2007 PGA Tour / Fed-X Cup Thread

[MoreWineII]

That's why my opinion was kinda lukewarm. I'll give it a chance to impress me mostly because I'll watch golf no matter what.

I think Finchem's a good commissioner, he's had a lot of help from Tiger but you can't argue with the results.

[CrazyPsycho]

Snedeker -11 through 11.

And he misses a three footer for birdie on 12.

[HDPM]

[ QUOTE ]
That's why my opinion was kinda lukewarm. I'll give it a chance to impress me mostly because I'll watch golf no matter what.

I think Finchem's a good commissioner, he's had a lot of help from Tiger but you can't argue with the results.

[/ QUOTE ]

The results are that ratings are down a lot. They won't release the figures of the TV contract. The first 3 tournaments had very few people watching. They are having trouble getting sponsors and last week came very close it sounds like to losing the International. This year's International, not next year's. They destroyed the Western Open, the Canadian Open, and lost Washington D.C. One of the courses they played last week made it likely that the only big name in the tournament won't be back next year. If the Fedex Cup gimmick works it might save Finchem. If not, expect a lot of trouble in the next 2-3 years. The players have not been asking many questions, but will start if the ratings continue to tank and tournaments are lost.

[tuq]

[ QUOTE ]
One of the courses they played last week made it likely that the only big name in the tournament won't be back next year.

[/ QUOTE ]
Are you being deliberately vague here?

FYI, last summer I played the Classic Club - impossibly lame name for a course - it opened last year to be the anchor course. It's going to be usurped in the next year or two by another, apparently awesome course nearby.

IIRC the other courses in the rota are old ones so maybe you're referring to CC. I saw nothing unfair on that course when I was playing it. You wouldn't like it though - they have cart paths and drink bitches. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[By-Tor]

[ QUOTE ]
Snedeker -11 through 11.

And he misses a three footer for birdie on 12.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wonder if he was playing 3 balls from the red's? [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Great round for the guy. Glad to see David hasn't folded (yet).

I am also very happy about the golf channel coverage. Makes too much sense which is probably why we haven't seen it until this year...

[HDPM]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
One of the courses they played last week made it likely that the only big name in the tournament won't be back next year.

[/ QUOTE ]
Are you being deliberately vague here?

FYI, last summer I played the Classic Club - impossibly lame name for a course - it opened last year to be the anchor course. It's going to be usurped in the next year or two by another, apparently awesome course nearby.

IIRC the other courses in the rota are old ones so maybe you're referring to CC. I saw nothing unfair on that course when I was playing it. You wouldn't like it though - they have cart paths and drink bitches. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, it is the classic club. I haven't played it, although I saw it from the road and it looked bad enough. So that is good enough to form an opinion, right? [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] I have heard it has a nice clubhouse. Something that can be said of Arnold Palmer courses in general I guess. But they built it in a bad area that gets high winds. Granted, on a windy day it can be windy everywhere, but there is a reason the area was developed later. Phil Mickelson apparently didn't know the course was owned byt he tournament and was the anchor course, and sounded like he wouldn't be back. He avoided knocking it directly tho. The hideous cart paths hardly entered anybody's mind, except when it took forever for the one guy to get relief from the drain then the path. Drains and concrete really fit nicely in the game. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Granted, desert courses aren't going to be like a great links course or anything. But the failure to regulate the ball and the commercial desire for more tents and parking and infrastructure and such has made it so old, fun golf courses are scrapped for things like the classic club of winde pointe presented by cialis or whatever. Just a small symptom of what is wrong. Wouldn't it be nice to see the best players playing the same courses with the same equipment as before. If they shoot lower than in years past wouldn't that be OK? Better than to have to build 7700 yard things with nice parking lots.

[tuq]

HDPM,

FWIW I am not really in line with your old school way of thinking. I play with a huge carry bag that holds a handle of Jack Daniel's to share with the group and even if I didn't lugging the bag around just isn't attractive to me anymore.

The day after X-mas we played a new minimalist course nearby (it's named one of the top 100 new courses in the world), it had carts but they were gravel paths and for the same price you could take out a motorized pull cart. We chose that option since it was a nice day. The course was designed for walking - grass transitions to the next tees, which were always nearby. My shins (shins!) hurt for like three days afterwards, and I work out every day. Sorry, it's back to the cart for me.

Anyway, I think that's a stellar course. I guess because it sits a bit high up - Palm Springs is the low point in the area, and the farther you get from it the higher the elevation and less wind protection from the mountains. But it seems like a weird thing to complain about - I've played a ton of unprotected, windswept courses. Hell, Phil did too when he lived here.

The course is thoughtfully laid out, has a very interesting mix of holes and distances, and they moved a ton of dirt. Like I said, I think they're moving it as soon as next year so I'm not even sure if it will be in the rotation. But the new one is just a couple of miles away so will face similar conditions.

[tuq]

[ QUOTE ]
I am also very happy about the golf channel coverage. Makes too much sense which is probably why we haven't seen it until this year...

[/ QUOTE ]
That Kelly chick, the host of the show in the booth along with Faldo, is like the golf version of a female poker player: in a different setting you probably wouldn't think she is that attractive, but surrounded by a bunch of fat guys and ugly broads she comes off as pretty hot. And like the poker analogy, the fact that she seems to know a lot about golf makes her even more attractive to the casual viewer.

[MoreWineII]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
That's why my opinion was kinda lukewarm. I'll give it a chance to impress me mostly because I'll watch golf no matter what.

I think Finchem's a good commissioner, he's had a lot of help from Tiger but you can't argue with the results.

[/ QUOTE ]

The results are that ratings are down a lot. They won't release the figures of the TV contract. The first 3 tournaments had very few people watching. They are having trouble getting sponsors and last week came very close it sounds like to losing the International. This year's International, not next year's. They destroyed the Western Open, the Canadian Open, and lost Washington D.C. One of the courses they played last week made it likely that the only big name in the tournament won't be back next year. If the Fedex Cup gimmick works it might save Finchem. If not, expect a lot of trouble in the next 2-3 years. The players have not been asking many questions, but will start if the ratings continue to tank and tournaments are lost.

[/ QUOTE ]

He's been commissioner since 1994...do you remember how many people cared about golf back then? It wasn't many.

[sean c]

Jury is out on the fed ex cup i don't know much about it. The golf channel's coverage of the Bob Hope was the worst i have ever seen. Kell Tillman/Nick Faldo OMFG. It also looked like someone was using their hand held camcorder without auto focus or something and the wind noise was annoying. Hopefully they get better in the future.