Nike poured an estimated
$30 million into a developmental tour that became the official link to the PGA
Tour. David Duval, Tom Lehman, and Stuart Appleby all played the Nike Tour before
going on to bigger and better things.
But when Nike canceled its
title sponsorship last year, the PGA Tour didn't waste any time moving on. Every
record and reference is to the new sponsor -- Buy.com.
Exhibit A: Carl Paulson
played the entire 1999 season on the Nike Tour and led the money list. During
the awards dinner in Hawaii this month, he was honored as the "Buy.com Tour"
player of the year.
Did you know that Matt Gogel
and Sean Murphy share the record with six career "Buy.com Tour" victories? Never
mind that a Buy.com Tour event has yet to be played.
"We're not trying to change
history," said Bob Combs, senior vice president of communications for the PGA
Tour. "We're in a mode where we have to try to make people cognizant and comfortable
with the Buy.com Tour. I think people understand that 'Buy.com' includes the
entire history of the tour.
"We appreciate what Nike
has done. The history book will always recognize their long involvement with
us."
He said the Buy.com Tour
media guide, which has not been released, will include records that reflect what
each tournament was called -- whether it was part of the Hogan Tour from 1990-92,
or the Nike Tour from 1993-99.
Nike, which decided to shift
its marketing emphasis on its products, is not offended at the constant oversight.
"I think people realize
that Nike helped make that tour," Nike spokesman Mike Kelly said. "They have
moved on to a new sponsor, and I guess they need to cater to that sponsor."
DUVAL'S KEEPSAKE:
While in the California desert for the Skins Game back in November, David Duval
wandered into the Beer Hunter restaurant one night. A couple of patrons asked
if he would sign a scorecard from his 59.
"I'll sign it," Duval told
them. "Just as long as you understand it's not the real card."
If any PGA West scorecards
are around with a 59 next to Duval's name, they're fakes. Duval keeps the real
thing in a safety deposit box.
And it could stay there
for a while.
"That's one thing I have
that's very personal," he said during the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, the one-year
anniversary of hitting golf's magic number.
Duval said the World Golf
Hall of Fame approached him about putting the scorecard on display, but hasn't
followed up. He seemed amiable to the idea of having the card on loan in the
shrine.
HAVING A BALL: Now
that Nike has a ball on the market, its next order of business is getting players
to use it.
Nike has made a big investment
in getting its ball on the PGA Tour. Fourteen players are using the Nike ball,
up from one at this time last year. One industry source said Paul Azinger signed
on for $250,000.
"There are three areas you
need to be a player in the ball market, and one of them is visibility on tour,"
Nike spokesman Mike Kelly said.
It appears to be paying
off.
Azinger won the Sony Open
-- his first tournament of the year and first victory since being diagnosed with
cancer in 1993 -- using the Nike Tour Accuracy. A week later , Michael Campbell
used the same ball to win the New Zealand Open.
EYE TO THE FUTURE:
Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal is making his 2000 debut in Australia this
week at the Heineken Classic. It's doubtful, however, he will go back to Australia
the first week of January next year for the WGC Andersen Consulting Match Play
Championship.
"December and the early
part of January is my offseason, and I don't think I'm going to change that,"
said Olazabal, the only eligible player to skip the Mercedes Championships.
Other players, such as Colin
Montgomerie, also have said they might skip the $5 million event.
"It depends on the year
I have -- and the New Year's Eve party I have,'' Els said.
MEDIA SAVVY: While
David Duval can give some of the most forthright interviews in golf, he also
can be curt and disinterested. Perhaps that's why IMG decided to offer media
training.
The first tape his agency
wanted to analyze came from Duval's pre-tournament press conference in the Bob
Hope Chrysler Classic. It didn't take long for Duval to give IMG some fodder.
Question: David, just wanted
to get your thoughts on Casey Martin being in this tournament.
Duval: My thoughts on Casey
Martin? Haven't thought about it.
Duval later gave an insightful
response to a more specific question about Martin and his cart.
"He earned his shot out
here," Duval said. "I don't necessarily see him as something different. He's
a player, and he has status out here, and he's eligible, and so it's no different
seeing him than it would be seeing Billy Andrade."
DIVOTS:Sergio Garcia wanted to play the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am next week with his 16-year-old sister
Marta. But Marta didn't think her game was in good enough shape -- even though
she's a 4-handicap. ... Former U.S. Open champion Scott Simpson broke a leg skiing
but hopes to return in time for the Buick Invitational at San Diego. Simpson
had to miss the Sony Open in Hawaii for the first time since joining the PGA
Tour in 1979 ... Ben and Julie Crenshaw will be a featured sports couple in the
Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue next month. ... Garcia won the Association
of Golf Writers' Trophy for the European player who made the most outstanding
contributions to golf over the past 12 months. Garcia, 20, defeated Colin Montgomerie
by one vote to become the youngest winner since British Amateur champion John
Beharrell in 1956.
STAT OF THE WEEK:
Since turning pro, Tiger Woods has won 22.5 percent of his PGA Tour events. He
has recorded top-10 finishes in 62 percent of his tournaments.
FINAL WORD:
"How I would love to be 16
again. Then again, I would also love to be 58 again." JoAnne Carner, 61, who
was in the LPGA field at Naples, Fla., with 16-year-old Catherine Cartwright.
