Columnist Peter Benton: PGA tours show more unity

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2002 | 9:31 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Fichem has announced that his organization's three tours are being more closely aligned.

As part of the rebranding initiatives, the Senior PGA Tour is being renamed the Champions Tour, and the former Buy.Com Tour will now be known as the Nationwide Tour. These new names will be effective in 2003.

The changes are part of a strategy to unite the three tours under the PGA brand identity and to capitalize on the global strength of the PGA Tour's swinging golfer icon, which is now incorporated into the new logos.

More than 125 events were contested on the three tours in 2002, for approximately $260 million in prize money. In addition to providing competitive opportunities for its membership, tour events have raised nearly $650 million for charity since 1938, the first year such records were kept.

Garcia's 2-under-par 70, edged Mike Vance, who fired a 71. Sharing third with even-par 72s were Steve Kern, Patrick Duty and Eddie Heinen.

Players interested in participating in Silver State Golf Tour events can call Fred Gallegos at 641-8419 or 809-6143.

The award is named for Stewart, and 11-time winner on the PGA Tour, including three major championships (Stewart died in a plane accident the week of the Tour Championship in 1999.), and it was created by the PGA Tour Policy Board to perpetuate Stewart's memory.

It is presented annually to a player sharing Stewart's respect for the traditions of the game, his commitment to uphold the game's heritage of charitable support and his professional and meticulous presentation of himself and the sport through his dress and conduct.

The inaugural Payne Stewart Award was presented in 2000 to Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Last year's recipient was Ben Crenshaw.

Price, a native of Zimbabwe, has won 16 PGA Tour events, including two PGA Championships, a British Open and a Players Championship. He was named the 1993 and 1994 PGA Tour Player of the Year.

"One outstanding fellow who doesn't just talk about integrity, sportsmanship and giving back to others less fortunate, he applies those values in his own life," said PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.