FanNation

Players on the cut line have always had a tough life.

I think they would be better off going on split tees AND enforcing pace of play rules than eliminating a player from making a living.

It has the same effect as a weekly layoff would in business.

I guess while I love the see the top players, its also great to see the journeyman jump out of nowhere to win. Better paychecks than last place money is important to these guys.

AugustaGolfer32 | 02/12/08, 08:18 AM

Okay, pay close attention folks as I'm only going to say this once. This new cut rule that TV executives want made (and the muddleheaded commish who-doesn't-know-any-better wants to follow along with) has nothing to do with pace of play, shots or size of field. It all has to do with television and NOTHING else. Just TV. Get it? They want to be able to drag the finish later and later. When you have a guy who makes the cut line teeing off on Sunday at 11:00 AM and the leaders teeing off at 4:50 that brings the group a little closer to the evening crowd watching televison. The problem with this is that golf can't (so far) be played under the lights like football or baseball. Once again the Commissioner is allowing someone else to tweak the tour for him. There is nothing wrong with having a large field on the weekend tee off at 8:00 AM and the leaders tee off at 1:00 PM THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT THAT WAY FOR YEARS!!!!!!!!!! Here's the deal. Let's say you have Tiger, for example, out of contention ten groups back. Well, if he tees off at 1:50 PM with the leaders teeing off at 3:59 PM then you still get to watch him on the Telly--and that is exactly what the TV guys want. The tour is spiraling downward and there is nobody watching the store. God help us.

Jonisagolffan | 02/12/08, 10:17 AM

"Rule 78" should be the last of Daly's worries.

The drunken, chain-smoking, fat slob is ony playing becaue of sponsors' exemptions anyway. He needs to focus on his fitness level and his game.

"Rule 78" will be of no concern to him if he simply plays better.

Dapper Dave | 02/12/08, 01:01 PM

Dave the Dapper is a Daly hater.

Space Ace | 02/12/08, 02:03 PM

Yes I am! Just as many of you are Tiger haters.

But at least I don't hate him because of the color of his...

...shoes.

Dapper Dave | 02/12/08, 09:58 PM

"Rule 78" will be of no concern to him if he simply plays better.

Dapper Dave | 02/12/08, 01:01 PM


Or sees to it that 78 is no longer his waste size. i'm sure his swing mechanics have changed with his girth.

localboy54 | 02/12/08, 10:48 PM

or, that could be waist size. With Daly, you can never tell!

localboy54 | 02/12/08, 10:49 PM

The rule wasn't designed with Daly in mind guys. Daly is going to play irrespective of HOW he plays before the weekend. He is way too popular of a player not to get sponsors exemptions. He doesn't need his card--he never will need his card. Daly is nearly as big a factor for drawing fans to a golf course as Woods is. When you have that kind of potential and you are running a tournament you have a decision to make. Should I invite Daly to play or not? Next question. Are you guys ready for this? Guys like Daly not ONLY get an invite but they are PAID just to show up. That's right, paid up front just to come to an event.

Jonisagolffan | 02/13/08, 08:56 AM

Who here suggested the rule was designed with Daly in mind?

"Daly is nearly as big a factor for drawing fans to a golf course as Woods is."

You have to either be under the influence of some powerful hallucenogenic drug or just flat-out stupid to make such an asinine statement.

Have you seen the reports/studies on broadcast ratings when Woods is in the field of a non-major event versus when he's not? Well, the same holds true for ticket sales for any non-major event that Woods plays in.

If Daly announced his withdrawal from an event and Woods followed with an announcement that he was going to take the spot Daly vacated you can bet your entire retirement nest egg that ticket sales would skyrocket. The reverse would happen if Woods announced his withdraw and Daly took his place.

Tiger Woods is THE most recognized name and most potent force in the golfing world. Daly is to Woods what the John Deere Classic is to the Masters.

To suggest otherwise is sheer lunacy!

Dapper Dave | 02/13/08, 10:46 AM

Dapper. Is that your name? Dapper? How about Duper? Can we change it to Duper Dave? Stick to reviewing something you know about. If you think Daly isn't worshipped every bit as much as Woods then you don't know golf. Wannabe fans who really don't know the sport, and, of course the media, can only see Woods--much the same way that a kid was a Michael Jordan fan and really knowing nothing about the game of basketball. Four-fifths of Tiger Wood's fan base is strictly hero-worship like for that of Jordan. People who are fans of Woods don't know golf, they don't care. It isn't a requisite for wanting to be a drooling adorer. If you enjoy calling people "idiots" I suggest you look in the mirror and repeat it several times.

Jonisagolffan | 02/13/08, 11:52 AM

Daly has talent. If he would reduce his alcohol consumption by 78%, then Rule 78 would no longer be an issue for him.

Pathetic | 02/13/08, 12:46 PM

"If you think Daly isn't worshipped every bit as much as Woods then you don't know golf. Wannabe fans who really don't know the sport, and, of course the media, can only see Woods--much the same way that a kid was a Michael Jordan fan and really knowing nothing about the game of basketball. Four-fifths of Tiger Wood's fan base is strictly hero-worship..."

80% ot Tiger's fans are rooted in "hero worship"? Please point me to the survey that was conducted producing that stat? There's no such survey? Oh.

Okay, then tell me which beer bar, poker game or bowling alley you were in when you heard that stat. Or which neighbor, relative, co-worker or drinking buddy gave you the stat.

Listen, let's apply a little common sense to this 'discussion'. When a golfer is IMMENSELY popular that golfer garners a slew of prestigious endorsement opportunities from the most promineht non-golf equipment/apparel sponsors. This is the true, bellweather indicator of a golfer's popularity.

Please share with us the list of prominent sponsors who are standing in line, with checkbook in hand, for the chance to sign Mr. Daly up - or who have already signed him. Did you say none? Oh.

Ely Callaway dumped Daly years ago because of his reckless, irresponsible behavior. Even "84 Lumber" kicked this drunk to the curb. He has a shoe and equipment sponsorship deal - like virtually every other golfer on tour.

You can talk 'til you're blue in the face, but you can NEVER elevate Daly to the level of even Mickleson, Toms, Love III, Els or Garcia. And to mention his name in the same breadth with Tiger's is well beyond foolish.

Dapper Dave | 02/13/08, 03:10 PM

Dave. No one is trying to put Daly in the same talent pool as the players you mention. I was referring to John's drawing power relative to the general public.
I've seen it first hand. And, it has to be seen to be believed. Go to any tournament this summer and, if Daly is in the field, watch where the crowds are. Hell, even Veejay doesn't draw that kind of crowd. But, to get back to the thread of the topic, the 78 rule is designed to trim the pool so that the TV guys can compress as many marquee players into the air time that they have. I'm not sure that's advantageous for one and more importantly having the leaders tee off on Sunday after 2:30 is a big risk. If you have the slightest hiccup in the weather or if there is a playoff, it's going to be kicked into Monday. It doesn't need to be that way but Fichem is letting the networks call the shots.

Jonisagolffan | 02/13/08, 05:40 PM

Here's an excerpt from an L.A. Times article on John Daly and his travails at this week's Northern Trust Open.

"His invitations to tournaments have dropped, partially because he keeps missing cuts.
He lost 84 Lumber as a sponsor, and even worse, he lost Hooters. If there was ever a prototype sponsor for Daly, this was it.
And now it's gone. Back in the day, the Daly high point for sponsors was the time he wore logos on his shirt for TrimSpa and Dunkin Donuts at the same time, which Daly compared to simultaneously endorsing Alcoholics Anonymous and Budweiser.
Daly is still trudging on, as his playing opportunities and sponsors shrink, unlike his waistline."

In all fairness, the article did also mention that his fan base remains intact.

However, the article also touched on the fact Daly's income has taken a precipitous dive with his loss of sponsors and inability to be competitive on the course.

Having a horde of raucous, drunken, beer guzzling, fun-loving fans won't pay your bills!

I fear this guy is headed for a very sad ending.

P.S. He did shoot a 69 yesterday and appears to be in position to pick up a nice piece of change this week.

Dapper Dave | 02/15/08, 10:35 AM

"P.S. He did shoot a 69 yesterday and appears to be in position to pick up a nice piece of change this week."

I guess I spoke too soon.

Daly reverted back to his "current" form and posted closing scores of 74-73-76 to end up tied for second-to-last. Anyone following a guy around the course who's playing that badly is not a at the tournament to see good golf; they're at the tournament to hoot and holler and drink and party. Of course, it's their right to do those things, but, please, don't try to transform this group into serious golfing fans.

"Serious" golfing fans are interested in seeing great shot making, putting and good all-around play.

Dapper Dave | 02/18/08, 08:19 AM