2008 PGA Tour Kicks Off

The PGA Tour started the 2008 last week. Among the stories being discussed on ESPN ( http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?page=factfiction/080108) is one asking if the golf season starts too early. And if so, what can be done?

The answer to the main question is yes, the golf season is too long. What can be done? Nothing. Why? The answer, like that to most inexplicable schedules -- money. (Other example: BCS Championship game on January 8th. WTF?)

The PGA Tour players want a shorter season. The fans and viewers want a shorter season. But the television networks and the host cities (hotels, restaurants, car rentals, etc.) will never allow a shorter season because of revenue loss. The PGA Tour Commissioner will never touch the third rail of scheduling and propose a revenue loosing policy.

So sit back and enjoy George Lopez' wacky clothes and unfunny jokes. And bouncing putts on the poa greens at the "Clambake". They will be around for a long time.

Picks for the 2008 Sony Open:

Steve Stricker: He finished T4 at the Sony in 2007 and played great last weekend. He remains in the zone.

Robert Allenby: Likes the course. Finished T8 last year.

Charles Howell III: Always is fast out of the gate (T2 at the Sony in 2007) and fades late in the season.

Dark Horse: Jesper Parnevik: A PGA TOUR REVIEW favorite. He played some of the best golf of his career during the end of the 2007 season. Always plays well during Hawaii/West Coast swings.