For those of us in Canada who know Keith Pelley well, the former TSN, and Sportsnet executive who surprised many in the golf business when he was appointed CEO of the European Tour in 2015, is singularly determined when he commits himself to a cause.
For example in 2012 he changed the pecking order of sports broadcasting in the country when he convinced the board at Rogers to spend $5.2 billion over 12 years to wrest the NHL TV rights away from his former employer TSN.
I was employed by Rogers at the time and watched the deck chairs on the titanic being re-organized daily, with the likes of Don Cherry who for over 20 years had a handshake agreement on his contracts with CBC, now becoming a Rogers employee.
Hockey play by play announcers and their analysts were soon on the Rogers phone from all over Canada, as they saw their livelihood with CBC /TSN on the blocks, and many were signed.
Soon senior prominent media members at Rogers and worse, not so prominent like me, would soon be fired including Bob McCown, Nick Kypreos, John Shannon amongst many others.
The financial wisdom of the Pelley driven deal will only become known when the numbers are added up at the end of 12 years,
The toll in human terms from this perspective, was of course a disaster, causing yet untold hardships.
So now his "dream job" as he called his move to the ultra rich suburbs surrounding the former European Tour HQ, which until now has been met with favourable reviews as he set about establishing his commitment to the board and the rank and file, is under fire by some of the game's European Tour legends.
Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer all don't need another cent, but chose to play LIV, and the truth is not just for the money and that's what is at the heart of the letter they've sent Pelley demanding sanctions imposed upon them be lifted by today.
Westwood is not alone in getting his back up. He will always contend as a free contractor he can play where ever and when ever he likes, and until LIV came along all of that was as a member of the European and PGA Tours, including an event on their schedule in Saudi Arabia.
'There's a lack of transparency going on that doesn't sit well with me"
Pelley replied yesterday in a letter that contained in part these words.
"Before joining LIV Golf, players knew there would be consequences if they chose money over competition,” Pelley said in a release. “Many of them at the time understood and accepted that. Indeed, as one player named in the letter said in a media interview earlier this year, ‘If they ban me, they ban me.’ It is not credible that some are now surprised with the actions we have taken.
“The letter claims that these players ‘care deeply’ for the DP World Tour. An analysis of the past participation statistics on our Tour in recent years of several of the leading players named, suggests otherwise. One player in particular named in the note has only played six Rolex Series events in the past five years. Another one, only four. I wish many of them had been as keen to play on our Tour then as they seem to be now, based on the fact they have either resigned their membership of the PGA Tour or, if they are still in membership, have been suspended indefinitely.
“Furthermore, given how deeply these players say they care about the DP World Tour, perhaps some of them could have played in Ireland this week in support of our new title sponsor, in particular one player who gave us a signed commitment to play at Mount Juliet.
“The DP World Tour is a vibrant, independent and global Tour with increasing and guaranteed prize fund growth over the next five years. We have fantastic tournaments across the year including a host of wonderful national Opens, all played in front of huge crowds, illustrated perfectly by this week’s Horizon Irish Open,” Pelley said. “Finally, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any potential legal matters. I will simply reiterate that our Members’ Regulations which have been in force for more than 30 years, have been accepted by all the players, are there to protect all of our members, and we will use them to take all necessary steps to protect their interests.
“The sanctions for those members who knowingly broke our rules by playing at the Centurion Club without a release are proportionate, fair and, I believe, considered necessary by the majority of our members.”
With his former players now playing their 2nd LIV event in Oregon after being fined and suspended the first time, Pelley is in a tougher spot. What will he and the DP World Tour board do next ?
Somebody has to broker a peaceful ending to this ongoing saga. Pelley is getting backed into a corner.
It remains to be seen if he can work his way out. More likely a court of law somewhere in the world will have to do it for them..
Bryan Angus
