Here’s Hoping Smart PGA People Make Good Decisions

I tend to think everyone is smarter than I am. Smarter when it comes to politics, investing, social issues, technology, relationships, silverware place settings - just about everything. So, I have to assume that the PGA powers-that-be, both incoming and outgoing, are aware of the issues regarding the schedule on the Tour. 

The PGA Tour has created a schedule, dominated by major championships they do not control and signature events that they do. There are 36 tournaments scheduled between January and the playoffs. There are four major championships and eight signature events. That leaves twenty-four “other” tournaments. They are not major. They are not “signature.” What they are is problematic. 

Let’s take the tournament this week in Detroit. The Tour was credited, rightfully so, with bringing a tournament back to the Detroit area. It has been one of the shining lights on the tour, primarily because of what it means to Detroit. But this year, following a signature event, the country’s national championship, a major championship and another signature event, Detroit is finding it hard to hang on to players. The field has only two of the top ten players in the world, only five of the top 20, and seven players have withdrawn for a variety of reasons. Yes, those vacated slots have been filled, but you probably haven’t heard of either the players that withdrew or the ones added. 

Detroit is not alone in this. Heck, some of the signature events have issues. Rory McIlroy did not play at the Memorial this year, for example. When it’s not a major championship or signature event, it often becomes a tough watch. The leaderboard lacks the star quality needed in a very busy sports landscape. Will die hard golf fans watch? Most, but not all. Will casual fans watch? Not really. The Tour is fooling itself if it thinks fans will rush to watch Viktor Hovland and Tony Finau battle to the wire and that means incoming CEO Brian Rolapp has his work cut out for him. The PGA Tour has been propped up the last few years, attempting to fend off the assault from LIV golf, but it’s the equivalent of “Weekend at Rory’s” and can’t last forever. I have no idea what Rolapp will do. He may not yet have an idea of what he will do either. But he better do something. This current model can’t last.  

Oh, by the way, that Hovland/Finau playoff never happened.  

They both withdrew from Detroit.