For Tim Finchem, the TW questions never seem to endMike DudurichPosted 2010-03-15 Poor Tim Finchem.
The commissioner of the to-this-point-Tigerless PGA Tour headlined a teleconference Monday afternoon, a very happy one, actually, to announce that Farmers Insurance had signed on through 2014 to be the title sponsor for the former Buick Open in San Diego.
Significant news of course, because every sponsored tournament is literally money in the bank for the PGA Tour.
Once Finchem made his opening remarks as did the CEO of Farmers Insurance, Bob Woudstra, the teleconference was opened to questions. And, believe it or not, the first question from the national media was:
“I wanted to ask if the PGA TOUR has any information at this point about when Tiger Woods may return to golf?”
The young lady from an Orlando, Fl. TV station was almost giddy at being the first one to ask a question.
The teleconference consisted of 10 questions, eight of which directly had to do with Woods.
That couldn’t have been a shock to those at the Tour’s Ponte Vedra headquarters, who vociferously defend the notion that it’s not the Tiger Tour and that much good is going on, even as the world’s No. 1 tries to pick up the pieces of his once fairy tale existence.
And that may well be, but Woods is who stirs the emotions of the fans and the media. There will be no stopping their pursuit of getting the scoop on Woods’ return until golf’s new “bad boy” makes it known, whether it be next week’s Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Invitational or the Masters two weeks after that.
We did learn some things as Finchem endured yet another meeting with the press all predicated upon TW.
He said Woods “has indicated to us that he will give us reasonable notice, because we know we have got some preparation to do,” Finchem said.
Finchem said contingency plans are in place at several sites in the upcoming weeks for a possible return.
“I think the media accommodation is the big factor, and you know, how that happens depends week-to-week on which tournaments we are talking about,” Finchem said. “We saw a huge influx of media here for Tiger's statement three for four weeks ago. We had to create an off-site accommodation for the number of media.”
Woods’ modus operandi during his days as king of golf’s hill would be never to commit to any tournament until just before the deadline of 5 p.m. the Friday before the event. That practice was viewed as another example of Woods’ arrogance and is one of those things that will be under scrutiny when he does return.
Critics couldn’t understand why the best player in the game wouldn’t commit earlier in order to help sell the event. Perhaps the newer, more respectful of the game Tiger will make that one of the things he changes as well.
For now, the questions remain with no answers in sight. You know the tour wants Woods back ASAP to return financial stability to the game. Just as much, you can be sure they want him back to end the endless questions about just when that will be.
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About Mike...
As a sports writer for over 35 years, Mike Dudurich has seen a lot of great things, covered spectacular events, but his passion is, and has been golf.
He recently ended a 29-year career at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and will now be a frequent contributor on GolfGearReview.com.
Mike hosts a weekly golf radio show on 1250 ESPN in Pittsburgh from the beginning of April through the end of August.
The show airs Saturdays from 8-9 a.m. and can be heard online at http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1250/show?showId=insidepghgolf - Listen to Mike Here!.
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