This is kinda interesting and not something you'd expect from the stodgy, by-the-rules, PGA overlords: the tour has approved a new regulation that offers medical extensions to players who've recently dealt with a family crisis.
A few days ago, I mentioned that David Duval, the former No. 1 player in the world, was thinking about a comeback (or, at the very least, he would participate in last week's Viking Classic opposite the President's Cup). The big question, though, was where Duval would play in 2008 because his exempt status (from his '01 British Open victory) expired a year ago. Now we know.
Duval used a one-time exemption as top 25 on the career money list to keep his card this year, but it looked as though it might go to waste when his wife was put on bed rest in February because of complications with her pregnancy. Duval felt his responsibility was at home to care for his wife and four children, and he did not play for more than seven months...Despite Finchem's protestations, this is great. And as a Duval fan, I'm glad he'll get a legit chance at a comeback without having to beg for sponsors exemptions, or head to Q-school. But all of this back-slapping-for-good-deeds reminded me of something: I wonder what Casey Martin thinks about all of this.
Duval, whose daughter Sienna was born two months ago and is healthy, originally asked the TOUR about an extension in May and was denied based on the letter of the regulation. PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem was concerned that granting an exemption in his case might open the TOUR up to a bevy of other petitions.
But after the policy board met in late May, there was enough sentiment to take another look.
The tour wouldn't allow Martin, who suffers from Klippel Trenaunay Weber syndrome, to use a golf cart during rounds because it wasn't in the spirit of the rules (or some such crap). Obviously, this is a lot different than Duval's case, but not so much that people shouldn't question why the tour insists on all the exclusivity.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-04-2007 @ 11:48AM
Sammy Sumpter said...
I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT THE TOUR DO SOMETHING FOR PLAYERS LIKE DAVID, ANY PLAYER THAT HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO THE TOUR GROTH, SHOULD BE GIVEN A HAND IN TIME OF NEED, THAT GOES FOR RETIRED PLAYERS OLDER PLAYERS, THE ALWAYS SAY THESE GUYS ARE GOOD AND THEY HELP THE CHARITIES, WELL YOU FINALLY DID SOMETHING FOR ONE OF YOUR OWN, I APPLAULD YOU,THANKS PLAYERS BOARD, WISH YOU HAD BEEN AROUND FOR CHARLIE OWENS AND CASEY MARTIN
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10-05-2007 @ 11:59AM
Marvin Goldberg said...
I think the tour did the right thing. It is signifcant that it did so over Finchem's objections. He always comes down on the wrong side of social issues (ie. Casey Martin, women at Augusta National,listening to the players re the Fedex Cup)
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10-04-2007 @ 9:12AM
James said...
Duval deserves to use his exemption for a full season. Circumstances beyond his control forced him to care for his family and ot play golf,,an honorable thing..Good Luck Mr. Duval. It would be sweet to see you back at the top
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10-04-2007 @ 8:02PM
regis ruin said...
Well, if giving Duval a symbolic pass for next year is making the PGA tour feel good, okay. My beef is why Duval? Is he a poster boy for good golf? He made a lot of money in a short time and then just disappeared, to find something for himself. The PGA was in his rear view mirror for many years, and he never looked back. Other players deserve such considerations, but never get them. Put him in the Nationwide Tour to qualify, I say. He'd have his hands full trying to get a card to the big dance.
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10-05-2007 @ 8:19AM
MIKE MITROKA said...
I THINK IT IS A FINE MOVE ON THE PGA BOARDS PART TO GRANT MR DUVAL A YEAR TO MAKE THE TOUR AGAIN. BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION. PRIOR TO HIS WIFES ILLNESS, WHERE WAS HE? WHEN HE PLAYED HE DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE IT. MAYBE HIS HEAD WASNT IN THE RIGHT FRAME, SO NOW WHAT MAKES US THINK HE WILL BE BETTER. OKAY, GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE. LETS SEE WHAT HE CAN DO. I WISH HIM THE BEST.
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10-05-2007 @ 11:47AM
regis ruin said...
unless Duval has squandered all that money he made in the 90's I don't understand why he 'needs' to get back on tour. Is he out of health insurance? Did the public say they missed his arrogant interviews, where he appeared to be uninterested in the questions? Or did someone tell him he still can beat TW? (not in this century) I'm befuddled by the special treatment this guy is getting, given his performances over the last 5-6 years, often unable to break 80. And I'm guessing he's not on the practice range honing his skills as I type.
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10-07-2007 @ 1:05AM
Bill Jones said...
It seems the PGA would be much better off if commissioner Tim Finchem found another field of endeavor. His rulings go against all sense of humanity or decency. Mr. Finchem, please find something befitting your mentality, perhaps pro wrestling.
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10-07-2007 @ 5:05AM
Bill said...
It is too bad that athletes who stop competing (for whatever reason) don't seem to ever be able to get their form back. Duval was great until he won at the British Open. Everyone had gotten on his case for not winning a major, so it looked to me like his goal was to win one. He did, and then was through. Maybe his goal should have been to win five or six of them? I wish him luck this year. He's going to need it.
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10-07-2007 @ 10:33AM
LLoyd Nichols said...
It is understandable that the PGA had concerned giving Duval a free pass for 2008, however, David Duval's case is unusual ( his wife ), he has had vertigo, and after all he was number 1 in the world.We wish him well.The Casey Martin case is tricky but he should have been able to ride in a cart.The difficulty is that part of the philosophy of the sport is that a golfer should be in a good enough form to be able to walk a couple of miles every day. Now if Casey Martin does not walk much and rest all the time on the cart, is he getting an advantage? Probably not, as it is quite an effort for him to walk just around and along the greens.
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10-07-2007 @ 11:56PM
jerry oliver said...
david is a great player,i hope to see him at the top of the leader board every week. work hard on your game, come back strong and get back to #1
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10-08-2007 @ 4:41PM
James said...
Duval didnt just "walk away" he has a string of bad luck with injury and family issues..no one is saying he should get a free pass,,he earned that exemption, he should be able to use it the way it was intended to be used,,,if his wife didnt have complications with the pregnancy he would have used his exemption,,but what kind of example would the PGA be setting to say "sorry, you started the season and its your choice ot to play."
its not like he sucked al year and ask for do-over in september..
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10-08-2007 @ 7:58PM
bob friedman said...
duval devoted himself to a sick wife, and
a wonderful family. i think he deserves some
slack.
i hope he does well.
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10-11-2007 @ 1:47PM
gary gidlow said...
if i remember correctly...before tiger became so dominant, it was duval who was the man he had to challange and it was duval who was always in tiger's rear view mirror.
the tour could use a guy of his quality back...even if it seems unfair to some.
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10-11-2007 @ 4:14PM
Chuck LaFontano said...
David:
I wish you the best of luck and hope you get back to your old form. You won't remember me, but I met you and your wife when I worked for US Customs. Again, good luck from a fellow Colorodian.
Chuck
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