Did the PGA goof?
Two years ago it was the USGA that received universal criticism for the unplayable conditions at Shinnecock, especially hole no. 7 green. Yesterday, several of the players and most of the media -- including the commentators on The Golf Channel and ESPN (see, for example, Mercer Baggs's insightful editorial today on TGC and this article by SI's Gary Van Sickle) -- openly questioned and criticized the PGA for its decision to keep the tee times late on Sunday, conveniently at a time when CBS would get some near prime time coverage at 7 p.m., even though thunderstorms had been forecast for later in the day. The PGA official who answered questions at the press conference yesterday to justify PGA's decision looked shell-shocked from the blistering questions he faced.
I'm not sure all the criticism is justified, but I'm not a big fan of trying to run the TV golf coverage past 6 p.m. and the dinner times of thousands of fans. PGA took a gamble with the weather in playing late, and now it's stuck with Monday morning (10 am) final coverage when most fans are at work. I wonder who loses more?
UPDATE: More strong criticism of the PGA's decision not to move up the tee times on Sunday, this time from Bob Harig on espn.com and Dave Anderson of The New York Times.



5 Comments:
You betcha they did -- terrible. Don't tempt Mother Nature.
How does PGA actually lose? They got the coverage they wanted yesterday. If not as many viewers can watch on Monday, how does that translate into any lost revenue?
1) The tournament has to pay for expenses for another day of golf. Sure, you have most of it covered by volunteers, but the costs are still there.
2) Viewership may have been fine on Suncday, but I can't imagine the publicity of a poor golf move, by almost ensuring that the tournament wouldn't end on Sunday, will be positively viewed by golf fans. Every player interviewed (shown on the Golf Channel) regarding this stated that when they saw the tee time, and heard the horn blow the first time that morning, there was no way the tournament was going to end on Sunday.
3) The commercial sponsors couldn't have been happy. That does not bode well for future years' contracts.
worked out great for those of us on the west coast. caught it live before I left for work. :)
Yes sir they did. That sucked. CBS and the PGA should be ashamed.
Post a Comment
<< Home