When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
Alan Shipnuck's tweets of the First Tee Special Boosters exhibition match, where Fred Couples was replaced at the last minute by Nick Watney, can be read here.
While Shipnuck was clearly holding back to prevent one of Tim Finchem's henchmen from marching him to a watery Pacific Ocean grave, there are some photos showing how sweet Cypress Point is looking.
Alan Shipnuck braved the Ryder Cup gala dinner and was pleasantly surprised by Justin Timberlake's hosting effort and the overall decency of the evening.
The best look was definitely Dustin Johnson’s faux-hawk, if you don’t count the perpetual bedhead of Jason Dufner and Brandt Snedeker. The wives were free to pick their own gowns and they looked stunning. Bonus points to Kim (Mrs. Zach) Johnson for rocking blue satin while very pregnant. I would strongly encourage male readers to Google pictures of Amanda (Mrs. Jason) Dufner, Diane (Mrs. Luke) Donald, and Amanda Caulder, Dustin Johnson’s special friend. Jason Dufner looks increasingly like Alfred E. Newman; I tweeted from the red carpet about him being "overmarried" and before the night was out he replied, "Why would u ever under marry...DUH!!!"
This was also a fun image...
The players were then sequestered backstage and I returned to my seat to catch the musical stylings of Chicago, the classic rock group comprised of guys who are as leathery as Amy Mickelson’s dress. The set went on for an excruciatingly long time, but everyone else seemed to love it. I even peeped PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem boogeying in his seat, lip-synching a few lyrics. Which explains a lot, I think.
Golf.com has a 31 page gallery from the red carpet, including a shot of what Shipnuck called the hardest working button in golf: the one on Darren Clarke's dinner jacket.
John Maginnes pitches the softballs, as he should when the Commish is signing his paycheck.
However, listening to this 18-minute interview with Tim Finchem on Sirius/XM, I was doing my best Mike Francesa-nodding-off-impersonation-while-listening, then had similar wild eye/wake-up moment (which Francesa swears was not what you think it was), all as Finchem started in on the fan's love of the ResetCup:
There's a lot of different stories, things turn quickly. You know, in the early days of the cup, you know there was concern about it being too complicated and this and that. But actually, people like that. Fans want to see different things going on, they want to be challenged to keep up with the permutations. And, in today's world, 65% of our fans are sitting around watching on television, the ones that are watching on television are also following it online, so they've got another matrix of data coming at them.
You know those wild and crazy fans, they love their matrixes of data! Reminds them of work.
And uh the fans…the players are totally into it now, the fans have been into it since day one.
Day one! They have, and they've shown their love by tuning in with massive, record ratings for golf...well, the ratings are always the last thing to kick in, the scientists report.
Each year with a little history, as it gains a little stature, both the players and the fans are more into it. But yes, to answer your question, it's gotten to this point quicker than I assumed.
The Commish then declared that forthcoming calendar year schedule--you know, the one where they play PGA Tour golf about 50 weeks a year and everyone involved with the PGA Tour is a burnout by 2015--will be even better.
Next year is even better, because next year we stop the season and start a few weeks later. So everything is coming to an end. The ballots next year, the ballots will go out for player of the year right after the FedExCup is handed out, the next morning players will be asked to say who is the player of the year on the heels of the FedExCup being awarded. The money title, which is represented by the Arnold Palmer award, will be identified at the end of the FedExCup. Everything's coming to a head. For the first time we'll have a real season when, a few weeks later, everything will start, it builds up for almost a full year, then you have another conclusion. So even thigh this is going to be really going, it going to be even better next year.
It's interesting that everyone involved thinks year-round competition makes for a "real" season. What are all these other silly professional sports doing with their off-seasons and their vacations? The morons!
The interview:
Golf World's Tim Rosaforte breaks the hearts of all the Commissioner wannabes in Ponte Vedra by revealing the worst kept secret in golf: Seth Waugh might be available to be the next Commish and would be welcomed with open arms by a lot of people.
Waugh could ultimately replace Tim Finchem as PGA Tour commissioner. Their friendship was apparent the previous night at a pro-am draw party, where a four-year extension of Deutsche Bank's sponsorship was announced, along with the company's seven-figure investment as a First Tee Trustee.
Well let's not stretch it there Rosie, these two did have a nice flare up two years ago when Commissioner Empathy-free kicked in that purse increase clause on a bank that really wasn't in a position to be putting up even more money.
The Waugh-Finchem dynamic is unique in that Waugh has a way of playfully teasing Finchem in public and getting a smile out of the commissioner, as he did twice during the pro-am draw party. As for potentially replacing Finchem, there is no timetable. Waugh will not discuss it at length, both out of respect for Finchem and his decision to focus the next few years on Clancy. In actuality, the timing could be perfect. Finchem's latest contract expires in 2016, which means should Waugh be considered for, and want the job, at age 58 he'd be ready for the challenge.
"The commissioner thing is an uncomfortable thing to bring up," Waugh said. "Tim likes his job, right?
Yes, but at 65 he is staying on past the same retirement age that he's invoked on many loyal servants now spending more time with their families. Anyway, go on Seth...
Lots of folks have asked me about it, a lot of people behind the scenes are talking about it. Let's see how it all plays out."
I'd say that's a big yes!
Tim Finchem issued a statement and PGATour.com posted it with the AP story along with an Awkward Family Photos-worthy shot of Commissioner Uncomfortable and Condi.
"The PGA TOUR commends Augusta National Golf Club on the news that it has invited Condolezza Rice and Darla Moore to become its first women members. At a time when women represent one of the fastest growing segments in both playing and following the game of golf, this sends a positive and inclusive message for our sport."
**I've obtained an exclusive image of Tim Finchem hearing the news today.
Oh the comedy of listening to Tim Finchem answer questions about the PGA Tour's double standard on for-profit country club discrimination. Namely, Augusta National's refusal to admit women is okay because they are too important, but those other measely tour events at courses that discriminated against African Americans? Eh...
PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said Wednesday the Masters is "too important" for the tour to take it off its official schedule, even though Augusta National has never had a female member in its 80-year history.
"We have concluded a number of times now — and we have certainly not moved off of this — that we are not going to give up the Masters as a tournament on our tour," Finchem said. "It's too important. And so at the end of the day, the membership of that club have to determine their membership. They are not doing anything illegal."
Finchem spoke at a news conference that featured The First Tee announcing a new corporate partner. The First Tee tries to attract kids of diverse backgrounds to golf.
Steve Elling summed up the irony/hypocrisy/absurdity of Finchem's stance Wednesday.
“We concluded -- we have concluded a number of times now and we have certainly not moved off of this -- that we are not going to give up the Masters as a tournament on our tour,” Finchem said Wednesday. “It's too important.”
Speaking at his annual press confab at the Players Championship, Finchem moments later welcomed two men of African-American descent to the dais to discuss the national First Tee program, which was founded in 1997 to bolster -- get this -- the number of minorities in the game.
Oh, the levels of irony, huh?
I'm pretty sure any dreams the Commish had of a cabinet appointment in the next administration (Obama or Romney!) went out the window with today's comments. Well, there's always PV for you, Commish!
Here is the full question and answer from the transcript:
Q. With Augusta National's all‑male membership again an issue at this year's Masters, how does the PGA TOUR view its discriminatory policy?
COMMISSIONER FINCHEM: Well, I think the position of the PGA TOUR hasn't changed. We have a policy that says that when we go out and do a co‑sanctioned event, we are going to play it at a club that is as open to women members, open to minority members, etc., and we follow that policy carefully.
In the case of the Masters, we concluded‑‑ we have concluded a number of times now, and we have certainly not moved off of this; that we are not going to give up the Masters as a tournament on our tour. It's too important. And so at the end of the day, the membership of that club have to determine their membership. They are not doing anything illegal.
But we just elect to continue to recognize them as an official money event on the PGA TOUR because we think it's that important to golf, so we don't get to determining whether their policies are right or wrong, because we don't have to, because we made the conclusion that regardless of those policies, we are going to continue to play and recognize them as part of the PGA TOUR.
I know some people don't like that position, and I appreciate that and I understand their reasoning, but that's the decision we've made.
**Golf Digest's Stina Sternberg says "The commissioner's response defied second-grade logic" when he reiterated the tour policy to not visit clubs who discriminate and then suggested there was one prominent exception.
That's right, Mr. Finchem, Augusta National is not doing anything illegal. Indeed, we live in a free country. But Augusta is going directly against the anti-discrimination policy you follow so "carefully," yet you choose to look the other way because the tournament is "too important"? That reaches a level of hypocrisy that has rarely been delivered with a straight face by anyone in your position.
I did an informal poll of players at The Players and asked what question they'd most like to have me ask Commissioner Tim Finchem during his 2012 Players "state of the tour" presser. Slow play on the tour won in a landslide and the Commissioner Denial didn't disappoint!
Let's go to the tape...
Q. Top players like Luke Donald have said that they believe slow play is killing their sport, our sport. Do you feel an urgency at all to address slow play, and do you feel the TOUR has an obligation to set an example for the game when it comes to pace of play?
COMMISSIONER FINCHEM: You know, as long as I've been in the game, this has been a constant discussion. There really isn't any difference.
No, just about an hour more tacked on to the round. That's all. Go on...
A lot of people look at the deliberate nature of the way we play the game at the TOUR level and relate that to when somebody says it's impacting the game negatively, they are referring to the amateur or average player making a determination whether they want to play golf if it takes me X long to play.
Now if you look at my question, I tried to help the Commish by mentioning Luke Donald's name, but he didn't take the hint and I'm guessing he's not a big Twitter guy. So for the Commish: here are Luke's comments, most definitely not directed away from the tour, or, TOUR level.
After bellowing on about his preferences for fast play at the "club" level (he's sooo in touch with the everyday game he only mentioned club golf multiple times), Commissioner Fast Play got to the legitimate argument about field size...
When we put 156 people on the golf course, they are not going to play in four hours, typically.
Now, when we cut, on the weekend, and we go to, let's say we have got 70 and ties and we are at 74, then we are playing, what, if we play in twos, we are probably playing in 3:45.
These are the same guys that played on Thursday and Friday. These are the same guys that are showing the same deliberation. But when you put that many people on a golf course, that's just not going to happen.
On a Pro‑Am day when you play four amateurs and a professional and now you're five, you're playing a good Pro‑Am at 5 1/2. We elect to continue to do that because we want that many people playing in the Pro‑Am, and it's kind of a different experience, anyway.
We are all ears to suggestions to help make the game of golf either faster, or funner; that's the way I refer to it. Can we make it faster; can we make it funner?
Yes, make it faster! Keep the fields large.
And Jack Nicklaus addressed this at Augusta. He said we architects‑‑ all of us in golf are to blame. Architects are at the top of the list; we made the golf courses too difficult. If it ain't much fun and it's slow to play, that's not what we're looking for.
Anything we can do from‑‑ we reach all of the fans. Anything we can do from a communications standpoint to encourage people playing faster, we will do. But clubs have got to take the initiative to drive play, and the average player has got to take the initiative and say, guys, let's go out here and play in three hours and 45 minutes, and that doesn't happen too many places.
So if I'm watching‑‑ I'm giving you a long answer, but I've been talking about this for a long time. If I'm watching a PGA TOUR player, and I'm going to go through the same pre‑shot routine that that player takes, and he's hitting it 69 times and I'm hitting it 93, I'm going to be playing a lot longer than that guy. So it's a different game from that perspective.
Again, this is not a PGA Tour problem. Well, kind of since it's their routines setting a bad example. So...which is it Tim?
And if you notice our players, they move; they don't want to be on the clock.
Except Webb. And Ben. And Zach. And...
They hit a shot and they move. But there are different variables out here at this level and we measure it pretty carefully.
One thing we are sensitive to is a player who is slow and as such impacts his fellow competitor, which is a different thing from how long it takes to play. That results in some counseling, and we have had good success with counseling.
Counseling!
But I don't think PGA TOUR golf is the culprit here. I think the culprit is taking steps to drive the pace of play for the average player, and if we can be helpful in that regard, we're open to it.
Q. The USGA has a pace of play system they have implemented in all their championships except the U.S. Open, and they feel they need the TOUR to implement a similar system with penalty shotsfor them to be able to introduce it to the U.S. Open.
COMMISSIONER FINCHEM: I actually think we might want to experiment with penalty shots. But I don't think penalty shots make a difference to be honest with you.
Experiment with them? Pssssst Tim. You have slow play rules you don't enforce. Are you saying you don't believe in the rules in place? Not a big rules guy these days?
Conceptually it makes sense. If you're going to put a couple of shots on a guy, it's going to make him play faster. But that's not the culprit. The slow player, even though we have some slow players, is the system that's creating what you're seeing on television.
In today's world, we go to a golf course like we just left in California, Poppy Hills, and you've got like three drivable 5s and a drivable 4, and with a full field in our tournament, you're going to back up.
I'm sorry, Poppy Hills? Last played in 2010? That Poppy Hills? Go on...
People are going to wait. That's just the way it is. The only way, we have to have smaller fields.
Now, you have players on our TOUR who would say, yes, we do; let's have them. Let's put 130 players out there, 122 players. At Augusta, they get nervous if you are going over a hundred players. And let's have a good pace of play.
We elect not to do that, because as much as we like to see a stronger pace of play, the playing opportunities for the number of players we have had are more important, and we'll generate the playing opportunities first and take our lumps second. It's as simple as that.
At least he was honest in that last part. It's as simple as that.
Fingers crossed for the speeches to go up online in their entirety, but in the meantime here is a PGA Tour posted collection of moments from the inductee speeches. Oh and Tim Finchem, too.
Golf World Monday's Ron Sirak notes the Valero Texas Open's inability to draw a field and the TPC San Antonio's AT&T Oaks Course, which was 50th of 53 in the Golf World player survey, appears to be the problem. He reports that four greens will be rebuilt and the unplayable lies just out of play will need to be addressed.
When Greg Norman and Pete Dye were selected to design the 36 holes at San Antonio, a policy board member famously suggested budgeting for the inevitable post-opening redo. Wonder if the Commissioner listened? Wait, what was I thinking. I'm sorry for wasting that last 15 seconds of your time.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
