Mercedes Goin' Back to Cali?

by Mulligan Stu on Jan 6, 2008 1:24 PM EST

I don't think so. But the Honolulu Star-Bulletin editorial board is concerned that Hawaii could lose the Mercedes-Benz Championship, which moved from California to Kapalua in 1999:

The prestigious golf tournament of last year's champions returned this week to Maui, and the Pro Bowl will kick off its 29th game at Aloha Stadium next month, but neither event's permanence in Hawaii can be taken for granted. Pro football playoffs have nudged the golf tournament from major network coverage to the Golf Channel and potentially back to California ...

A move of the Mercedes classic back to California would be devastating to the Sony Open. Many of the players at Kapalua compete at Waialae the following week, although neither Woods nor Mickelson has done so. Without golf notables, the Sony Open would lose the extraordinary media exposure to tourists.

The NFL is moving the Pro Bowl, but that's a different animal (besides, nobody - not even NFL fans - care about the Pro Bowl). I'm not sure what advantage the PGA Tour would gain by moving the Mercedes back to California. Would that increase the odds of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson playing? I doubt it. Location isn't what keeps either from playing the Mercedes.

Plus, as pointed out, moving the Mercedes would undoubtedly weaken the Sony Open.

The folks at the Star-Bulletin see a boost in news coverage as a potential PGA Tour rationale for moving back to the mainland:

"Because of the prohibitive cost of sending someone to Hawaii to cover the two opening tour events, you have to convince editors it's worth the dough needed to stay two weeks in the island chain," explains Paul Arnett, the Star-Bulletin's sports editor. "No Woods, no Mickelson, no go. And that gets tour officials thinking that maybe Hawaii isn't the place to be after all."

But as I said, it's dubious to think that Woods and Mickelson would start playing the Mercedes in California.

Besides, a lack of newspaper coverage is a pretty weak excuse for leaving Hawaii. The PGA Tour gets four nights of primetime television by having the Mercedes in Hawaii. A few extra reporters traveling from Detroit and Milwaukee wouldn't come close to making up for that. (And non-local newspapers are going to bury the Mercedes no matter where it's played because it's going up against NFL playoffs.)

Goin' back to Cali? I don't think so.

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perhaps if we could find media members who don't think they should be treated like royalty, the costs to go wouldn't be quite so prohibitive. You would think members of the media would have a bidding war over a chance to spend 2 weeks in Hawaii.

To top it all off, most of the articles and reports coming from Maui - already badmouthing The Tour and the schedule, pulling single line quotes from Vijay and Furyk.

Why is it so difficult for these people to appreciate the talents of these men, let the millions they make be their business, and quit creating trouble ?

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Jan 6, 2008 8:11 PM EST reply actions