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PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem Retires

By: Golfshake Editor | Mon 14 Nov 2016


Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements


TIM FINCHEM is retiring as PGA Tour commissioner on January 1, 2017, and will be succeeded by Jay Monahan, his current deputy.

And Finchem will be a hard act to follow. Many people may regard Finchem and his like as faceless individuals who pick up fat pay cheques and do little for their money.

Nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to Finchem. The 69-year-old has overseen a major increase in tournament purses since he took over the role from Deane Beman in 1994, with total prize money on offer for the 2016-17 season in excess of $300m (£242m). He was also responsible for the introduction of the FedEx Cup and helping to develop the introduction and status of the World Golf Championship tournaments.

Finchem expects the growth to continue under Monahan's leadership. He said: "I have the highest regard for Jay and have total confidence in his ability to lead the PGA Tour well into the future He has been a key member of the executive team since joining the tour and has worked closely with me on all business matters since becoming deputy commissioner.

“Jay is well respected throughout the PGA Tour family and the golf industry. I know he will do a tremendous job for the players and all constituents of the PGA Tour.”

Monahan will be the fourth man to hold the role and has been with the organisation in a variety of positions since 2008.

"I am greatly honoured by the trust the Policy Board has shown in me to succeed Tim Finchem as commissioner," he said."Under Tim's leadership, the PGA Tour has made remarkable progress, even in the most difficult economic times.

“We are now entering a very important time in our organisation's history, and I know our executive team and I will draw upon and be inspired by the invaluable experience of working with Tim as we take advantage of the extraordinary opportunities, as well as face the challenges, that are ahead for the tour.”

There is a popular misconception that Finchem and his European opposite number, Keith Pelley, are concerned only with the professional game. Not so. Both men appreciate that they have responsibilities to the greater good of the game. It is all well and good providing huge prize pots for their members, but Finchem and Pelley are smart cookies and both men realise that golf is struggling, with courses closing and participation numbers falling.

As a result, they have worked hard to introduce some key new ideas and innovations, such as Foot Golf. During the British Masters, Pelley introduced a novel par-three challenge staged under floodlights. It attracted huge crowds and the players involved loved it. Shortly afterwards, Pelley announced that he was looking into the possibility of the European Tour staging a tournament that would feature full rounds played under the lights. In truth, it is never likely to happen but it proves that these guys are constantly looking for new angles, for something that will bring newcomers to the game.

Many people stop playing because the only spare time they have is at the weekends, and when you have a young family the chances are that you are going to want to spend that time with your wife (or husband) and children. Just imagine how the game would be revolutionised if the European Tour and some enterprising course owners and designers could all get together and provide a few floodlit courses. It may well be an unlikely solution to a problem that simply has to be solved for the greater good of the game.

 


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Tags: european tour



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