Golf Question of the Week: Will “One in Four” Help PGA TOUR Weather Economic Storm?
Though the headline speaks to the broader economic climate more than the state of the PGA TOUR itself, the TOUR's relative health hasn't stopped Commissioner Tim Finchem from taking pre-emptive measures now to secure his circuit's prosperous future.
GolfChannel.com Senior Writer Rex Hoggard tells us that despite the TOUR's continued success, the broader financial instability gripping the U.S. has Finchem imploring the rank and file to get ahead of the curve and "start selling the TOUR product now." That process might someday include asking TOUR members to agree to a "one-in-four" rule, which would require every member to play every event at least once every four years.
Such a rule would give the TOUR better bargaining leverage in negotiations with corporate partners. Consider the thoughts of Ted Purdy, a member of the TOUR's Players Advisory Council:
"We need Tiger (Woods) and we need Phil (Mickelson) and the big names. The sponsors need them, because they are putting up the big bucks. It would be great for the Tour. Any sponsor who is entering into a three or four year deal with the Tour, he knows he's going to get Tiger at least once. It would help negotiations in the future."
Hoggard thinks placing such a burden on the TOUR's top players isn't necessarily the best way to go. While I agree it may not be fair to players like Woods and Mickelson, who've earned the right to pick and choose the tournaments they play in each year, perception is reality in the eyes of the masses. And perhaps no professional athlete today is more careful in cultivating his own public image than Woods.
So while I don't think Tiger would embrace a "one-in-four" rule if it ever gained enough traction to be put to a vote, I don't think he'd embrace any chance of being seen as a villain in the process of acting in the TOUR's best interests, either.
Is "one-in-four" the best way for the TOUR to help itself in uncertain times? Tell us what you think.
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