PGA Tour Rule Change Keeps Duval Eligible in 2008

by Mulligan Stu on Oct 2, 2007 4:55 PM EDT

Kudos to the PGA Tour for recognizing that sometimes a family crisis is so important that a golfer has no choice but to stay home, away from the Tour, and that the golfer doesn't deserve to lose playing privileges for making that choice.

David Duval could have keep his tour card in 2008 by using a one-time exemption for golfers in the Top 50 on the career money list. But now, thanks to a PGA Tour rule change, he can save that for another year (if he needs it).

The PGA Tour has expanded what it will consider in granting medical exemptions to include "family crisis":

The PGA Tour has approved a new regulation that offers medical extensions to players who deal with a family crisis, a decision that will help David Duval and Dudley Hart next year.

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The result is "family crisis" being part of the medical extension regulations, and both Duval and Hart will be eligible.

"He's treated as if he had a back injury," said Andy Pazder, the tour's vice president of competition.

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As for other situations that might arise? Pazder said like any medical extension request, the decision lies with Finchem.

"It's got to be a serious family crisis," he said. "It's a hardship caused by the illness of immediate family."

Duval's wife was ordered into bed rest early in the year due to complications in her pregnancy, and Duval stayed home with her and the kids (and now, their healthy newborn) until reappearing last week.

Hart's wife became seriously ill in the spring, and he hasn't played since, staying home and taking care of her and their three children.

Sure, there's a danger that a golfer might try to take advantage of this rule to get around a bad season. But that danger has always been there for the existing medical exemption. As long as the PGA Tour is serious about verification and judicious in application, there shouldn't be any problems dealing with the new exemption.

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