They're still trying to assess the potential damage that Tiger Woods' prolonged absence may cause the PGA Tour and all of its entangling business alliances.
Television ratings may decline, the casual fan may disappear, attendance at tournaments may drop . . . but it's also possible something good may come out of all this, according to Ty Votaw, the PGA Tour's executive vice president for communications and internal affairs.
"We see a vast amount of potential for something that's drastically different than doom and gloom," Votaw said Thursday, one day after Woods said he was out for the year and needed surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
So it's pick-your-scenario time in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., the PGA Tour's headquarters, where a $63-million question is what happens to the fledgling FedEx Cup when the defending champion doesn't play in it?
That $63-million sum is the payout this year for the four-tournament playoff, at $7 million each, plus a $35-million bonus pool. FedEx is financially committed to the arrangement through 2012, with NBC and CBS sharing the broadcasts.
With $63 million on the books for each of the six years in the deal, that's a financial commitment of $378 million, which makes the FedEx Cup a crucial part of the PGA Tour fiscal landscape. FedEx is investing a reported $40 million in the playoff process.
Support from its key players -- notably Woods -- is critical to the playoff format's success, which can't be helped by Woods' absence.
Last year, when the series made its debut, there were a few rocky moments, such as when Woods skipped the first playoff tournament and Phil Mickelson skipped another, but there were smiles all around when Woods emerged victorious and claimed a $10-million bonus.
The corporate sponsor says there's much more to the competition than Woods.
"There is continued excitement surrounding the FedEx Cup and the strong play of the field of golfers promises to make this year's competition incredibly exciting," said Carla Boyd, a spokeswoman for FedEx.
That's just what Votaw expects, although he's realistic about the impact of Woods' being away, not only for how it affects the FedEx Cup but also the PGA Tour events Woods misses the rest of the year.
"There's no question it's a negative, you can't sugarcoat that, and there will be some negative fallout," Votaw said.
