PGA Tour commissioner Tim
Finchem has urged golf's two ruling bodies to come up with one
set of rules to head off any future equipment problems.
Speaking in a teleconference on Wednesday, Finchem
addressed the issue surrounding Callaway's ERC driver, which is
banned by the U.S. Golf Association, but deemed legal by the
Royal & Ancient.
The USGA sets the rules for competition in the U.S. and
Canada, while the R&A does so for the rest of the world. Thus,
the ERC driver is banned at PGA Tour events held in the U.S.
but legal for those played overseas.
"We have encouraged the R&A and the USGA to have one set of
rules, to figure out a way to come together," Finchem said.
"They share our concerns. Somewhere down the road, before
additional equipment issues arise beyond the driver, we hope
they come to grips with one system.
"In the meantime, when we play overseas, we will follow the
R&A."
Finchem, as is his job, spoke glowingly of the state of the
tour. Among other things, he said:
1 - prizemoney next year would reach about $180 million.
2 - the Hispanic fan base had increased 400 percent in the
past few years.
3 - that Tiger Woods and the tour were on the same
wavelength.
Woods last month slammed Finchem and revealed that he had
some major problems with the tour. He expressed particular
concern that companies sponsoring tour events were using his
image, against his wishes, to promote their tournaments.
For example, Mercedes regularly takes out magazine adds
featuring Woods to promote the Mercedes Championship, even
though Woods is sponsored by another motor vehicle company.
"It's always in our interests to maintain the support of
individual players," Finchem said. "He had some questions about
our regulations with regard to image.
"We did not have any major disagreements. After we had an
opportunity to share details, we are going to work very closely
together in a lot of areas, walk down this path together."
