There is a World Tour. It's called the NEC World Golf Championships. Greg Norman tried that a few years back and was vilified (by the PGA Tour and some PGA players) for his efforts. Tim Finchim (sp) shot the idea down and then started the World Golf Championships a few years later. This practically drove Norman away from the PGA Tour and created fierce animosity between the two. I saw an interview with Norman on TGC last year where he said if he were elected into the Hall of Fame he wouldn't appear because of Finchim.
Appearance fees would never be rolled into the purse. That would defeat the purpose of the appearance fees in the first place. Combining the two would not guarantee the top players. Some of today's purses are 6-7 million dollars,with 1 million plus going to the winner, and they still don't draw all the stars. If golf isn't careful it will find itself in the same boat as NHL Hockey. Tournaments cannot continue to pay huge purses without the huge stars competing. Check out the fields of the last 3 PGA Tour events and tell me they can continue much longer without better attendance from the stars.
Last edited by leaguegolf : October 26th, 2004 at 07:24 PM.
I didn't know Norman already tried that. Interesting, but rumor has it that the appearence fees are higher then what first place pays. Does anybody know if that is true or not?
At some European tour events they are. Tiger got a reported $2-3 million for his appearance in Dubai this year, and got a similar amount to appear at the Deutsche Bank SAP Open last year. So in that case it might be more than the whole purse.
Tiger was reported to have been paid several million dollars for "appearing" in Thailand a few years ago. That was more than the entire purse of the event. 2-4 million is reported to be Tiger's fee for appearing overseas but that's unconfirmed....naturally.
For that amount of money who would care if they played good or not. Just get a name and show up. This is a problem, where is the incentive to play your best when just showing up pays you more then the entire purse. Perhaps if that money was added to the purse then more good players would be interested in the tournament. My point in the first place.
Perhaps if that money was added to the purse then more good players would be interested in the tournament. My point in the first place.
The opportunity to win a large purse event doesn't have the appeal to the big names that it used to. Rolling appearance money into the prize money doesn't guarantee a big star. A hefty appearance fee does. There's no incentive for the event sponsor to roll the money in because that might not get him the player and/or players he needs to be successful. He says in a deep baritone voice "Checks...if you write them.....they will come!" Sorry it's still baseball season and Field of Dreams is one of my favorites.
I hear you, but that was one of my points, No Appearence Money! Unfortunately it won't happen unless there is only one governing body. Oh well, this is a boring subject. I wish my local golf courses would pay me just to show up and grace them with my presence.
Ernie Els is quoted this week (after meeting with Tim Finchim) as saying, "I have no problem with the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour has no problem with me."
It looks like whatever differences they may have had, have been resolved. I haven't read anything about the PGA Tour changing any of it's membership requirements. That shows me who has the power here.
October 26th, 2004, 06:14 PM
That shows me who has the power here. 
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