The absence of Tiger Woods from the opening round of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup, say former officials of The International, is proof that their decision not to become a part of the first-ever playoff series was sound.
“How do you think Barclays is feeling right now?” asked Larry Thiel, The International’s executive director, about the sponsor of this week’s event. “How do you think we would feel if we had a sponsor put up that kind of money and didn’t get the maximum return from it?”
And chances are the late, lamented local event never would have gotten Woods.
Multiple industry sources have confirmed there was a falling out between International officials and the world’s top- ranked player after Woods received a letter late last year from tournament founder Jack Vickers basically demanding that he play in the event. The letter also implied that the tournament would be at risk if he did not participate.
Woods only played in The International twice, the last time in 1999. When the tournament folded in February, one of the reasons cited by Vickers was the event’s inability to lure Woods to Castle Pines Golf Club.
Woods has not acknowledged the existence of the letter; the feeling, those close to him say, is that there’s nothing to be gained by commenting. Similarly, Vickers has categorized it as a private matter between him and Woods, adding that he writes letters to golfers all the time.
Less than two weeks after the tournament folded, Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, told The Denver Post: “It’s unfortunate that in the aftermath of it, it was portrayed that The International failed because they couldn’t get a sponsor because they couldn’t get Tiger – there are a lot of successful tournaments out there where he doesn’t appear. I just think that was very unfair to Tiger.”
Vickers did not return telephone calls Tuesday seeking comment. Since the tournament’s demise, Vickers has repeatedly told associates he prefers to look ahead. That vision includes efforts to bring the PGA Championship to Castle Pines. Last month, sources indicated that representatives from the PGA of America would be traveling to Colorado to look at the course, with the possibility of bringing a Senior PGA Championship here.
Thiel has said that will not happen. However, industry sources indicate Vickers has interest in bringing the 2014 PGA Championship to Castle Pines. A decision on that event will likely be made sometime within the next 18 months.
“Any comments made relative to that should come from Jack,” Thiel said Tuesday.
By then, Woods, who won his 13th major championship two weeks ago at the PGA at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla., should be well beyond breaking Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors. However, the possibility of adding to the mark here would be intriguing to say the least.
It would seem far-fetched that Woods would pass up any major championship, regardless of where it was contested. The same obviously cannot be said of the FedEx Cup. Had The International chosen to participate in the tournament, it would have been placed in the opening slot this weekend. That would have carried with it the minimum $10 million sponsor commitment.
The tournament was already having trouble securing a title sponsor at a lesser cost. Officials were hesitant about a number of other things, including football fever that accompanies the onset of Broncos season and the chance that, as a result, television ratings for the tournament would suffer.
That would seem like a distinct possibility without Woods in the field. From the start, Thiel said, no one associated with the playoffs could ensure Woods would play.
“I asked the question, are all the players committed to playing in all four events?” Thiel said. “I was told they would. I asked if they had it in writing. (PGA Tour commissioner Tim) Finchem told me they were all supportive of the event, so why wouldn’t they play in all four? But he couldn’t tell me that they were committed for sure. That wasn’t good enough (for us).”
PGA Tour officials said they were “disappointed” in Woods’ decision to skip the Barclays. In notifying fans of his decision on his website, Woods cited fatigue from winning the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA in successive weeks.
He, along with the other top American and international players, are now facing a stretch that includes the playoffs, which conclude with the Tour Championship on Sept. 13-16, followed by the Presidents Cup two weeks later.
If a golfer played in the Bridgestone, the PGA, all four of the playoff tournaments and the Presidents Cup, it would be seven events in nine weeks.
Woods has such a huge lead in points entering the postseason he could afford to give himself a bye week. Other players, hoping to win the $10 million first prize, didn’t have that luxury.
But the daunting schedule was one of numerous concerns players have cited throughout the season, leading to a skeptical approach many took toward the playoffs.
“I like the old way,” Arron Oberholser said at the PGA. “But we’ll see. I want to see the year after, see if we really do get some excitement coming down at the last two events. That will be really cool if that happens.”
Staff writer Anthony Cotton can be reached at 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com.
