No Comeback Player of the Year, But There's This Award?!

by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 13, 2009 9:00 AM EST

The PGA Tour - primarily because of its players' jealousy - that there will be no Comeback Player of the Year awarded this year. That's because it's Tiger Woods, and they think that still kicking their tails is not a comeback.

But, in lieu of a Comeback Player of the Year Award, the PGA Tour is going to hand out a new award: the David Chu Award to recognize outstanding contributions to the growth of golf in China.

Guess who the first recipient is? That's right. Dr. David Chu, founder of Mission Hills Golf Club in China.

For anyone wondering if the PGA Tour has serious intentions about planting a flag in Asia, nothing screams the obvious more than making up an award for a guy who's still alive and giving it to him.

"Dr. Chu’s legacy is one of a pioneer, visionary and philanthropist," said PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, who was on hand today at Mission Hills Golf Club to present the award. "Thanks to his efforts, Mission Hills has provided a platform for golf in China to take root, grow and flourish – the effects of which are certain to exceed all expectations in the years to come. We are grateful for our continued partnership with Dr. Chu and Mission Hills, and we are proud to honor him with this award."

So, the domestic PGA Tour can manage to hand out an award to a guy in China who really had no influence on the Tour until Commissioner Finchem got the HSBC Champions to become a World Golf Championship. But Tiger can't afford to be honored for the 1,000,001th time?

I know Dr. Chu has done quite a bit in the last two decades to help spur growth of golf in China, but this seems awfully premature - and premeditated.

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I’d say the sucking up to China by the PGA Tour is at least in second gear.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Nov 13, 2009 9:29 AM EST reply actions

Premeditated maybe....premature, I don't think so...

It’s about time Mr. Finchem got of his isolationist a$$ and acknowledged that golf is in fact global… and that by far the most massive growth is going to come from elsewhere than the US.

And I don’t see why they can’t honor Tiger for the 1,000,001st time as well.

by golfgirl on Nov 13, 2009 10:28 AM EST reply actions

Don’t worry, I won’t dock you for spelling out ass :)

Golf’s definitely global, but this kinda screams “kiss up” to China. First the HSBC Champions, then this. Chu deserves recognition, though.

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by Ryan Ballengee on Nov 13, 2009 10:34 AM EST up reply actions

Ummm – gg – Finchem is commissioner of the US PGA TOUR. Not some WORLD PGA Tour that you seem to think exists. He is not “isolationist” – he is the head of the most successful golf tour on the planet. The world comes here to play because the most money available is here for the best players.

That he is being supportive of golf in other parts of the world is a good thing to do – but his “isolationist a$$” is doing his job better than anybody else’s “isolationist a$$”. If you want to feel guilty about your wealth, that’s fine, but seriously, a little reality needs to sneak in these thoughts.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Nov 13, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions

world tour

If anyone thinks that this was done as a nice gesture, I have some ocean front land in Santa Fe N.M i’d like you to buy….Ol Timmy doesn’t do anything that will not make him more money or more powerful…I sense that he is putting his foot in the door so that he can leverage more control over the Asian market….watch out, this will definitely bite someone in the butt….probably the Euros, as they pose the most threat to Timmy..

by thinker on Nov 29, 2009 4:27 PM EST reply actions