Deal Sets Up a Tour of Stars
This had to happen, of course. The PGA Tour signed a deal this week with the William Morris Agency, a Hollywood talent agency, and it’s probably going to land professional golfers in professional acting jobs. Not that they aren’t already in the business, of course.
No one can say that this isn’t synergy at its best. It’s all about marketing a product, so how this is going to shake out should already be clear to everyone.
Fire up the TiVo and get ready for “CSI: Ponte Vedra Beach.”
But before you reach for the remote, it’s probably a good idea to figure out what’s going on here.
You might recall the PGA Tour’s television package is worth about $850 million, about double the dough from the old agreement.
The package lasts through 2006, but it’s going to be up for renewal at the end of next year, so this deal only makes sense if the tour wants to maximize the potential (feel free to substitute the word “money” here) of what its entire property (and substitute the word “players” here) may be worth.
That’s why the tour just announced it is opening its first sales and marketing office in New York in July.
That’s why the tour expects you might soon be able to catch Greg Norman as a guest star with his dorsal-finned namesake on “Jaws.”
Don’t for one minute think it’s too farfetched to happen.
Even some of the most high-powered PGA Tour officials are saying the same things. Donna Orender, the tour’s senior vice president for strategic development, said the idea was to form marketing and media partnerships to promote each other’s properties.
For instance?
Orender said the tour would love to have Phil Mickelson on “The King of Queens” or Charles Howell III on “CSI” or Sergio Garcia on “George Lopez.” Obviously, those are splendid ideas and excellent casting, but why stop there?
The possibilities are endless. Nobody knows the business better than the William Morris Agency, which has offices in Beverly Hills, New York, London, Miami Beach and, of course, Nashville, and got its start by representing such acting legends as Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable.
Duffy Waldorf, Fred Funk and Spike McRoy seem like a natural progression, don’t they?
And imagine what the William Morris Agency could do for John Daly, especially on television.
He surely would be up for an Emmy if he was cast in a remake of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” playing the parts of both Jed and Jethro.
There could be ‘Friends II,” starring Tiger Woods and Butch Harmon.
On “Scrubs,” they could have all the guys who missed the cut the previous week.
Craig Stadler would be a natural on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
On the new HBO series “Deadwood,” the entire corps of golf writers would be perfect in a guest slot.
And think about “Arrested Development,” with guest stars Ty Tryon, Aaron Baddeley, David Gossett and Ricky Barnes.
On “Sesame Street,” the Count would invite special guests Frank Lickliter II, Davis Love III, Notah Begay III, Tommy Armour III and David Moreland IV.
If they decide to make “Big Fish” again, Fuzzy Zoeller and Neal Lancaster could be cast as guest anglers.
Glen Day and Ben Crane would be ideal on “60 Minutes” because that’s about how long it takes them to putt.
Tim “Lumpy” Herron could replace the entire cast of Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones and star all by himself in “Two and a Half Men.”
Music would be a great venue for the players too. The William Morris Agency would have no problem getting some sort of recording deal for a pure singing talent such as Daly, once he’s off the set of “Hillbillies II.”
According to news reports, the tour already has had preliminary discussions with producers for both television and movies about concepts that include not only scripted shows, but also reality shows and awards shows.
Of course, those are all terrific ideas. It won’t be long until “Survivor: Carnoustie” pops up on one of your local television stations.
And scripted shows are always a good way to go, especially if there’s any question about who actually says what. Vijay Singh would surely be on board with that idea.