Finchem’s PGA Tour Legacy

The WGC

What if golf had a run of four tournaments for only the world’s top stars, played on various continents and for some of the largest purses? Launch it in 1999 and call it the World Golf Championships. It might have been Greg Norman’s idea (see p56), but Finchem’s name was all over the documents.

The Fedex Finale

How do you keep the world’s playing after the majors? Pay them so much they can’t resist. Finchem convinced Fedex to sign a 10-year contract that turned the Tour Championship into the Fedex Cup, gave the players a fat windfall and the season a more viable conclusion. A masterstroke.

First Tee

Finchem’s greatest legacy to the world outside of his PGA Tour members was the formation of First Tee, the organisation created to attract more kids to the game, particularly from outside golf’s privileged demographic. A founder and key figure, Finchem remains the organisation’s chairman to this day.