The PGA Tour vs. Media and Twitter: A Losing Battle
by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 29, 2010 10:57 AM EST
in Pro Golf
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PrintWhile I was roaming the floors of the PGA Show yesterday with some mainstream media brethren, I was told that Alan Shipnuck got into a little trouble for Tweeting about Phil Mickelson's round as it was happening at Torrey Pines. According to the PGA Tour's agreement that credentialed media sign, they are not allowed to purport play-by-play updates of live tournament action.
It's rule 7c, according to Steph Wei, who I'm glad to see caught this and memorialized it. In the sport, we talk so often about the honor of the game and that players call penalties on themselves. In this case (and that of Ron Sirak and others that Tweet live action), they shouldn't have to do that. The Tour should be calling a foul on themselves.
The basic rule is that media who are credentialed by the Tour for that week cannot Tweet live action. But what about the other weeks of the year when we're not at an event? Is it ok to Tweet then? I mean, after all, we're just normal people at that point - not mooching off of Tour-provided food and beverage in their air-conditioned media centers.
What's to stop me from live Tweeting everything that is happening at the tournament when I'm not there? Am I to hold myself up to some kind of vow of silence about Tour action when I'm not at an event? I really don't have the time or interest to do play-by-play on Twitter, but if I get really bored one Saturday afternoon, I want the option.
The same thing applies to people who just happen to be fans of the Tour on Twitter. They could Tweet the live action as it happens. Will the Tour send them a direct message politely asking them to not Tweet? Get serious.
I knew this day was coming. At the US Open this year, the USGA had a regulation against live messaging in much the same fashion as the PGA Tour's. And everybody and their grandmother ignored it. Ultimately, the USGA didn't care and probably had very little leverage against a pissy media corps that could have been stuck on Long Island until Tuesday. The Tweeting actually worked out in the USGA's favor because it gave fans something to look at and some looks behind the scenes of the tournament as it was being delayed.
The PGA Tour may well have to cede to social media on this one. The prolific nature of social media is just too much for one organization to enforce.
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You Can't Stop The Signal
The PGA are being Luddites in this regard, because you can’t stop the signal. As you point out, you or I or Alan Shipnuck could post all we want on Twitter from in front of our TeeVee. Oh, I suppose they could complain about it being copyrighted content, but I would take my chances in court by saying it was news and thus not copyrightable as they present it. I would likely win, as I would be employing a precedent that has SCOTUS decisions to back it.
Anyway, the reality is this: say Shipnuck was Twittering that Mickelson was about to toss a 69 onto his card. Were I near a TV I would be rushing to watch it happen. That said, Twitter only draws to their telecast and other media, not detract from it.
The PGA seem insecure to say the least.
If they thought about it, as you say, it will draw more viewers to them.
Following his slap on the wrist
Shipnuck’s tweets were hilarious. (Link to Steph for those not on Twitter).
May take another year or two before PGA cede however.
Depends who you follow, Easing
I follow several golfers: McDowell, Olly Wilson, Rory, Ogilvy, Casey, Cink, etc. as well as Poults/Ken. Some are more prolific than others (Poults/Cink) and they give you interesting info. you don’t get elsewhere. They’ll talk about the rounds they’ve just had (good or bad – imagine Poults comments on missing the cut today for example), talk about themselves as people and INTERACT. Yes, they reply to the public.
Twitter (via BTuck on TravelGolf) led me to OEG, OMP, RealWomenGolf, GolfGirl, etc, and ……drumroll – Waggleroom. (They all tweet).
You don’t need to post any tweets yourself. I don’t, except to pose questions/make comments to the people I follow. It gets a bad press sometimes from twits who tweet “I got up this morning”. My list is obviously of the highest pedigree!!!
Honestly, Twitter is a great source for news and post material. And if you’re just a fan and want to follow people, then it’s a great way to see what some of the more open athletes, instructors, and writers are saying.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroomryan, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 29, 2010 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
Wendy,I knew you followed Cink, lol
I remember Ken Brown going on about it at the Open and the Ladies Open at Lytham when following Kim..only now I was reminded I found it interesting, I might give it a whirl, when I have a day or two off, thanks.
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