TIM FINCHEM.PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES.
BBC–Tim Finchem is in his final days as the commissioner of the PGA Tour having held the role for 22 years. And the 69-year-old told BBC Sport that his desire to bring together the leading tours did not materialise as much as he would have wanted.
He is the man responsible for creating the FedEx Cup with its $10m first prize and the inception of the Presidents Cup that pits the US against the Rest of the World.
Finchem was also prominent in helping golf return to the Olympics.
Finchem explained why the PGA Tour is so attractive to overseas players, why – despite the influence of Tiger Woods – there are so few black faces on his circuit and admitted that the prospect of retirement is “daunting”.
Back in June 1994, when he took over from Deane Beman, Finchem inherited a Tour that boasted $56.4m in prize money. As he departs, total purses are in excess of $300m.
“I have a lot of pride in what’s been built and the progress we have made,” said Finchem when we met close to the tour’s Ponte Vedra Beach Headquarters in Florida.
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