2007 (Proposed) PGA Tour schedule

[Baynative]

At the top of the tour the money has become somewhat irrelevant. Once a player becomes a recognizable (and marketable) personality, their endorsement contracts outstrip the purses. But, competition and the urge to excel is always the driver. They all put on game faces for the majors.

What the coverage often misses are the life and death battles going on for those trying to keep their cards or, maybe to play their way on to the tour.
A meaningful way of adding suspense to the tour could be great for all of us. Last year the Golf Channel did a pretty good job of showing how hard it is on players trying to make it through "Q"-school.

But- Those million dollar bonuses for the West Coast and whatever haven't done much except for giving someone a little walkin' around money. Any of the top players who are number two or three on the a special mini-bonus list wouldn't even skip filming a commercial to enter a tournament which could decide the winner.

A NASCAR-ization could be a DUD of a mistake. A million here or there doesn't mean squat to most of the top 20. Now, if it means something else like a glitzy endorsement ... a series of progressive commercials os such... things could change. Yet, I have my doubts. I just can't picture Retief struggling to earn the title of celeb spokesman for Sony, Dodge Trucks or Michelob.

If I were suggesting, I'd say start with a way to involve the Golf channel in more complete tournamant coverage. Cut up network delayed programming often falls short of what it could be ... unless Tiger's in the hunt. The networks have such a wrap on coverage that even the tournaments that aren't glitzy just get ignored. It would have been good to see the Southern Farm Bureau Classic as an alternative or in tandem with the TPC.

[iacas]

I moved this post, in case anyone was wondering, because the changes are for 2007. FedEx Cup discussion doesn't really belong in the 2006 PGA Tour Schedule thread.

At the top of the tour the money has become somewhat irrelevant.

I could argue that, except back in 1940 or so when pros were barely making a living, it has never been relevant. Nobody in the top 50 on the money list cares much about money (except for exemptions into the Masters, etc., but even then it's not about money, it's about The Masters). They care about wins.

But, competition and the urge to excel is always the driver. They all put on game faces for the majors.

Agreed. Wins and then wins in majors. That's what matters.

What the coverage often misses are the life and death battles going on for those trying to keep their cards or, maybe to play their way on to the tour.

I think the coverage does a nice job of talking about this towards the end of the year, actually. It gets a good amount of pres.

A meaningful way of adding suspense to the tour could be great for all of us. Last year the Golf Channel did a pretty good job of showing how hard it is on players trying to make it through "Q"-school.

The "Quest for the Card" will fail to do this how?

But- Those million dollar bonuses for the West Coast and whatever haven't done much except for giving someone a little walkin' around money. Any of the top players who are number two or three on the a special mini-bonus list wouldn't even skip filming a commercial to enter a tournament which could decide the winner.

A NASCAR-ization could be a DUD of a mistake. A million here or there doesn't mean squat to most of the top 20.

It's $10M. And I don't know about you, but that's a lot of money, even to someone like Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson. If Tiger doesn't need the money (he doesn't), he could donate it to his Tiger Woods Foundation. If Phil doesn't need the money (he doesn't), he could donate it to the Phil Mickelson Bookie Foundation.

The point as I see it is that the PGA Tour will be effectively "shortened" by two full months, and in exchange for that, the top guys have agreed to play in the Championship Series events, even if it means playing five out of six weeks. Tiger isn't one to just "show up" and slack off. It's a pride thing. So, given that he's in the tournament(s), he's going to play to win. A lot of the other top guys will as well. Phil perhaps not so much, but I am holding out hope that pride will get the better of him.

If I were suggesting, I'd say start with a way to involve the Golf channel in more complete tournamant coverage.

It's likely they'll get many of the "Quest for the Card" tournaments.

Cut up network delayed programming often falls short of what it could be ... unless Tiger's in the hunt.

I don't see coverage delayed much very often. It's life. Unless you mean the hours spent covering golf... two to three or more isn't enough?

The networks have such a wrap on coverage that even the tournaments that aren't glitzy just get ignored. It would have been good to see the Southern Farm Bureau Classic as an alternative or in tandem with the TPC.

You would have seen it on TV had it not changed its date due to, y'know, a natural disaster.

[Frank-0-Sport]

Greetings ...

In response to the proposed 2007 schedule and format, I cooked up the following --

Hypothetical PGA Tour Schedules for 2007 and 2008

What you will see is mainly this author's (quite extreme!!) state of mind about this particular subject.

Bear in mind that the Information presented is hypothetical only and not actual fact.

And yes, the web-page is mine. However, it is presented NOT as self-promotional vehicle for the web-site at large, but rather as simple commentary on a subject that we will surely become more familar with in the next several months and years.

Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Sport

[iacas]

In response to the proposed 2007 schedule and format, I cooked up the following --

But you seem to have forgotten the "Quest for the Card" tournaments...

[Frank-0-Sport]

Greetings ....

But you seem to have forgotten the "Quest for the Card" tournaments...

Ahhh - Caught Ya There!

You're right, of course. There is no mention whatsoever of the "Quest For The Card" series -OR- The "Fed Ex Cup" series in my "Hypothetical" presentation. Here's a portion of the first paragraph from the presentation ---

These are purely hypothetical schedules, including radical changes to several events. Of course, this author is well aware that the official PGA Tour version will be quite different. Still, I wanted to present my ideas about what the 2007-and-after PGA Tour schedule and format ought to be.

In other words, the presentation suggests a schedule and format DIFFERENT from whatever the official PGA Tour version turns out to be!

I have the "hypothetical" 2007 Tour season running thru September 16th 2007. After that date, the slate (IE, all official statistics) is wiped clean, and the "hypothetical" 2008 season kicks off on September 20th 2007, running thru September 14th 2008. The "hypothetical" 2009 season would start right after, and so on. I appreciate your looking over my presentation, and invite you to offer more opinions at your leisure. Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Sport

[iacas]

I have the "hypothetical" 2007 Tour season running thru September 16th 2007. After that date, the slate (IE, all official statistics) is wiped clean, and the "hypothetical" 2008 season kicks off on September 20th 2007, running thru September 14th 2008. The "hypothetical" 2009 season would start right after, and so on.

Oh, I gotcha. You're right, I skimmed it.