Tim Finchem was interviewed in a roundtable discussion by Tim Rosaforte (Golf World), Larry Dorman (New York Times), and Rich Lerner (TGC) last week at the Northern Trust Open. The interview aired on Golf Central in a two-part series this past weekend. The first part of the series, which aired on Saturday, didn't shed any light on the recent controversies surrounding the PGA Tour, but focused primarily on Finchem's personal life (i.e. his favorite music). On Sunday, Finchem was asked tougher questions by Rosaforte and Dorman, but played it safe, as any commissioner would, with his responses. For example, Rosaforte mentioned that there seems to be a mini-uprising with the new cut and anti-doping policies. Finchem responded by saying:
Well I question the premise that you asked the question. I don’t feel an uprising at all. I mean, I’ve been here for two days, I’ve seen 100 players. And I think players a lot of them don’t like the way the cut change was made, even though it was a Player Advisory Council that recommended it, but they understand the reasons for it.
Rosaforte's colleague at Golf World, John Hawkins, contradicts this statement in his most recent column:
From unrest over its drug-testing program to the recent outcry over revisions to the 36-hole cut, the PGA Tour has dealt with more in-house strife than usual in 2008. Some players will complain about anything, but this year, guys who rarely rock the boat are objecting, as much about the tour's autocratic methods of operation as the actual policies themselves.
