"Hereafter, should a player be late for his pro-am starting time, the situation will be handled as a matter of unbecoming conduct."

What an embarrassment for the Commissioner and the PGA Tour Policy Board. After all, they had reviewed the policy, heard from players and media that it was silly to DQ someone for being late to a pro-am, and been told that their effort to protect sponsors ultimately could hurt the sponsor. Yet they could not envision the potential problem until one of the "good guys" who lives in Ponte Vedra couldn't recharge his iphone or use a hotel wake up call service during the floundering-for-credibility "playoffs."

So only when it became humiliating do they act, and in acting so quickly, prove that this could have been dealt with long ago had there been foresight, joining an ever-growing list of oddly handled issues that should make players nervous about their leadership heading into the television negotiations.

Thanks to readers Mel and Buster for the link.

PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem Tuesday announced the suspension of the regulation that resulted in Jim Furyk's disqualification last week from The Barclays for being late to his pro-am starting time. This part of the regulation will be suspended for the duration of the 2010 season.

Hereafter, should a player be late for his pro-am starting time, the situation will be handled as a matter of unbecoming conduct. Such player will be required to participate in the remainder of the pro-am round and may be required to perform additional sponsor activity. A player who misses his pro-am obligation in its entirety will still be ruled ineligible for the tournament unless he has been excused in accordance with the provisions of the regulations.

The commissioner has asked the Player Advisory Council and Player Directors to evaluate the current pro-am regulations to determine whether alternative measures can effectively ensure that players honor their pro-am obligations without placing them at risk of disqualification. The matter will be discussed at the Policy Board meeting in November.