Finchem Says Most Golf Fans Don't Want to Know About Disciplinary Actions

[CarlSpackler]

In this article , Tim Finchem claims

Quote:

“I’ve said this many times,” he said. “We don’t think the fans really want to know about most of the stuff we would be talking about. We don’t think there’s a large volume of it, and we don’t think much of it is very serious.”

So what do you think. Do you want to know if disciplinary action has been taken against a tour player?

[boogielicious]

It is low on my priority list of what I care about when watching golf.

[Wally Fairway]

Just saying that makes it look like they have something to hide.

[dkolo]

In [URL=http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2015/03/tim-finchem-says-most-golf-fan.html]this article[/URL], Tim Finchem claims So what do you think. Do you want to know if disciplinary action has been taken against a tour player?

It's a patronizing answer. If we don't want to know, we won't listen or pay attention. The fact that the question is being asked of him demonstrates that people want to know.

[Barking Weasel]

performance enhancing and I care.

Recreational I don't care.

[CarlSpackler]

It's a patronizing answer. If we don't want to know, we won't listen or pay attention. The fact that the question is being asked of him demonstrates that people want to know.

There is a poll in the article.

It shows that a majority of people actually do want to know.

[DeadMan]

Since when has the public ever thought that less disclosure is a good thing?

I can definitely understand the players not wanting this stuff public, though. They don't want their sponsorships hurt because of this. But yeah, I would like to know. And I think there would be significant shaming of players who are fined for slow play, for example.

[Abu3baid]

I personally want to know, especially if it is PED related..

[Patch]

I think Finchem's statement creates a bit of a credibility problem for the PGA. As stated above it sounds like they have no problem hiding stuff from their fans.. I don't watch that much golf on TV. Maybe an hour over a 4 day tournament. That said, I would not mind reading about disciplinary actions against the PGA players when I peruse the internet sports pages. I wouldn't go looking for it, but if there I would read it. I think Finchem's belief that folks don't care is wrong, and/or he is getting poor advice from his handlers.

[imsys0042]

Since when has the public ever thought that less disclosure is a good thing?

I can definitely understand the players not wanting this stuff public, though. They don't want their sponsorships hurt because of this. But yeah, I would like to know. And I think there would be significant shaming of players who are fined for slow play, for example.

The slow play is the one that I really want to know as well.  That and the fines for un-sportsman like conduct.

[cubdog]

Finchem can spin it any way he sees fit. Bottom line is he know, as do we, that full discloser is what the majority want. It's best for the game whether he sees it that way or not.

cubdog

[Silent]

It is low on my priority list of what I care about when watching golf.

I understand that, and a lot of other people also won't care. But I don't think it's an argument for keeping it a secret. Transparency is a good thing. At the very least we can see that they are playing it fair then (so different players get the same punishment for the same behaviour). Now we just have to guess / trust that's the case. I can't imagine things like this are being kept a secret in tennis, cycling or soccer for example.

[boogielicious]

Quote:

Originally Posted by boogielicious

It is low on my priority list of what I care about when watching golf.

I understand that, and a lot of other people also won't care. But I don't think it's an argument for keeping it a secret. Transparency is a good thing. At the very least we can see that they are playing it fair then (so different players get the same punishment for the same behaviour). Now we just have to guess / trust that's the case. I can't imagine things like this are being kept a secret in tennis, cycling or soccer for example.

There have been and always will be secrets from the governing bodies of professional sports.  They are in it to make money and scandal hits the bottom line.

[David in FL]

Yes. Golf is a game of character and personal integrity. I would prefer to hear about those players that don't demonstrate those characteristics and the consequences they receive as a result.

[jamo]

I would like to know. There's no downside. Finchem is a moron or blissfully ignorant if he doesn't think the public would want to know. Then again, not knowing lets us all sit here and pretend golf if a game populated by infallible humans. Maybe he thinks that's a good thing.

[skydog]

Golf is a game of character and personal integrity. I would prefer to hear about those players that don't demonstrate those characteristics and the consequences they receive as a result.

^This.

I dislike Finchem more and more each time he opens his mouth. Even if he believes this to be true (which I don't think it is), I can't imagine many fans like getting told that they're getting the mushoom treatment (feeding them s#*t and keeping them in the dark).

[14ledo81]

I would like to know. There's no downside. Finchem is a moron or blissfully ignorant if he doesn't think the public would want to know.

Then again, not knowing lets us all sit here and pretend golf if a game populated by infallible humans. Maybe he thinks that's a good thing.

This is the problem to me.

When something does leak out, it raises a huge stink, even if it is minor.

[Wansteadimp]

I understand that, and a lot of other people also won't care. But I don't think it's an argument for keeping it a secret. Transparency is a good thing. At the very least we can see that they are playing it fair then (so different players get the same punishment for the same behaviour). Now we just have to guess / trust that's the case. I can't imagine things like this are being kept a secret in tennis, cycling or soccer for example.

Yeah, like that year Maran Cilic pulled out of Wimbledon with an injury that turned out to be a drug ban! Or Armstrong's failed positives that got buried or covered by back dated exemptions.