Golf Notes January 24

The PGA Tour is not in the business of regulating equipment for its tournaments.

At least not yet.

Commissioner Tim Finchem is disturbed by the fact the U.S. Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club took opposite sides over the debate on thin-faced drivers. The PGA Tour follows USGA guidelines, although thin-faced drivers are allowed overseas in the British Open, Ryder Cup and some World Golf Championship events.

Could the PGA Tour develop its own equipment standards? Yes.

Does it want to? No.

``There are lots of reasons we should not be in that business,'' Finchem said. ``At some point, we may have to make a determination that getting in that business ... the merits outweigh the concerns we have. We're a couple of years away from having to do that.''

The latest debate is over the size of drivers.

The USGA angered manufacturers by proposing a 385 cubic centimeter limit. Three weeks later -- and just as Zevo Golf Co. prepared to file a lawsuit -- the USGA changed its proposal to 470cc.

Callaway Golf chief Ron Drapeau questioned how much thought or testing went into either proposal. Barney Adams, chairman of Adams Golf, was equally perplexed.

``This reversal is good for manufacturers, good for golfers, but illuminates the USGA as making arbitrary, nontechnical decisions with little understanding or concern for the golfer or the equipment manufacturers,'' Adams said. ``And that concerns me.''

Still on the horizon is a new test to measure how far golf balls can go.

Finchem agrees that distance must be curtailed, and says the tour would support any decision that puts a cap on the current length of equipment. He realizes it's not easy, that it must be done in such a way that allows companies to create products making golf more enjoyable for amateurs.

``It's important to have one set of equipment rules worldwide. We do not have that today,'' Finchem said. ``It's important to have rules that draw the line in the sand on distance. We're hopeful those two things come to pass.

``If at some point it appears that they're not going to come to pass, we would have to re-evalutate whether we ought to become involved in equipment rulemaking.

``That's not something we want to do.''

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT

The number of times Sergio Garcia waggles the club will probably get higher before he settles into a permanent routine. That's the prediction from Jack Nicklaus, who speaks from experience.

``I had to learn what hurt me in the long run and what bothered other players, and I had to learn to make my own adjustments,'' Nicklaus said.

Nicklaus was notoriously deliberate over the ball, although he doesn't recall taking nearly as many waggles as the 22-year-old Spaniard (mid-20s in Hawaii).

``As long as he ... doesn't interfere with the play and movement of the field, I'm sure it won't change,'' Nicklaus said. ``But somewhere along the line, that probably will adjust. I was behind on every hole and forcing my fellow competitors to rush, and it wasn't fair. I was hurting them and had to change the way I played.''

When asked if he counted the waggles during the Mercedes Championships,Nicklaus replied, ``No. My watch stopped in the middle of it.''

HAIR TODAY

The biggest component of an endorsement deal is the hat, which is the most visible billboard for companies and the most profitable for players.

That's what makes Pat Bates' situation so unique.

Bates, who earned a battlefield promotion by winning three times on the Buy.com Tour, has two contracts with Cleveland Golf -- one with a hat, one without. He is giving up a good chunk of money to go without a lid, but the trade-off is keeping his identity.

For the last nine years, Bates has worn his hair past his shoulders and looks more like Andre Agassi from the early '90s than a PGA Tour player. His rock-star appearance already makes him one of the most recognizable players among newcomers on tour.

``I do look a little different,'' Bates said. ``I get a little more notoriety having longer hair, but I don't do it for the notoriety. It's part of me.''

He's under no pressure from Cleveland to wear a hat.

``Cleveland made it known that they liked this look,'' said David Parker, his agent at Links Management Group. ``They didn't want to force Pat to wear a hat. You don't get that very often. Companies are pretty strict about headwear.''

Then again, there are issues beyond endorsement money.

``My wife is the boss,'' Bates said. ``And she likes it long.''

MANAGEMENT CHANGE

Jack Nicklaus left IMG in 1970 to handle his own affairs, depriving IMG founder Mark McCormack of the ``Big Three'' since he also had Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.

Now that his playing career is all but over, Nicklaus could be returning.

He met with IMG officials two weeks before Christmas and is close to signing a deal.

``I know their people,'' Nicklaus said. ``I know what they're doing and I'm trying to simplify my life so that I can concentrate on my core business.''

Nicklaus said he hasn't received a proposal from IMG, ``but they feel very confident that they can help me accomplish my goals.''

DIVOTS

Nick Seitz, who has spent the past 35 years at Golf Digest magazine, will receive the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism for 2002. ... Former Nabisco champion Pat Hurst had her second child, a daughter named Reilly Ann Heitt who was born Jan. 15 in Phoenix. ... One sponsor's exemption 17-year-old Ty Tryon will not take this year is the Byron Nelson Classic. No disrespect to Lord Byron, but that's the same week as Tryon's high school prom.

STAT OF THE WEEK

Esteban Toledo shot in the 60s all five rounds at the Bob Hope Classic and tied for 52nd, 13 strokes out of the lead.

FINAL WORD

``Tiger is a great guy, one of my best friends, and I always like to see him in the tournament. But if he's not here, I'm not going to lose sleep over it. In fact, I might sleep better.'' -- Mark Calcavecchia, defending champion at the Phoenix Open.

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