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My Shot

I'm bullish on all the fan-friendly changes you'll see on the Senior tour next season

By Bob Gilder

David Bergman

Tour pros often think that hitting a golf ball is our sole job requirement, but the fact is we are showmen, and we have a responsibility to entertain and engage the fans and sponsors who make it possible for us to earn a very nice living. That's why I'm encouraged by the sweeping changes that, beginning next year, could make the Senior tour the most interactive sports entity in America.

Our tour has been around for 21 years and, frankly, could use some updating. That's why we're giving the public a chance to get up close and personal with the players. For starters, most telecasts will be live, not tape-delayed, which was a mistake we made this year. The players are also going to be asked to do Internet chats and to participate in on-site clinics and question-and-answer sessions. Some guys may grouse about losing personal time, but we all know there's plenty of idle time during a tournament week and we should spend more of it with the fans.

To my mind the biggest changes will be TV's miking of selected players during tournaments and permitting fans to walk down the fairways of the final holes with the leaders on the weekend. The mikes will force us to watch what we say, and while there'll surely be slipups in the heat of battle, hearing the players will bring increased intimacy. Most fans have no idea that a guy like Joe Inman is every bit as funny as Chi Chi Rodriguez or Lee Trevino. The folks at home are going to love listening to Joe muttering to himself on the course. Fans walking the fairways will add an air of electricity to the final stages of a tournament. Yes, there are obvious security issues, and the players will have to find polite ways to get into their preshot routines without being rude to spectators, but these challenges only underscore our commitment to reaching out to the people who pay the bills.

How much will these changes help? Plenty, but the Senior tour won't be revitalized overnight. Some of our efforts will be successful and others won't. We're trying, though, and that's a big step.

Bob Gilder led 2001 Senior rookies with $1.68 million in earnings.

Issue date: December 10, 2001

 

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