golfrewind.com

Greetings ..

On Sunday March 18, 2007, the 4th round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill was played. Justin Leonard, the 79th player in the post-36-hole-cut weekend field teed off at 7:57 AM EDT, not long after sunrise. Tiger Woods teed off at 1:00 PM, Vijay Singh at at 1:36 PM, and 3rd Round leaders Vaughn Taylor and Ben Curtis at 1:45 PM.

When NBC-TV went on the air at 2:30 PM, Leonard had long since finished, and with no groups in front, very quickly, no doubt! Meanwhile, Taylor and Curtis were on the 4th green, Singh was playing the 5th and Woods was starting the Back 9.

By approximately 5:52 P.M., Singh had finished and was assured of victory. Taylor and Curtis were just about to play the 18th. At 5:55 pm, Singh had a brief TV interview with NBC's Jimmy Roberts. This was not the official closing cermony, and tournament host Arnold Palmer was not present. Taylor and Curtis were still on the 18th when NBC's Dan Hicks announced that the Peacock Network had run out of its allotted air time and signed off.

Now it's after 6:00 PM and there is no TV coverage as Taylor and Curtis finish up their round. Minutes after that, the official closing ceremony begins. The gathering includes Arnold Palmer, Vijay Singh, tournament officials, charity representatives and the major sponsors, including MasterCard.

Decades ago (Yes, I go back that far), all play in a regular event would be over early enough that TV could show a trophy presentation, plus an extended interview with the winner as well as the tournament host(s).

It's not that way anymore.

Thanx-A-Lot, Frank-0-Sport

I wonder what time Vaughn Taylor and Ben Curtis were supposed to tee off. If it was 1:45 PM, then I don't think they're allowing enough time to finish with a 6 PM ending. I know that's 4 hours and 15 minutes and I could certainly finish my rounds in this time but I guess I assume PGA Tour tournament rounds last longer.