Beman’s Legacy Begins

When 36-year-old Deane Beman became Commissioner, the PGA Tour was a mishmash of tournaments. “A couple of big-name players and a hotdog stand at the turn,” said former player Peter Jacobsen. The annual prize fund was $8 million and golf, in terms of TV exposure, lagged behind sports such as bowling. When the two-time US Amateur champ retired in 1994, prize money had risen to $100 million and the Tour had a quality year-round schedule. Here are the four things for which he’ll be remembered.

DEVELOP THE TPC NETWORK

In 1980, Beman built the first Tournament Players Club, at Sawgrass. One of the key motivations for the development of the TPC chain was to avoid sharing the proceeds of PGA Tour events with third-party course owners. The TPC network today comprises over 30 premier private, resort and public courses.

THE ALLEXEMPT TOUR

In the ’80s, many lower-ranked pros complained that the Tour’s structure prevented all but a handful of players from making a decent living. Beman increased the number of players who were automatically eligible to enter tournaments from 60 to 125. He also formed what are now the Web.com Tour and the Champions Tour.

REINVENTING TV REVENUES

In the 1970s, TV networks covered only a handful of golf events due to the high production costs. Corporate title sponsorships enabled Beman to underwrite these costs and offer the networks pre-sold sponsor advertising, paving the way for year-round coverage of key events.

CHARITY INITIATIVES

In 1979, Beman paid $2,700 to change the Tour’s status from for-profit to non-profit. Over the years, it has enabled the Tour to pass along more than a billion dollars to its players and charities without paying tax.