Finchem's Parting Call For Unity

Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements

TIM FINCHEM, who is about to stand down as PGA Tour commissioner, will admit that he has been a very lucky man. He stands down at the end of the year after running the game in the USA since 1994, when he took over from Deane Beman.

Finchem inherited a Tour that boasted $56.4m in annual prize money. As he departs, total purses are in excess of $300m. He is the man responsible for creating the FedEx Cup with its $10m first prize and the inception of the Presidents Cup that pits the US against the Rest of the World, and he played a leading role in the return of golf to the Olympic Games.

So why has he been lucky? Well, even Finchem would admit that when he took the took job 22 years ago, he could never have known that just two years later a phenomenon called Tiger Woods would emerge and change the face of golf forever. And the truth is that it is the influence and pulling power of Woods, more than anything that Finchem has done, that has helped to increase prize money, not just in the States but around the globe.

But with Woods' powers on the wane, it means that Jay Monahan, who succeeds Finchem, is likely to have a rather more difficult job, especially with playing numbers on the wane.

Finchem believes that one solution would be for the PGA and European Tours to join forces, but he would say that, wouldn't he? It would certainly make it easier for future Ryder Cup captains, but the game in Europe needs to retain its own identity. 

It is hardly surprising that Europe's leading golfers play so much of their golf in the USA - the rewards are enormous, with even run-of-the-mill events offering first prizes in excess of $1.25m. The PGA Tour boasts assets in excess of....wait for it...$2bn.

“The opportunities here [in the United States] are so much better and that’s why we feel strongly over time we have to do things that will help balance the strength of tours,” said Finchem. “It’s not necessarily healthy for the next 25 years for everybody to wake up and want to come to the United States to play their golf. The challenges, though, are difficult. It is no secret, I think the best answer is that a new organisation be formed that represents professional golf on a global basis, like Fifa does with soccer. That can best take advantage of golf being in the Olympic Games and can offer consistent delivery of value, which is missing now.

“I have a lot of pride in what's been built and the progress we have made," said Finchem.

The European Tour has its own champion in Keith Pelley, who is turning out to be an enthusiastic and innovative chief executive who has managed to attract new investment and sponsors, and Finchem is a fan of the Canadian. "Keith is a solid guy and comes from a good solid business background that should serve him well," Finchem said. “I think the challenges though are difficult. It is no secret, I think the best answer is that a new organisation be formed that represents professional golf on a global basis.”

Finchem regrets that there are not more black golfers playing the game, both professionally and recreationally. He will now devote more time to his role with the First Tee initiative aimed at attracting young American golfers, envisages emulating Chinese athletic programmes.