PGA Making Moves in Right Direction

With the U.S. Open at the midway point, there are a couple of substantial newsworthy items involving the PGA TOUR.

The TOUR continues makes strides in the area of digital media. Beginning next season, all TV coverage will be available though online simulcast or via mobile apps. Yes, every tournament. This is according to a report on MobileSportsReport.com. Over the past couple of years, we have experienced a boon of online viewing through LIVE@ for 10 non-major event each year. LIVE@ will continue to provide its coverage of limited events, but its the TOUR that will offer the simulcast coverage along with the live TV coverage.

According to Luis Goicouria, the vice president of operations and business development for PGA Tour Digital, it will be a “full blown studio production”. Production costs are the reason LIVE@ is not available for more than 10 events per year.

Shot Tracker may also be available for mobile devices. While no set date has been announced for this feature, the issues surrounding capability have been uncovered. Shot Tracker was built with Adobe Flash and that is not compatible with Apple products. Goicouria did state a revamp of the Shot Tracker was in order and might be all set to go come the beginning of the 2013 season. iPhone and iPad users, keep your fingers crossed on this as Shot Tracker is a nice companion to have as you’re viewing a tournament.

One thing is for sure. Golf has yet to catch up to the other major sports as far as digital media and its usage for coverage of live events. The TOUR acknowledges that point. Even with this expansion, there is still a ways to go. What may prove to be a potential issue is allowing these devices (smart phones, tablets, etc.) at tournaments. While the PGA is steadfast that they will permit such into events, the players, not all of them, have not been as receptive. I will hazard a guess that a compromise, or maybe even a notification by the TOUR, will be the overriding verdict.

Yes, you could be sitting at the 18th hole, just like the 18th at Olympic as pictured, tablet on lap and catching the simulcast of what’s happening on the 15th…for every tournament.

The other piece of news is that the PGA TOUR may be taking over the Canadian Tour and Tour de Las Americas, which is the Mexican Golf Tour. Canada.com through the Edmonton Journal’s Curtis Stock cites this and adds the PGA, in fact, provided an undisclosed sum of money to the Canadian Tour so that the tour would have operating funds for this season. The Canadian Tour would be known as the PGA Tour of Canada and the Mexican Golf Tour would be the PGA Tour of Mexico (Original, huh?).

An announcement could be coming as early as next week. Tim Garbutt, executive director of the ATB Financial Classic which will host its tournament next weekend in Edmonton, states a PGA official will be present at his tournament this week and the Syncrude Boreal Open to be held in Fort McMurray the following week.

The benefits are that the Canadian season would run its course in the summer and the season in Mexico would run in the winter. Top players from both would be granted full status on the Nationwide Tour. No set number has yet been set. The “purpose” of the PGA official visiting will be to discuss sponsors (always a topic) and the operations aspect.

Garbutt believes this decision will enhance the depth of tournaments.

"“The depths of the fields will be so much better. Guys just coming out of college would almost all be wanting to play on the PGA Tour of Canada in the summer and then PGA Tour of Mexico in the winter. It’s also great from the aspect of financial stability.”"

This will provide another gateway to the PGA. Play in Canada and in Mexico and you would have status on the Nationwide…although that has been an issue as of late due to the whole Q-school situation. Still, providing a deeper field could lead to better play and possibly, depending on sponsorship and finances, higher purses. You never know.