Touchdown: PGA Tour faces rough times

Consider this: 18 of the PGA Tour's corporate tournament sponsors are either (mostly American) car companies or financial institutions. Now think of what’s happening to American car companies and financial institutions. The Buick logo, so long affixed to Tiger Woods’ golf bag as one of his main sponsors, is gone (as is Buick’s sponsorship of the world’s best player). Players and Tour officials are beginning to understand that tournament purses may need to shrink and that some perks, like free cars from Buick to use all week during a particular event, may be a thing of the past. But unlike automaker CEOs who flew to Washington in private jets looking for bailout money, the golfers deserve a Touchdown for facing up to today’s economic realities. “If I have to rent a car, big deal. We’re out here playing for $6 million a week,” said U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin. “If I have to rent a car for $500 a week, I think I can handle it. I think everybody out here has to understand that. And I think everybody is getting educated out here to understand that.” Tim Rosaforte, the dean of U.S. golf writers, put it in perspective with a good piece in Golf World magazine. In it, player Jay Williamson, a 14-year veteran of the Tour, put it in the right perspective: “I’m shocked that we’re still able to play golf right now. I think in a year, if things don't get better, I really worry where this Tour goes. I just don’t think that if these companies are getting government money, they’re going to able to say. ‘Oh yeah, by the way, we’re going to have a golf tournament next week for $5 million.” Good point.