PGA Tour Kicks off 2012 Season in Hawaii with Hyundai Tournament of Champions

What if the PGA held a golf tournament on a lush garden isle?  Palm trees gently rocking in the breeze, white sandy beaches stretching into the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean.  You get the picture.  Paradise.

Don’t forget the $5.6 million in total prize money to be divided among an elite invitation-only field.  Even the last place finisher is guaranteed $60,000 to cover his jet fuel, mother-in-law’s spa bill, and tiki bar tab.

But NOBODY came!

That is pretty much what is happening this week in Hawaii.  The PGA Tour opens its 2012 season Friday with the Hyundai Tournament of Champions from gorgeous Kapalua on Maui in Hawaii.  They even have Johnnie Miller and Sir Nick Faldo going head-to-head, or make that mouth-to-mouth, in the announcer’s booth in prime time.  That ought to be a hoot. 

Forty players qualified for this invitation only event by winning at least one PGA Tour event in 2011 and only 28 have made the effort to travel across the Pacific to participate.

Remember when Tiger used to win all those tournaments and still not show up in Hawaii?  Well, Phil still does the same thing.  Woods did not win in 2011, but Mickelson did win the Shell Houston Open and said "thanks, but no thanks" to Kapalua anyway.

Evidently they have set a wonderful example for the little ones to follow. 

2011 Major Championship winners, Rory McIlroy, Charl Schwartzel and Darren Clarke sent their regrets. 

FedEx Cup Playoff tournament winners, Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose also begged off.  Rose even gave the excuse that his wife just had a baby and he needed to stay home to help her.  Yeah, right.  Oh, wait a minute, they did just have another child.  Don’t they have nannies for that kind of thing?

Old No. 1 and 2011 multiple PGA winner Luke Donald flies all over the world and plays everywhere, surely he can be counted on to show up and be a leader.  What did you say?  He is staying home with the wife and kiddies?  Well, so much for that.

Only two of the world’s top-10 golfers will be in the field this week.  NASCAR starts their season off with the Daytona 500.  It’s like fireworks on the 4th of July.  The PGA starts their season off with...ah…pfft, barely a whimper.

The golf fans in Hawaii deserve better.  Hyundai deserves better. 

Here is an idea.  Start the season with a WGC event in Hawaii.  Big OWGR ranking points, bigger money, $7 million purse.  Bet that would get you know who’s attention.

Even the travel-weary Europeans might get excited about that, huh Chubby.

You listenin’, Commissioner Finchem?