PGA Tour’s Fan Forward initiative emphasizes player availability, growth | Golf Today | Golf Channel

Andy Weitz joins Golf Today to discuss the focus points of the PGA Tour’s Fan Forward initiative, including the stance on a player’s obligation to speak to the media and the future of the FedExCup Playoffs. #GolfChannel #GolfToday #NCAA
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PGA Tour’s Fan Forward initiative emphasizes player availability, growth | Golf Today | Golf Channel
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RORY’S THREE WINS, SCOTTIE AND SEPP STRAKA HAVE TWO WINS APIECE. NINE AMERICANS, 11 INTERNATIONAL WIN E EIGHT FIRST TIME WINNERS AND ONE ROOKIE WINNER, GOT IT DONE AT THE PUERTO RICO OPEN. WE’RE PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY ANDY WHITE, PGA TOUR’S CHIEF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, AND ANDY JOINS US FROM NEW YORK CITY. YOU’RE IN TOWN FOR BOTH THE SPORTS EMMYS AND THE SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL AWARDS. I WANT TO START BY CONGRATULATING YOU AS THE DRONE AR TECHNOLOGY WON THE GEORGE WENTZEL TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. BIG NIGHT FOR NBC AS WELL. WHAT’S BEEN THE BUZZ ABOUT RECEIVING THE AWARD. >> FIRST, GREAT TO BE WITH YOU GUYS. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. THAT’S RIGHT, IT WAS A BIG NIGHT FOR THE TEAM LAST ANYTHING. REALLY EXCITING FOR OUR TEAM TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THIS WAY. FOR THE FANS OUT THERE, THIS IS THE BIRD’S EYE VIEW WE’RE ABLE TO GIVE YOU FROM THE DRONE, WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE THAT SHOT. OFF THE TEE WHERE THE DRIVE IS GOING AND THEN GREAT, YOU KNOW, PROPORTIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON WHERE THOSE PLAYERS END UP IN THE FAIRWAY. THEY THINK IT’S A GREAT INNOVATION. WE’RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE IT RECOGNIZED LIKE THIS. IT’S TECHNOLOGY WE OWN, PATENT PENDING, AND IT’S ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW WE’RE WORKING TO EVOLVE WHAT THE BROADCAST LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT FANS WANT TO SEE FROM US. TO YOUR POINT TONIGHT WE’RE HEADED TO THE SBJ AWARDS. WE’RE EXCITED TO SEE TGL NOMINATED FOR A BREAKTHROUGH AWARD AND AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT, A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT WITH THE NEXT GENERATION OF PGA TOUR FANS. IT’S ALSO FUN TO SEE OUR INVESTORS AT STRATEGIC SPORTS GROUP, NOT MADE IT FOR DEAL OF THE YEAR FOR THEIR INVESTMENT IN THE PGA TOUR. A LOT OF GREAT STUFF GOING ON, A BUSY TIME FOR US. >> ANDY, SPEAKING OF THE FANS, IT WAS LAST JUNE WHEN THE PGA TOUR LAUNCHED FAN FORWARD TO FIND OUT WHAT THE FANS WANTED FROM THE PGA TOUR. WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND OUT? WHAT DO THE FANS WANT? >> IT’S A GREAT QUESTION. FOR THOSE WHO AREN’T FAMILIAR, FAN FORWARD IS THE SINGLE LARGEST OUTREACH THE TOUR HAS DONE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE VOICE OF THE FAN AND WHAT THEY EXPECT FROM US, HOW WE SHOULD EVOLVE. SO OVER 50,000 RESPONDENTS IN THE LAST NINE MONTHS, DAMON, AND REALLY KEY THEMES CUT THROUGH FOR US. THEY WANT TO SEE MORE LIVE GOLF PER MINUTE. WHICH IS AN OBVIOUSLY ONE FOR CORE FANS. WE’RE WORKING TO DECLUTTER THE BROADCAST, AND BRING MORE LIVE GOLF SHOTS TO THEM. SECONDLY, THEY WANT MORE DRAMA ON EVERY HOLE. THEY’RE TELLING US THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND RISK REWARD AND HOW THE TOP PLAYERS MAKE DECISIONS, ESPECIALLY FANS WHO ASPIRED TO PUT THEMSELVES IN A SIMILAR SETTING WHEN THEY’RE OUT ON THE COURSE DURING THE WEEKEND. THEY ALSO WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR PLAYERS. THEY SAID MAKE THEM MORE RELATABLE, HELP THEM UNDERSTAND PERSONALITIES. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES THEM TICK, AND FINALLY IN THE COURSE OF A LONG, REGULAR SEASON, THEY’RE TELLING, MAKE SURE EVERY EVENT HAS A PURPOSE. HELP US UNDERSTAND WHEN TO TUNE IN AND THE RELATIONSHIP, IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN FULL FIELD EVENTS AND SIGNATURE EVENT ND HOW WE CREATE PLAYOFF LIKE BUBBLES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON TO BRING MORE DRAMA TO OUR FANS. THOSE FOUR THINGS CUT THROUGH, AND WE’RE FOCUSED ON BROADCAST ADVANCEMENTS, COMPETITION ADJUSTMENTS, AS WE HAVE MADE NEWS ON THIS YEAR, AND AS WELL AS LOOKING AT PLAYERS FROM A CONTENT PERSPECTIVE SO THEY CAN REACH MORE FANS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND FINALLY ON SITE EXPERIENCE CHANGES THAT MAKE THE WHOLE FAMILY COME OUT AND BE PART OF THE PGA TOUR EVENT. >> IT’S NOT A POSITIVE THERE, ANDY. WHAT INSPIRED THE TOUR TO GO DOWN THIS FAN FORWARD ROAD. WAS THERE A LITTLE BIT OF CATCH-UP IN PLAY IN THE SENSE THAT THERE WAS A PERCEPTION THAT THE TOUR HAD SPENT THE PREVIOUS TWO, THREE YEARS, PERHAPS FOCUSED A LOT ON WHAT PLAYERS WANTED AND WHAT PLAYERS NEEDED, GIVEN THE THREAT FROM LIV AND THAT IT WAS TIME TO ACTUALLY TURN THE LENS TOWARD WHAT THE FANS WANTED. >> I REALLY THINK IT’S ABOUT YOU CAN MAKE BETTER DECISIONS WHEN YOU HAVE DATA IN YOUR HANDS, AND WE WANTED TO FIND A NORTH STAR, A WAY TO SET PRIORITIES, THAT HELPED US EVOLVE IN A WAY WE CONNECTED WITH FANS. WE CAN’T TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT THE NEXT GENERATION OF FANS WILL GROW INTO BEING CORE PGA TOUR FANS. THERE’S A LOT OF THINGS COMPETING FOR THEIR TIME. WE WANTED TO SYSTEMATICALLY ASK THEM WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE FROM US. OTHER SPORTS HAVE DONE THIS. MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. THEY HAVE A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS THAT HELPED THEM DRIVE CONSTRUCTIVE CHANGE IN THEIR SPORT, AND IN TERMS OF OUR PLAY , OUR FOCUS IS ALWAYS ON OUR PLAYERS. WE HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP, EVERYTHING ELSE FALLS INTO PLACE. >> SPEAKING OF GATHERING DATA, THE TOUR IS WRAPPING UP THIS DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICE EXPERIMENT, WHICH IS PART OF A PLAN TO TRY TO EDUCATE PLAYERS MORE, I GUESS, ABOUT THE SPEED OF PLAY, AND TO BUILD A PLAN GOING FORWARD. WE’VE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LOT ON THIS SHOW, ANDY, AND INCLUDING WITH SOME OF YOUR MEMBERS. AND A CERTAIN THEME EMERGES, YOU KNOW WHO THE SLOW PLAYERS ARE. IT’S THE SAME GUYS EVERY WEEK, AND OBVIOUSLY THERE’S WEATHER, OF COURSE, CONDITIONS APPLY. BUT IT IS GENERALLY THE SAME OFFENDERS ALL THE TIME. WHY NOT JUST TARGET THOSE GUYS OR WHY DO YOU NEED MORE WHEN IT COMES TO STILL PLAY. >> WE’RE ATTACKING IT FROM EVERY ANGLE. WHAT WE ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND, FIRST OF ALL, IF THERE’S ANYTHING WE CAN DO FROM A TECHNOLOGY AND TOOL PERSPECTIVE TO CUT DOWN ON TIME BETWEEN SHOTS. THAT’S WHY YOU SAW US TEST RANGE FINDERS IN THE WAY YOU TALKED ABOUT, AND THAT TEST JUST WRAPPED UP I THINK LAST WEEK, ACTUALLY, WE HAD SIX EVENTS OVER A FOUR-WEEK PERIOD, AND WE’RE STUDYING THOSE FINDINGS. I’LL TELL YOU THAT THE FEEDBACK FROM PLAYERS, ESPECIALLY ON OUR PATHWAYS IS YES, WE WANT MORE OF THIS. IT FEELS NATURAL. IT FEELS TO THE FAN NATURAL TO THEM TOO. NO REASON POTENTIALLY TO NOT BRING THAT INTO SOMETHING THAT COULD BE USED AT SCALE BY PGA TOUR PROFESSIONALS. WE’LL LOOK AT THAT. SECONDLY, WE’RE TESTING PENALTY POLICIES, WHICH BEGINS TO GO TO YOUR QUESTION, AND YOU SAW US ON PATHWAYS, ESPECIALLY ON THE KORN FERRY TOUR, AND PGA TOUR OF AMERICA HAS ACTUALLY DECREASED THE NUMBER OF WARNINGS. IF A PLAYER IS BEHIND TIME AND HAS A BAD TIME, THEY’RE GOING MORE QUICKLY TO A STROKE PENALTY. YOU SAW THAT HAPPEN IN PERU TO HUNTER HUNT WALCOTT. HE WENT FORWARD TO WIN THE TOURNAMENT. HE ACCEPTED THE POLICY, AGREED WITH THE BAD TIME, AND RECOVERED AND ENDED UP IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE, WHICH IS WHAT WE LOVE TO SEE. THE THIRD THING WE TALKED ABOUT IS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY. COULD WE BEGIN TO SHARE SOME OF THESE STATISTICS, AND YOU MIGHT SEE US EXPERIENCE SHARING THEM AMONGST PLAYERS FIRST. RIGHT NOW, FOR INSTANCE, ON OUR APP, A PLAYER CAN SEE THEIR TIME, BUT THEY CAN’T SEE FELLOW MEMBERS. PERHAPS THAT’S ONE WAY, AND CERTAINLY MORE TRANSPARENCY INTO THE PROCESS. WE CAN LOOK AT STROKE TIME OR TOTAL TIME PER COURSE. HOW LONG SHOULD IT TAKE TO PLAY A PARTICULAR COURSE. FINALLY, WE SHOULD LOOK AT AVERAGE STROKE TIME BY PLAYER, AND ALL OF OSE THINGS ARE ON THE TABLE. YOU’LL SEE MORE TESTING IN THE 2025 SEASON. >> I’M ALL FOR ASSESSING STROKE PENALTIES. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD SIGN WHEN THE PGA TOUR OF AMERICA DID THAT, CERTAINLY TO A GUY WHO WAS ACTUALLY IN CONTENTION FOR THE TOURNAMENT AGAINST MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHEN IS THAT GOING TO BE APPLIED TO SOMEBODY WHO ACTUALLY HAS LEVERAGE. WHEN IS THAT GOING TO BE APPLIED TO A PLAYER ON THE PGA TOUR ON THE BIGGEST STAGE OF ALL? >> LISTEN, I THINK IN A WAY YOU ANSWERED YOUR OWN QUESTION. IT’S NOTABLE THAT WE WERE TESTING IT ON PATHWAY, TOTALLY APPROPRIATE THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE IMPACT, AND EFFECTIVELY OUR MINOR LEAGUES BEFORE WE BROUGHT IT TO THE MAJORS. MEANINGFUL THAT THIS WAS A LEADER WHO HAD A BAD TIME AND A STROKE PENALTY. IT WAS A FAIR, YOU KNOW, APPLICATION OF THE NEW RULE, AND IT WAS HANDLED PERFECTLY BY OUR RULES TEAM AND ACCEPTED BY THE PLAYER. I THINK THAT’S WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS WE GOT TO SEE THE REST OF THE MEMBERSHIP WATCH THAT. YOU GOT TO START BY TESTING AT THAT LEVEL. LEARN FROM IT, AND I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS A GOOD ONE. I THINK YOU’LL SEE US TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, AS WE LOOK INTO THE FALL SEASON, AND 2026. WHAT I STRESS AND WHAT’S GREAT ABOUT THE TOUR AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PLAYERS RIGHT NOW IS THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE THROUGH COLLABORATION IN OUR PLAYER ADVISORY COUNSEL. THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT MANY HAVE PUSHED FOR. THEY’LL GET TO SEE THE DATA. WE’LL MAKE A DECISION TOGETHER ABOUT THE TIMING. WE’RE EXCITED TO TAKE LEARNINGS AND APPLY THEM ON THE PGA TOUR IN THE FUTURE. >> JUSTIN THOMAS HAS BEEN A LEADER IN TALKING ABOUT OPENING UP ACCESS, BETTER RELATIONS WITH PLAYER AND BROADCAST PARTNERS, WHICH I LOVED SEEING. WE’VE ALSO HAD NOTABLE MOMENTS IN COLLIN MORIKAWA AT BAY HILL, RORY McILROY AT THE PGA NOT WANTING TO TALK TO THE MEDIA, UPSET ABOUT HOW THEY PLAYED. DIFFICULT SPOT TO BE IN, NO DOUBT. WHAT IS THE TOUR’S STANCE ON THE PLAYER OBLIGATIONS TO THE MEDIA? >> YOU KNOW, IT’S AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. I’M GLAD YOU RAISED IT, AND I THINK IT STARTS BACK WITH THE FANS. I KNOW OUR PLAYERS WANT TO CONNECT WITH FANS. THEY WANT TO ALLOW THEM A WINDOW IN TO WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, AND THEY WANT TO HUMANIZE THAT MOMENT, WHEN POTENTIALLY THEY COME UP SHORT, AND I KNOW OUR PARTNERS IN THE MEDIA WANT TO HELP TELL THAT STORY AT SCALE. IT’S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED. I THINK THE EXAMPLES YOU GAVE, AND IT’S IMPORTANT NOT TO SINGLE OUT ANY ONE PLAYER, THERE ARE MOMENTS WHEN PLAYERS DECIDE THEY NEED TO STEP BACK. I WOULD SAY ON BALANCE, AND THAT’S A KEYWORD HERE, I THINK, BALANCE, OUR PLAYERS ARE OFFERING MORE ACCESS THAN EVER BEFORE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRE-ROUTE INTERVIEWS YOU’RE DOING, THE SPECIAL SEGMENTS YOU’RE DOING WITH SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES AT THE GOLF CHANNEL, IN ADDITION TO THE WALK AND TALKS, OUR FANS ARE GETTING CLOSER, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE RIGHT WAY TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE. >> LUCAS GLOVER CAME ON THE SHOW AND TALKED ABOUT THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP. HE SAID BLUNTLY, HE DOESN’T THINK OF IF PLAYOFFS IN GOLF WORK. IF HE DID, WE WOULDN’T HAVE TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM EVERY FEW YEARS. CAN YOU GIVE THE FANS SOMETHING TO CHEW ON IN TERMS OF HOW THE SEASON WILL WRAP UP IN A WAY THAT SEEMS SATISFYING FOR THE FANS AND THE VIEWERS AND THE PLAYERS COMPETING IN THE FEDEXCUP PLAYOFFS. >> I LOVE IT. IT’S A GREAT QUESTION, AND I MIGHT POINT OUT IT’S NOT EVERY FEW YEARS, I THINK OUR TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN BEING RESPONSIVE AND LEARNING FROM THE FEDEX POINT, KIND OF CHANGING THE LEVELS OF POINTS OVER TIME TO REALLY DIAL IN THE OUTCOMES WE WOULD WANT, BUT WE’RE NOT DONE. IT’S BEEN PUBLICLY REPORTED THAT WE’RE TAKING A HARD LOOK AT THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT, AND TO YOUR POINT, WE’RE GOING TO MAKE SURE OUR CORE FANS ARE ENGAGED BY THAT FINAL STRETCH OF THE SEASON, AND WE WANT TO HONOR THE FEDEXCUP, SOMETHING THAT A GENERATION OF PLAYERS HAVE GROWN UP SAYING THEY WANT TO HOIST THE ULTIMATE PRIZE. OF COURSE WE WANT TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT’S ENGAGING TO CASUAL FANS, WHAT THEY CALL THE STICK AND BALL FANS. THE BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, FANS, AND SO WE’RE LOOKING HARD AT A FORMAT THAT HONORS THE GAME, CREATES A STRAIGHT UP COMPETITION, AND ULTIMATELY IS A FAIR TEST. I THINK WHAT’S IMPORTANT HERE IS OUR PLAYERS ARE TELLING US THEY WANT BALANCE. THEY WANT BALANCE BETWEEN RECOGNIZING A GREAT REGULAR SEASON AND THE CONSISTENT EXCELLENCE IT TAKES TO FINISH AT THE TOP OF THE FEDEX RACE, AND THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF MORE VOLATILITY. PLAYING STRAIGHT UP FOR AN OUTCOME AT THE END OF THE SEASON, THAT HAS A TRUE WINNER HOISTING THE CUP IN A SINGULAR WAY AT THE END OF THE SEASON. WE’RE WORKING HARD ON THAT. LOTS OF GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR PLAYER ADVISORY CIL. >> WOULD YOU CARE TO SHARE THE DETAILS WHEN YOU’RE HERE? >> I’M SORRY, YOU’RE BREAKING UP. I’M NOT GOING TO BE BREAKING NEWS TODAY. I DO WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE OUR FANS AN UPDATE, BECAUSE, AGAIN, BACK TO FAN FORWARD, THAT NOTION OF FAN RESEARCH, WE’RE TRYING TO CALIBRATE THE FUTURE OF THE PGA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP BASED ON A COMBINATION OF WHAT FANS TELL US THEY EXPECT FROM A CULMINATING EVENT AND WHAT PLAYERS TELL US HONORS THE LEGACY AND HERITAGE OF THE FEDEXCUP ITSELF. WE REALLY LIKE WHERE WE’RE HEADED. >> LET ME TRY ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I KNOW YOU’RE NOT GOING TO GIVE ME ANY DETAILS ON ANDY, THE CEO SEARCH FOR PGA TOUR ENTERPRISES, IT’S BEEN REPORTED THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES IN THE MIX. WHAT’S THE TIME LINE ON WHAT THAT SEARCH IS? >> WELL, IN ALL FAIRNESS, THE DAY WE ANNOUNCED THE SEARCH, I CAME ON GOLF CHANNEL AND TALKED WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT. I THINK IT’S TOTALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY THE TOUR IS EVOLVING. YOU TALKED ABOUT MOMENTUM. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT US BEING ON THE RIGHT TRACK. I THINK THE CEO SEARCH IS ABOUT HOW WE GO FURTHER FASTER, AND ULTIMATELY WHEN YOU RAISE A BILLION AND A HALF IN GROWTH CAPITAL, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE BRINGING CAPABILITIES IN THAT CAN STEER US FORWARD. IT’S A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE TOUR, AND IT MEANS NEW SKILLS AND THE COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT. HE’S PART OF OUR SEARCH COMMITTEE. WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL COMMITTEE LED BY ARTHUR BLAKE, INCLUDING THE ATLANTA DRIVE AND TGL, SAM KENNEDY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE RED SOX, JOE GORMAN, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS, AND TIGER WOODS AT THE TABLE, HELPING WITH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS. I DON’T THINK IT’S APPROPRIATE TO PUT A TIME LINE, OTHER THAN TO SAY IT’S ONGOING, AND I THINK WHAT’S BEEN MOST NOTABLE IS THE INTEREST FROM ACROSS THE WORLD OF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT. THERE’S A GREAT SLATE OF CANDIDATES. >> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING INSIDE THE ROPES. RORY AND SCOTTIE HAVE BEEN SHINING STARS THIS SEASON, ALMOST CARRYING A TOUR ON THEIR SHOULDERS WITH THEIR PLAY, AND AT THE SAME TIME, A NUMBER OF PLAYERS, ERIK VAN ROOYEN, LUCAS GLOVER SAID THAT THE TOUR IS BECOMING EXCLUSIVE DOWN TO 100 CARDS, TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE SIGNATURE EVENTS. MY QUESTION IS CAN BOTH THINGS BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME? >> I THINK THEY CAN. AND I USE THE WORD BALANCE A LOT IN THE COURSE OF OUR CONVERSATION TODAY, AND YOU KNOW, THE DECISION TO TAKE CARDS DOWN TO 100. THE FIELD SIZE AND ELIGIBILITY PROCESS WE WENT THROUGH WAS PLAYER LED, AND WE SPENT BETTER PART OF A YEAR, YOU KNOW, STUDYING IT, WE MODELED IT, WE HAD PLAYERS IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT, AND WEIGHING THE PROS AND CONS. FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, WE DECIDED THE REDUCTION IN CARDS WAS THE RIGHT ANSWER FOR TODAY’S TOUR. WHERE YOU STARTED YOUR QUESTION, I DO THINK IT’S BEEN A NOTABLE YEAR WITH SCOTTIE AND RORY BATTLING IT OUT. SO MANY GREAT STORY LINES. RUSSELL HENLEY, HIDEKI STARTING WITH HIS WIN AT THE CENTURY IN HAWAII, AND THEN YOU SEE SOME FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE TOUR FOR A WHILE. JOE HIGHSMITH STEPPING UP AND WINNING IN DRAMATIC FASHION. I THINK WHAT’S IMPORTANT HERE IS IF YOU WANT TO WATCH GOLF WITH MEANING, PLAYED ON ICONIC COURSES BY THE WORLD’S BEST PLAYERS, YOU’RE WATCHING THE PGA TOUR. >> ON THE SUBJECT STAYING WITH RORY AND SCOTTIE, ANDY, THEY WERE ALSO IN THE NEWS LAST WEEK BECAUSE THEY’RE DRIVERS FAILED TESTING AT THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP. THAT’S MUNDANE. IT HAPPENS EVERY WEEK. IT HAPPENED UNDER A DIFFERENT ENTITY. THE TESTING IS CONDUCTED UNDER YOUR ENTITY. BECAUSE IT IS MONDAY AND IT’S NOT A SURPRISE TO THE REST OF US. THERE ARE A LOT OF BAD FAITH ACTORS THAT TRIED TO PRETEND THERE WAS SOMETHING NEFARIOUS. IN THE INTEREST OF THE TRANSPARENCY, WHY DOESN’T THE TOUR MAKE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION PUBLIC ON A WEEK-TO-WEEK BASIS BECAUSE IT IS GENERALLY KIND OF MEANINGLESS. >> YOU KNOW, IT’S A GOOD QUESTION. LIKE A LOT OF TESTING THAT OCCURS THE WORLD OF SPORTS, IT’S DONE IN A CONFIDENTIAL, PRIVATE MANNER BECAUSE IT COULD BE MISINTERPRETED TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT, WHICH RESPECTFULLY, I THINK OCCURRED IN THESE CASES. AS YOU ALLUDED TO, THIS IS SOMETHING OUR RULES TEAM DOES ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CONFORMING CLUBS, AND WHAT THAT MEANS BASICALLY IS WE’RE KEEPING THE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS IN WHICH SHE CAN.. WE’RE WORKING IN A CERTAIN SET OF LIMITATIONS, WHEN YOU’RE HITTING BALLS THAT MANY TIMES, PRACTICING AROUND THE COURSE WITH YOUR FAVORITE CLUB. OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS YOU WEAR AWAY AT THAT FACE. BEATING A DRUM, IT BEGINS TO BEND THAT METAL. ALL WE WANT TO DO ON THE MARGIN IS MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS WITHIN THE LIMITS THE THE FACT THAT IT BECAME A STORY IS UNFORTUNATE. I DON’T KNOW THAT THAT TRANSPARENCY HELPS. IN THIS MOMENT, I THINK WHAT IT’S DEMONSTRATED IS IT TAKES ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN. IT’S A CONFIDENTIAL PROCESS THAT’S BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR MANY YEARS, AND I THINK WE INTEND TO CONTINUE IT IN THAT MANNER. >> TOWARD THE END OF THE LAST YEAR, ABOUT THE TIME IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE PGA TOUR WAS LOOKING FOR A CEO, THERE WAS A LOT OF MOMENTUM, AT LEAST SMOKE AND SOME NOISE AND RUMORS ABOUT A POTENTIAL DEAL BETWEEN THE PGA TOUR AND THE PIF. HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPRING, HEADING TOWARDS ANOTHER SUMMER, IS THERE AN UPDATE ON NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES? >> I’M NOT COUNTING THE MINUTES AND SECONDS. I THINK IT IS NOTABLE THAT WE MADE IT TO THIS POINT IN THE CONVERSATION WITHOUT GETTING TO THE DEAL AND WHERE WE STAND. I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THE WAY THE TOUR IS FOCUSED ON THE THINGS WE CAN CONTROL AND THE NEWS WE’RE MAKING THROUGH BROADCAST INNOVATION, COMPETITION ADJUSTMENTS, LIKE I TALKED ABOUT PLAYER CONTENT, ON SITE EXPERIENCE, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE CAN CONTROL. I HAVE NO NEW NEWS TO SHARE IN TERMS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND, OTHER THAN TO SAY WE’RE FOCUSED ON DELIVERING WITH OUR FANS, AND WE KNOW THEY WANT TO SEE THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD PLAYING TOGETHER MORE OFTEN. WE SHARE THAT DESIRE, AND WE’RE LEANING IN. ULTIMATELY, WE’RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTROL THE OUTCOME, AND WE’RE DOING OUR BEST TO UPDATE PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY. NOTHING MORE TO SHARE TODAY. >> IT HAS BEEN 90 DAYS SINCE THAT WHITE HOUSE MEETING INVOLVING THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND AND COMMISSIONER MONAHAN, IS THERE ANY INTERNAL DYNAMIC THAT WOULD SUGGEST BY SOME POINT YOU NEED TO SET RITY THAT YOU’RE FOLLOWING YOUR OWN MOMENTUM OR GOING TO CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS THAT DON’T APPEAR TO BE GOING ANYWHERE. >> IT’S A GREAT QUESTION. THE WAY WE LOOK AT IT IS WE’RE FOCUSED ON DELIVERING FOR THE FANS AND WE WANT TO KEEP OUR OPTIONS OPEN BUT YOU’RE EXACTLY RIGHT. IT’S BEEN PUT DIFFERENTLY BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT ULTIMATELY IT TAKES A COMMON SET OF ENGAGEMENT FROM ALL INVOLVED TO GET TO AN OUTCOME. IN TERMS OF DATES, I THINK WE’RE FOCUSED ON THIS WEEKEND, YOU KNOW, THE CHARLES SCHWAB CHALLENGE IN A GREAT FIELD WITH SCOTTIE AND JORDAN, HOMETOWN HEROES, ALONGSIDE RICKIE, AND OTHER FAN FAVORITES. NEXT WEEKEND AT JACK’S PLACE, THE MEMORIAL PLENTIED RESENTED WORKDAY. AND THOSE ARE THE DATES THAT MATTER TO US. DELIVERING THAT GREAT A FAN EXPERIENCE, WHEN WE GET THAT RIGHT, IT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY. YOU SEE THE KIND OF INVESTMENT SURGING THAT WE HAVE FROM OUR PARTNERS. YOU SEE THE FAN ENGAGEMENT THAT I TALKED ABOUT GOING UP YEAR OVER YEAR, AND YOU SEE PLAYERS MORE ALIGNED THAN EVER BEFORE. FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN CONTROL. KEEP OUR OPTIONS OPEN AND STAY FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANT STUFF. >> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WE KNOW YOU’RE VERY BUSY. THE OUTSIDERS IS A TERRIFIC SHOW, IF YOU’VE GOT TIME IN THE CITY. PACERS, KNICKS AT THE