Interview with Ann Palmer

Ann Palmer is championship director of the World Golf Championships - American Express Championship, representing the International Federation of PGA Tours. As a tournament director with the US PGA TOUR, she is seconded to the international Federation and works closely with the European Tour, as host tour for the Valderrama Championship (November 7-12).

Before moving to the US men’s Tour, she worked for Executive Sports International as Tournament director of the Mercury (or Sprint) Titleholders Championship on the LPGA Tour - one of the US women’s tour’s most venerable tournaments.

She came to Spain two years ago to oversee the inaugural World Golf Championship - American Express Championship, and hopes to stay in Europe to direct preparations for the 2002 World Golf Championships - American Express Championship.

Ann Palmer spoke to www.golfinspain.com during the official press presentation of the World Golf Championships - American Express Championship at Valderrama.

What prompted the creation of the World Golf Championships?

The top players were looking for more opportunities to play together, and the various tours around the world responded to their requests.

There was some initial scepticism by the press last year about the status of the World Golf Championships compared with the traditional major championships. Were these reservations valid?

History is obviously one thing we still miss in this tournament. You have to create it, and that’s what we’re doing. People are coming to the tournament to see history develop. The World Golf Championships are a series of four events attracting the top international players - the same players who compete in the majors. The World Golf Championships also attract a strong media presence, being televised to 140 countries.

There are three aspects to the growth of the game of golf: history; current-day competitions; and the future. The first is encompassed in the World Golf Village in St Augustine (Florida), near the US PGA Tour’s headquarters in Jacksonville, where one component is the World Golf Hall of Fame - something of a shrine to golf. The second is represented by the World Golf Championships. And the third, the future, is The First Tee, a World Golf Foundation programme whose objective is to provide affordable access to the game for people from all walks of life. They are all part of a total effort to foster the growth of the game.

So have you noticed a change in attitudes this year?

There has definitely been a greater public awareness of the World Golf Championships. People know who we are now. Our brand building and marketing has been successful and the media is more familiar with the event. Last year we promoted the championship mostly among golf fans. This year we are moving into other areas, trade journals for example.

Some European players have complained about a perceived US imbalance with the World Golf Championships - that most are held in the US. Are their complaints justified?

The World Golf Championships are sanctioned by the six main international tours, and all players have the opportunity of participating. This year, the first two World Golf Championships have been held in the US, but the third, the American Express Championship, is here in Valderrama, and the fourth, the EMC World Cup, is in Argentina. Next year, the Andersen Consulting Matchplay is in Australia and the EMC World Cup in Japan.

Rotation to the best courses in the world is a fundamental principle with this series of Championships.

It also has to be taken into account that the US has a different perspective on golf; it is a different product there. Golf is more popular in the States than football here in Europe. Maybe in four or five years there will be one World Golf Championship on every continent.

Does that mean the number of World Golf Championships could be expanded?

I’m not aware of any discussions along those lines. At the moment we are very pleased with the schedule of four tournaments.

The little-known Jeff Maggert won the first World Golf Championships last year (the Andersen Consulting Matchplay), but Tiger Woods won the other two championships in 1999, was runner-up in the Andersen this year and won the 2000 NEC Invitational. This has obviously helped raised the profile of the championships but some people argue that his domination is not all good for the game. Would you agree?

Personally, I think it’s fantastic. Tiger is a phenomenal player and an outstanding individual. The world is watching him grow as a player and at the same time seeing very positive effects on the growth of the game.

It is generally recognised that Tiger Woods’ exploits have led to a massive increase in prizemoney around the world over the past two seasons, but some players complain that total prizemoney of $5 million in each of the World Golf Championships has a disproportionate effect on the order of merit in Europe, where prize funds are considerably lower than in the US. Do they have a point?

I don’t think anyone can consider it negative to be able to win $1 million (the first prize in each of the World Golf Championships).

There also was some controversy last year at Valderrama over the absence of several top Americans. Are you worried the same might happen this year?

Last year there were some injuries, and of course the death of Payne Stewart (on the eve of the championship), which affected the field. This year we should have full attendance; it’s the last time it will close the European and US Tours. I can see why both Tours enjoy ending the season with the Tour Championship in the US and the Volvo Masters in Europe. Beginning in 2001 the World Golf Championships - American Express Championship will move to a September date. This will give us more flexibility to move it around Europe.