Finchem Is Prepared to Defend PGA Tour Against FTC Complaint

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said he has been told by Federal Trade Commission attorneys they soon will file a complaint against the tour.

Finchem said the PGA Tour will go to court, if necessary, to protect its rules on conflicting events and television releases.

Finchem said the FTC’s bureau of competition has recommended to the full commission to take action against the tour.

“The FTC has been looking at our rules for 4 1/2 years,” Finchem said. “It’s taken almost five years now to determine that they ought to ask the commission for action.

“We look forward to defending our roles,” he said.

The PGA Tour’s conflicting-event rules call for players to ask the tour’s permission to play in an event scheduled at the same time as a tour event.

Under the television release rule, players agree to limit their appearances without prior approval from the tour.

“If the commission goes against us, I look forward to defending those rules in court,” Finchem said.

“If we fail in court, I would look forward to asking the Congress to take action to allow us to continue to be structured the way we are,” he said.