PGA Tour hates Kenny Perry winning PGA Colonial

May 23

PGA Tour hates Kenny Perry winning PGA Colonial

I’ve been wondering for a long time why the PGA Tour, along with its television partners, tournaments, sponsors, advertisers, and everybody else associated with, seems to hate no-name players winning its tournaments. They don’t come right out and say it, but it’s evidenced in so many subtle ways.

I, for one, love seeing upsets, particularly when it’s a nobody upsetting a Tiger Woods or a Phil Mickelson. I happen to think it’s good for the game, at least from the players and fans’ perspective. But, even the fans seem to be buying into this marquee lust.

Now, I’m not the brightest transistor in the radio, and so it finally dawned on me watching Kenny Perry run away with this past weekend’s Colonial. The PGA Tour is all about brand name marketing. Golf is the most corporate-conscious of sports, and its sponsors want to be associated with what they consider top value. All the corporate fat cats win when a Tiger or Phil or Ernie wins – more brand name marketing, more profits for the sponsors, which filters through the whole system.

It’s kind of sickening. So here’s pulling for Perry and all those other journeymen, to win more on the Tour.

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15 comments

§ sfdguy said on : 05/23/05 @ 11:49
who pays the huge purses for each turney?.. who do the fans want to watch?..I THINK WE KNOW..
§ Tim McGrath said on : 05/23/05 @ 12:05
Kenny Perry should be the idol of all those fat, old men who watch and fantasize about golf. He's kinda fat like them. His shot is really ugly like most of theirs. He should be the ideal marketing icon when you consider the old guys who buy those Caddys and expensive clubs (with their favorite plastic cards.) I'd rather see Perry win than anyone else in the top 50.
§ myname said on : 05/23/05 @ 12:06
I watched no golf this weekend. Kenny Perry with a 10 shot lead. BORING!
§ Robert said on : 05/23/05 @ 13:12
If for no other reason, the reason to watch golf this weekend would have been to see the spectacular Colonial Country Club.
§ J J Vinski said on : 05/23/05 @ 13:29
Very well said. I concure
§ Gib said on : 05/23/05 @ 20:17
The previous weekend was even better. Great to see the precious Tiger go down the tubes. I've had enough of him and it is great to share the wealth and hats off to Kenny Perry! I wish him many more victories at all of the prima donna's expense.
§ Evan said on : 05/25/05 @ 12:53
I will absolutely agree that Kenny Perry is a good bit more round then most other players on tour and that he's built for comfort and not speed...but that in no way takes away from the fact that the dude has won 9 PGA Tour events and has been on 2 Ryder Cup teams. Just because he's not won the scoring title and the money title and a grand slam you people think he's a no-name player? I for one love to see an upset but this was not that at all, and on top of that Colonial is not an easy track to shoot a low score on...Believe me!!! What Kenny did was nothing short of spectacular play and he deserves all the credit in the world for decimating the entire field.
§ golfdiva said on : 05/25/05 @ 18:24
Bravo to Kenny. He's won twice this year...and has coveted the Colonial cup before too. Not too shabby. I'm sick & tired of professional credible golfers being referred to as "no names." I assure you their friends, families, golf teachers and REAL longterm golf fans know WHO they are AND appreciate what they do.
§ Ed Lorenz said on : 05/25/05 @ 18:48
The only part of your article that is accurate is the part about you not being the brightest transistor in the radio. It's sad that some of you "journalists" don't know how to do anything but create dirt. No organization in all of sport is greater than the PGA when it comes to supporting it's membership, giving to charity, or growing the sport itself. YOU are an airhead ! I'm a thankful PGA Life Member and YOU sir are an airhead ! Ed in Bonita Spring, FL
§ Michelle said on : 05/25/05 @ 22:26
Kenny Perry is a true gentleman. Coming down the 17th hole, he took the time to send a comment out to a guy whose house that he stayed at years ago who is struggling with cancer. It was a moment that defines his character. I love Tiger and Phil and all the rest, but Kenny won my heart in that moment. Read for yourself:
http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1051789&t=Bill+Wundram&c=47,1051789
§ No-name said on : 05/27/05 @ 09:59
Kenny Perry is not quite a no-name. I can't watch him swing a club, though. I keep expecting him to top it. As for the PGA not loving it when a no-name places ahead of the top seeds, this seems to be partly true. Golf fans, though, love it when their heroes win more than someone they've never heard of (the Hogan-Flick playoff comes to mind). I think this also scares some of the manufacturers and the USGA, because it hints that technology is, in fact, leveling the field in a way they don't like. I doubt anyone in the board room was happy when Funk won, since he's practically at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to distance... won't be selling $500 drivers with his face.
§ Lefty said on : 05/31/05 @ 06:13
It seems to me that the providers of American television coverage of golf have commitment to have a polished,canned story of the round. Seventy to eighty players make the cut,but how many make the screen? The top two or three are shown as they battle for the win.

Having a story line is important to a certain extent, but marketablity rules the airwaves. A "B player" may win on the previous week and have another good week going, maybe a top 5 finish and never be mentioned.

I have lost interest in televised golf aand maybe this is the reason.
§ jim elick said on : 06/01/05 @ 08:52
Tell Ed in Bone Head Springs that we all agree with the charities etc. - not the point though. I have watched Kenny for years and who could forget the run last year? I even played his "Country Creek" yesterday and the things he has done for golf in general in addition for the State of Kentucky - goes without saying. A "no name"?? - maybe Weir was too before his Masters win and what if DeMarco wins last April's Masters? It does not require a major win, Nike or throwing golf clubs around the course for proper recognition. A little Tabasco will do. His swing? Look at Fuyrk and Trevino's swing - it's all about being square at impact, who cares how you get there. Kenny - a true Kentucky gentelmen yes and for those in the know - hand in hand with etiquette and giving back to the game without reservation. -je-
§ Randy said on : 06/19/05 @ 20:10
Wake Up, No Name.
Kenny Perry has 9 tour wins, 2 President Cup teams, 1 Ryder Cup, #10 on the all time money list. He is one of the longest and straightest drivers in tour history and Greens in Regualation. He has bought a public golf course for his home town to enjoy. He gives money for 20 college sholarships in his career. Great Christion Man what else can be said.
§ sfdguyalso said on : 10/02/05 @ 23:44
IF YOU ONLY WATCH AND ENJOY GOLF WHEN THE TOP NAMES ARE IN THE FIELD THEN YOUR REALLY NOT A GOLF FAN.

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