Tim Finchem, the PGA Tour commissioner, has fired the latest shot in a power game with the European Tour by insisting professional golf should be controlled by one global organisation. He cited commercial reasons as the logic behind his stance.
The arrival of Keith Pelley as the chief executive of the European Tour has seen a series of statements about boosting tournament status and prize funds. The aim is clear: to provide leading players with a realistic alternative to the riches available in the United States.
Relations between the bodies were further tested by the European Tour’s refusal to change the date of the French Open, thereby maintaining a clash with the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Now Finchem has questioned the need for a European Tour at all. He said: “We think that what’s in the paramount best interest of men’s and women’s professional golf is coming under one unified organisation with a genuine global brand and being able to compete on a global level in the global markets, much like soccer.
“There aren’t that many sports that are as active on virtually every continent as golf. That’s the reason why the IOC wanted us as part of the Olympics, so we should be taking advantage of that.
“Now, there are all kind of structural issues and turf issues and attitude issues, and change is sometimes difficult. But sooner or later, I think everybody is going to get on that road and when they do I think it’s going to be a very positive thing for golf.”
The prospect of the PGA Tour taking over its European equivalent has been mooted, but publicly denied, in the past. On the grounds of finance alone, the PGA Tour would be regarded as the senior partner in any alliance.
Finchem appeared unimpressed by the European Tour’s recent move to allow players to wear shorts during the early part of tournament weeks. The PGA Tour, it seems safe to infer, will not be following suit. “We’ve been asked a little bit about it,” the commissioner said. “Although candidly, not nearly as much as I might have anticipated.
“The way we look at it, it’s like some of the things you hear about, changing this or changing that in golf. We feel the professional game is the strongest it’s ever been in history; from a viewership standpoint, a popularity standpoint, young people paying attention to the game at the professional level. All of our data shows that we’re the strongest we ever have been.
“So in that context, we’re hesitant to make changes unless you can really demonstrate, you make this change and then it’s going to kick up a notch or two in everything.”
