Questions For The Commish

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1103pga.jpgPGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem is convening the scribblers Wednesday for his annual state of the The Players Championship news conference. Knowing a few of the attendees are regular readers and assuming they make it to the press center by 9 am, I thought I'd offer a few questions for consideration.

And feel free to join in with your questions in the comments section.

  • The emphasis on fast and firm conditions being emphasized in the TPC Sawgrass "restoration" sounds great, however, the course is not being lengthened. That seems odd considering that the PGA Tour driving distance average has increased 30 yards since the course opened? 

  • Are you not adding length to the course in anticipation of a possible ball distance rollback?
  • Players like Davis Love and Tom Kite have pointed out that U.S. Open-like rough that stops errant shots from reaching trouble should be eliminated as part of the "restoration?" Will the fast and firm conditions that we'll see starting next May allow the rough to be reduced or eliminated?
  • The winning score has been cited in comparing fast and firm years versus the events where conditions were softer. Is the winning score important, and if so, why?
  • Fields are deeper, players are more skilled and course conditions finer, so wouldn't it be logical that  players should be allowed to shoot lower scores?