Author: Guest Author

On Wednesday PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and the PGA Tour announced the new television terms for the 2007-2012 seasons. The new PGA Tour schedule is a part of those changes, and many of the events will be seen on different networks than we’ve become accustomed to. Two new six-year deals were reached with CBS and NBC to provide weekend coverage of the PGA Tour FedEx Cup for the 2007-2012 seasons. What’s even bigger is an unprecedented 15 year agreement with The Golf Channel to be the exclusive cable partner for the PGA Tour, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tours. The new agreements will also allow The Players Championship to move to a May date and air without commercial interruptions.

We are also delighted with the financial benefits of these agreements. We achieved our primary objective of securing continued solid growth in financial benefits to players. Under the new agreements, total prize money and other financial benefits to players will increase approximately $600 million over the term as compared to the previous six years, a 35-percent increase.

So let’s see how the event coverage will break down.

Continue reading “PGA Tour Finalizes Television Agreements”

Michelle Wie is undoubtedly the most popular female golfer in Hawaii. She has been given her third sponsor’s exemption into the Sony Open and has created an atmosphere which resembles more of a circus than a traditional golf tournament.

PGA Tour Vice President Ric Clarson isn’t complaining. “We’re in the entertainment business, it’s more than just a golf tournament, so when a player like Michelle plays in the Sony Open, it creates national and international attention.”

So what’s next Ric? Maybe we should rename the Sony Open to the “Michelle Wie Open”?

Continue reading “Big Wiesy Tries Again at Sony Open”

Not much has changed from last years Sony Open in Hawaii Last year the big question was “Will Michelle Wie make the cut?” this year it’s the same question but with a twist, “Will Michelle Wie make the cut and is she worth the 10 million?” After making a disappointing professional debut by being DQ’ed at the Samsung World Championship, she is looking to make a statement especially in front of her home town crowd.

Vijay Singh is also looking to make a statement of his own by successfully defending his title at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Last year he won the event while ranked the #1 player in the world and it was the first win of his four win season. Now we’ll have to see if last week’s playoff loss at the Mercedes Championship has shaken his confidence.

Continue reading “Sony Open in Hawaii Preview”

Wow did I get my money’s worth this past weekend at the 2006 Mercedes Championship. This was my first PGA Tour event that I attended and luck have it, I had front-row seats to two fantastic finishes at the 18th hole on the Plantation Course at Kapalua. Vijay finished the first time with a tap-in birdie to go eight under and force Appleby to also birdie the 18th hole to go eight under and force a playoff. The players were promptly shuttled back to the 18th for the first playoff hole where both players matched drives in the center of the fairway but their second and third shots are what really created the drama. Alas the playoff was won by Appleby when Vijay missed his crucial putt (again) and left Appleby with a two-footer for his third consecutive win.

Continue reading “2006 Mercedes Championship Recap”