The Loop

No recession here

March 12, 2009

The purse breakdown for the Tavistock Cup, the two-day inter-club competition of PGA Tour players from Isleworth and Lake Nona next week:

Prize money: $3.5 million.

Hole-in-one prizes: Air Nautique boats, Marquis Jet Cards, OMEGA Timepieces and Audi A5 Sports Coupes.

Long Drive Challenge: $100,000, split among the members of the winning team.

Closest to the Pin: $50,000 to each of the four players whose shots come closest to the pin on the four par-3s over the two days.

Just asking: Would PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem rather that this elite group of players play in the Transitions Championship later in the week than the Tavistock Cup early in the week, in response to his appeal to players to add a tournament or two to their historical schedules in deference to sponsors in a difficult economy?

ADD: Trevor Immelman, Charles Howell III, Chris DiMarco, Retief Goosen and J.B. Holmes are scheduled to play in both events

-- John Strege