Norman Bites Finchem, PGA Tour over Technology and Overseas Play

Australian born-and-bred Greg Norman has never been one to keep quiet when he believes in something. It’s one of the things we admire about the ol’ two-time (cough, ahem) major winner. Recent topics have caused the Shark to go into a small feeding frenzy. His victim? Tim Finchem, the PGA Tour, and “technology.”

First, Greg Norman tackles the issue of a “tour ball,” an idea that’s been batted around for the past decade or so. Greg, who recently hit a ball 356 yards, asks that restrictions be placed on pros but not amateurs. “Put the restrictions on us. We are the best players… Don’t let us take advantage of technology like we have.” This is the same Norman, recall, that recently switched to the MacTec NVG driver, saying during an interview during the PGA Merchandise Show that he chose MacGregor because “they have great R&D and that results in amazing technologies, like the MacTec NVG.”

Bit your own tail a bit there, didn’t ya Greg?

Even Acushnet CEO Wally Uihlein was inclined to comment, saying:

This is nothing new, however, as irony reigns in this distance debate. Two more of the game’s greatest players from a previous generation (Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus) continue to receive bully pulpit preference from the majority of the media when it comes to bashing golf ball technology, while in the same breath advancing the idea that golf club technology is good for them and good for the golfer by banging the drum of their latest endorsement situations. Furthermore, are they making these comments as an ex-PGA Tour player, golf course designer, real estate developer or golf club manufacturer?

Oh, Greg…

Norman, who some say has an eye on Tim Finchem’s spot as commissioner of the PGA Tour, seems to have given little thought to the enforcement of the “tour ball rule.” He’s also not commented on whether Nationwide, Japanese, Australian, European, mini-tour (Hooters, etc.) players would also be subject to such a rule.

Norman then laid into Finchem re: a long-standing policy on the PGA Tour regarding overseas events. This issue was brought to a head most recently by Ernie Els, but the disagreement was later put to rest. Norman feels that the PGA Tour should do more to promote the game worldwide, saying that “All of the top players from South Africa, Japan and Australia have gone to the United States.”

Norman feels that the PGA Tour should support what is arguably a competing tour, the Australasian tour. Says Norman, “I think it is incumbent on them to look at that responsibility [worldwide promotion of the game] deep and hard and figure out how they can support these events down here. As for the Australasian Tour, we are suffering because the PGA Tour is very successful. They play for almost $5 million every week.” Perhaps Norman, a successful businessman in his own right, emporarily forgot that “helping competitors” is probably bad business.

Norman then goes on to comment on the policy discussed in the Els articles regarding overseas play. Norman says of the PGA Tour policy and Tim Finchem in particular “That’s wrong, he can’t do that. We’re independent contractors, and we have every right to go and play wherever we want, if we play our bare minimum in the United States.” He then says “We sign on the dotted line to join the U.S. tour. That’s our commitment to the minimum 15.”

Last I checked, signing on the dotted line to join the PGA Tour includes following all of the policies, not just the ones you agree with, Greg. That includes following the PGA Tour’s policy regarding conflicting overseas events.

The PGA Tour, naturally, has not issued a response. Nor, for that matter and in our opinion, should they bother.