Tim Finchem, former commissioner of the PGA Tour, will join Tiger Woods and female legend Marion Hollins in the 2021 Induction Class of World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla.
The 72-year-old Finchem succeeded Deane Beman as commissioner in 1994 and served in the position for 22 years, as the PGA Tour exploded through the prime of Woods’ brilliant career.
“Tim did ride the wave of a young Tiger Woods, but he used his skill in the growing sports media sector to really make our Tour the biggest and most competitive golf tour in the world,” said Brad Faxon, an eight-time winner on the circuit who served three terms on the Player Advisory Council during Finchem’s regime.
“He never was one to lose his cool. But he was not one you wanted to debate against, either, as he always had all four bases covered. He was the perfect man for the job.”
When Finchem became commissioner, the purses on the PGA Tour and what are know the PGA Tour Champions and Korn Ferry Tour totaled $90 million.
Last year, the six tours under the PGA Tour umbrella (having added the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada, the PGA Tour Latinoamerica and the PGA Tour China) had purses totaling $400 million.
In 1994 when Finchem took over, six players on the PGA Tour earned $1 million or more in prize money, while his final year of 2016, six players collected $5 million in prize money and 106 made at least $1 million.
In addition, Finchem was instrumental in upgrading the PGA Tour’s program of charitable donations, which have surpassed $3 billion.
Much of this happened because Finchem was able to negotiate lucrative television contracts for the Tour, and Woods certainly played a large role in this, too.
“It is the greatest honor to be elected to join golf’s most legendary players and contributors in the World Golf Hall of Fame,” said Finchem, who learned of his election to the Hall of Fame through the Contributor category from current PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.
“This is a truly humbling moment, for which I am most grateful, and I look forward to celebrating with my family and friends throughout the game of golf and the many people who made this possible for me. I am especially proud to stand alongside one of the world’s all-time greats, Tiger Woods, in the Class of 2021 and look forward to what will be an exciting year ahead.”
Finchem also was the driving force behind the creation of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the Presidents Cup and the World Golf Championships.
Born on April 19, 1947, Finchem practiced law after graduation from the University of Virginia and served under President Jimmy Carter as Deputy Advisor to the President in the Office of Economic Affairs in 1978 and 1979.
World Golf Hall of Fame officials said one more member of the 2021 Class will be announced in the coming days.
The Hall’s Selection Committee is a 20-member panel co-chaired by Hall of Fame members Beth Daniel, Nick Price, Annika Sorenstam and Curtis Strange, and includes media representatives and representatives of the major golf organizations.
