"Ogilvie also understands that it's time for him to be more candid about his future interests in a job currently held by Tim Finchem."

Joe Ogilvie tells Jeffri Chadiha that the players "have a perfectly great commissioner right now in Tim" but "eventually Tim is going to retire." And with that, he officially lets it be known he would be interested in the job.

Next thing you know he'll be standing on a bail of hay in Iowa, pant legs rolled up as part of his push-for-shorts on the tour, all while promising to lower gas prices to $2 a gallon raise PGA Tour purses to $10 million.

"There's no doubt that I would like the job," Ogilvie said. "I've said before that I may not be the next commissioner, but I could be the guy after that person. Even if I had to replace Tim when he steps down, I think I could handle that. I'd have an obvious learning curve, but I'd find a way to be successful."

There is this from dad Norm about how to better improve his chances to get the job.

"We have talked a lot about how you position yourself to be a commissioner," said Norm Ogilvie. "That's a big operation you're talking about. We've talked about how Finchem's background helped him, how he's politically savvy and such a big presence. Joe knows your first job out isn't the leader. You have to work your way towards that."

Still, no player currently on the tour is a better fit for possibly ascending to that position whenever Finchem, 64, steps down (his current contract expires in 2012). Joe Ogilvie's only major black mark is a 2005 drunken driving conviction -- "I blew a .08 and it was just one of those things where I thought I was OK to drive," he said.

Hey, Commissioner Andretti once had his license suspended for 60 days!

Several fellow players were quoted endorsing Ogilvie, including Sean O'Hair:

"Joe is just a natural at working with people," O'Hair said. "That's who he is. Some guys are selfish but that's not his way. He's an intelligent guy who understands politics and finance and he's well-rounded. I don't see why anybody wouldn't consider him a strong candidate to be a future commissioner."

Well, except the 5-series set in Ponte Vedra hoping to move up to a 7-series in 2013.

More importantly, I think this signals the beginning of the campaign...to determine if Finchem will be sticking around at 2012.