"Golf teaches us to have vision. The great players all have a plan — look to the future."

The USA Today's Steve DiMeglio writes about why Tim Finchem is a great humanitarian and all around savior of the game. Nothing too earth-shattering in the piece, but a few of the numbers mentioned got my attention:

"I've learned to take the long view of things," says Finchem, who got a six-year extension in 2006 from the Tour's board of directors at $4.5 million a year. "Golf teaches us to have vision. The great players all have a plan — look to the future."

Brilliant. Sounds likes the Commish read Golf In the Kingdom one to many times. Oh and I think that $4.5 million a year number is a bit dated, right?

But Finchem, who presided over the last three TV negotiations, worked out a six-year, $3 billion contract with CBS and NBC that runs through 2012 and a 15-year deal with The Golf Channel.

Has anyone ever seen that $3 billion number before? I don't remember that one.

The Golf Channel's reach is growing, from 68 million homes when the deal was signed to 80 million homes this year. TV exposure overseas is rising, too, with revenue increasing 36% in 2007 and providing more than $50 million a year.

That's good to know. Should help pay some salaries.