Tour players forced to mingle ... and don't like it

Mike Dudurich

Posted 2009-11-02

I’ve said this before and probably will say it many, many more times.

In a lot of ways, I respect professional golfers much more than a lot of other athletes in the “play for pay” business. Although many of them sign endorsement deals that pay them before they compete in any tournaments, golfers are basically on the hook for making their own money.

If they don’t play well, they don’t get paid. If they don’t play well, they don’t get the opportunity to play in elite events with even richer paydays. So for those reasons, I admire them greatly.

Having said that, however, the touring pros might be the most pampered and spoiled members of the human race. Luxury courtesy cars, immaculate golf courses, every whim and wish attended to immediately, all are just part of a day in the life of a tour pro.

So I had to laugh recently when I read a story quoting an anonymous pro whining about a new PGA Tour policy that will, gasp, require players interact with the folks putting up the big money they play for – sponsors – or face the possibility of losing their spot in the field of that event.

Can you imagine the audacity of Tour officials? Requiring the busy professional to take 90 minutes out of his hectic schedule on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening to make an appearance in the sponsor’s tent, making nice with the sponsor’s group and its’ clients? I mean, please. These guys are very busy. On a Tuesday or Wednesday evening, they’re probably playing video games or lying around the hotel room or, I don’t know, something else very important.

(As a side note, I was struck on a few occasions how a couple of the semi-elite players – whose names shall be withheld to protect their ignorance – refused an interview request on a Monday or Tuesday, saying they were far too busy. My question always was: What are they so busy with on a Monday or Tuesday?)

These are the same PGA Tour professionals who complained vociferously when the policy came down that required them to play in pro-ams or lose their spots in the field. Now that playing in a pro-am helps them build up value in their retirement funds, players put up grudgingly with the 5 or 6-hour pro-am rounds.

Under the new rule, however, only the event’s 42 highest-ranked players will play in the pro-am. The next 10 will be alternates and the next 40-plus players will become tent people for that week.

The unnamed pro in the story said the new policy is stacked against the lower-ranked players and favors the Tigers, Phils, etc., at the top of the food chain. The response to that? If your status on Tour puts you in a position that makes you uncomfortable, do something about it. Like, oh, I don’t know, playing better? As I said, I greatly respect the hard work and dedication that makes these guys elite players in the world.

But I still cringe at the misguided sense of entitlement that sometimes oozes its way from the lush fairways and opulent clubhouses on the PGA Tour.

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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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