around the world placing articles in major golf magazines would
cause people of influence to act. It would be worth a try. It's
simply not on to have the Americans cornering everything!
No one expects Americans to do other than endorse Finchem amd his
clique, but it surely leaves a very sour taste internationally believe
me.
Daisy
Carthage demands an explanation for this insolence!
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