Tiger Woods is already in the 2021 World Golf Hall Of Fame class.
Now former PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem has joined him.
Tiger was a bonafide Hall Of Famer by the time he was 25. He has gone on to stand on the threshold of the all-time wins record and has amassed 15 major championships. Tiger is arguably in the same class as 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus in the discussion for Greatest Of All Time.
So now comes the former PGA Tour commissioner whose main claim to fame is taking the tour from $100 million in purses and three tours to $400 million and six tours. But that’s it.
So who really grew those purses? Pretty easy answer — Eldrick Tont Woods. From the time he burst on the scene to his victory at the 2019 Masters, no one has driven the ratings needle in golf like Tiger Woods. Woods brought viewers to golf who normally wouldn’t give a hoot about the sport. Woods also brought huge endorsement deals for himself and other stars on tour — although no one could touch the Woods marketing power.
It’s a debatable scenario when you allow administrators and league bosses into Halls Of Fame. So does being a commissioner automatically mean Hall Of Fame status?
So far, the main thing mentioned with Finchem is the increase in the money and you wonder if it would have grown in those proportions without that player they call Tiger?
During his reign as commissioner Finchem oversaw a culture that brought a high level of secrecy when it came to disciplinary proceedings and drug testing that are more transparent in other major sports. But at the end of the day, Finchem left the PGA Tour in a better place than he found it.
There is also precedent. Deane Beman, the man Finchem replaced after Beman’s retirement, is in the hall, as are Augusta National’s Billy Payne and the European Tour’s Ken Schofield.
Some schools of thought believe Halls Of Fame should be limited to those who performed on the courses and playing field.
But you can always fall back on one of Tiger’s go-to sayings: “It is what it is….”
Finchem joins the class along with Tiger and Marion Hollins.
So make room for yet another commissioner — like it or not.
4 Comments
baxter cepeda
I do think time Finchem is in the Hall; obviously thanks to tiger.
I don’t think you mentioned Tim’s pivotal roles in:
Fed ex cup playoffs (albeit the finale STILL needs fixing)
The presidents cup
WgCs
Olympics
The work he did through the financial crisis.
Finchem belongs in the Hall because he took pretty good advantage of Tigers impact for the better. Even when Tiger was seemingly done the numbers maintained.
He belongs. Imo.
Tom Edrington
With other commissioners/executives in there, can’t fight precedent….
baxter cepeda
I would hope commissioners are not guaranteed The Hall.
Bemon like Finchem did Enough to earn Hall bids.
Monahan has a long way to go, right now I’m not sure he makes it. He came out talking big ideas but I’m not seeing it yet.
Imo Monahans chances at the Hall rest in women’s golf. This of course is assuming he doesn’t ruin all chance at the Hall if his decision making gets a bunch of people sick.
But assuming he does not…
Jay came out talking big plans about bringing women into pga tour events, specifically citing Maui’s TOC (where he said it).
Federer is in the news today talking about tennis using this situation to bring men and women’s tennis together. The world surf league does it and their purses are now equal; the ladies add a nice variety there for sure. We see how the NBA helps the women’s game; and now thanks to Kobe women’s basketball has faces, heroes. By gone it I’m looking around for flying pigs because for the first time I believe the WNBA just may become digestible. That euro tour event In Australia bringing men and women together has become one of their best; 2 for 1.
All these commissioners have made names for themselves bringing the genders together. Monahan will struggle to raise revenues 400% but whom knows. He will struggle to add his own events to an overly tight schedule.
To make the Hall someday Jay Will need to get a lot more patient now and a lot more creative later.
I would start the creative process by talking to arguably the best commissioner in golf, Mike Whan…talk about Hall bound someday (even with the Evian thing).
Tom Edrington
Mike has done a great job for the LPGA; Women’s golf is a tough sell, especially when you get a lot of players who don’t speak English; That would make for a very long pro-am round…