Without Me, You're Nuthin'

Filed in archive Golf News on September 8, 2007

Courtesy: GeoCities

Ernie Els has chimed in on the FedEx Cup, adding his voice to the brouhaha surrounding Tim Finchem's baby.

Els claims that the PGA Tour and the players are growing farther and farther apart and that decisions are being made without input from the players.

Case in point: the FedEx Cup.

We know that Phil Mickelson is unhappy that the changes he asked for very early in the season were, according to him, ignored by Finchem.

And, according to Els, few of the players, including Tiger, realized that the 10 million dollar first prize was deferred, available only when a touring pro retired.

But Els points to this as an example of the Tour going its own way and expecting the players to follow.

Let's back up for a look at the bigger picture. The PGA Tour is, in its essence, a paternalistic management company. It books tournaments, negotiates purses and convinces sponsors that great golfers will show up to play.

It provides the players with a place to play and a chance to earn big money every week.

The players have to do nothing at all, except agree to attend. They don't have to book the tournaments themselves, meet with tournament sponsors or organizers; they simply arrive and do their thing.

The player is responsible for all costs incurred: travel, meals, lodging. The Tour is responsible for marketing, business contracts, logistics, TV rights negotiations, etc.

So there is an enormous workload placed on the PGA Tour for each and every event on the calendar.

Make no mistake; the Tour earns a lot of money for its efforts.

The players would say the Tour earns a lot of money from THEIR efforts. And they wouldn't be wrong.

But, frankly, both sides need each other and that's patently obvious.

The Tour is a partnership in the end. And both sides have benefited heavily over the years.

If a player wishes to skip a tournament, then he (or she, in the case of the LPGA which operates much the same way) can.

The problems arise when a high profile "series" is created by the PGA with the full expectation that the players will embrace it, love it and perform to their top level for four straight weeks.

When a star player like Woods or Mickelson decides to skip a big tournament, the PGA shudders.

What we have here, as The Captain said to Luke is "a failure to communicate".

And that is the greatest danger to any partnership.

There are two ways to generate greater communication: the players form a union to speak with one voice - the formal method. This can lead to as many problems as it solves.

Or a players' committee is struck, with elected leadership to speak for each and every player, a more informal but just as viable method.

Regardless, each golfer needs to make himself aware of what's going on.

Perhaps the FedEx Cup will be abandoned in its current concept; perhaps it will be radically altered.

But whatever changes are wrought, they need to be done in consultation between partners.