Perhaps the LPGA Tour Should Talk to Jerry Kelly & Steve Stricker
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 13, 2009 2:18 PM EDT
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PrintThe PGA Tour's Milwaukee stop is in deep trouble. It has a crappy date on the schedule - opposite the Open Championship - and will not have a title sponsor after US Bank announced it is backing out of the event after this year.
That reality led PGA Tour player and Wisconsin native Jerry Kelly to decide to skip the Open Championship this year and play in his home state event instead. He has been working feverishly to try to save the Milwaukee stop through any means necessary.
Well, he and last week's winner Steve Stricker seem to think that they've got a rock solid plan to save the tournament. Gary D'Amato reports in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
"I get the chills thinking about it," Kelly said on the practice range at the John Deere Classic last week. "I love - I absolutely love - the possibilities."
What's the plan? Well, no one will say. But, PGA Tour Chief of Operations Rick George is optimistic.
"They've got a concept in mind," George said. "I think it's doable and possible. It would take a lot of work and a lot of logistics and coordination, but we've got a lot of options on the table."
Part one of the whole plan is the pending death of the Buick Open in Michigan. That will open up a spot on the schedule for the Wisconsin event that would be two weeks before the PGA Championship. The other part is the work of these two players sticking their necks out in their home state to find a title sponsor. It may well pay off.
If it does, perhaps they should become advisors to the LPGA Tour Board of Directors.
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It would be great if they can save the tournament – but really – should there be a Tour event opposite a major ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
It's called charity
Like only 18% of the tournament’s total purse going to the winner. In horse racing its fifty percent. Finish out of the top five, you’re out of the money.
In horse racing, there are only up to like 20 competitors :)
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 13, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
A harness horse race
has a field of 8-10 entrants depending on the size of the track(1/2, 5/8, or mile). In any given race 3-5 horse owners are going to be without pay in a week.
Where is it written the PGA Tour needs to support 125 golfers? A few years ago someone won their first event after 300 or 400 tries. In another profession they would have washed out, laid off etc.
I don’t think there should be – but, if the plan works, I don’t think there will be anyway.
Email me any comments or questions at ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jul 13, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
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