Web.com Tour president Bill Calfee exclusive interview

The Web.com Tour is a proven gateway to success on the PGA TOUR and, since 2013, the primary avenue for players to qualify for the TOUR. Web.com Tour President Bill Calfee talks about the circuit’s evolution and its exciting future. Interview by David Barrett David Barrett: How has the Web.com Tour developed since you became President in 1999? Bill Calfee: We made a significant change in 2013 when we went to a new structure whereby all the cards to the PGA TOUR come though the Web.com Tour, 25 based on season-long performance and 25 based on play in the final four events that culminate in the Web.com Tour Championship. It was really a decision that had been evolving over a number of years given what we saw of the performance of the Web.com Tour players versus the performance of the PGA TOUR qualifying school graduates. Over the years the Web.com Tour graduates just played better. They kept their cards, they had more impact, they were winning more tournaments, so it was a natural evolution that we decided that this Tour should be the way to get to the PGA TOUR. David Barrett: How does it feel when you see Smylie Kaufman and Peter Malnati come straight off the Web.com Tour and win right away on the PGA TOUR as they did last fall? Bill Calfee: Our whole team feels great. When players like Smylie, Peter and others go out and win, I think it’s a huge validation of what this Tour is about and what we work hard for, and that this is PGA TOUR golf. David Barrett: What do you feel the level of play is on the Web.com Tour? Bill Calfee: I think it’s really high. I think it’s easy for people to say if it’s not the PGA TOUR it must be minor league—that’s the default position. But when you compare it to other sports, what’s happened in the last 20 to 30 years is that a lot of franchises have been added in other sports so more players are at the highest level. Our sport is different. If you just look at the PGA TOUR, since 1968 there have been roughly 200 to 250 players on the TOUR. I look at the Web.com Tour as more a PGA TOUR expansion rather than developmental or minor league. There are so many good players, these guys have the game when they get to the PGA TOUR. Others have said that in terms of breadth and depth of talent, the Web.com Tour is the second most competitive tour in the world. I haven’t said that, but I don’t argue with somebody when they do say it. David Barrett: You have a number of new events in 2016 in new markets such as the Dominican Republic, Nashville and Springfield, Ill. Are there regions of the country you would like to get into in the future? Bill Calfee: There’s a lot of interest in this Tour, we’re getting a lot of calls from different markets, from sponsors that want to learn more about it, how they can get involved and what does it take to get a tournament. We’re really excited about the future of the Web.com Tour, not only from a competitive standpoint but also from what we are able to do in terms of community impact and charitable commitments. I’d love to get another event in the Pacific Northwest. We’d also like to get into New England and maybe Southern California. We’re looking at pockets around the country, in markets that we think might have some real interest and some good support. A market like Little Rock, Ark., Tulsa or Oklahoma City, where they don’t have any PGA TOUR golf. David Barrett: On the other hand, would you like to have a little less turnover sometimes? Bill Calfee: Absolutely. Our main focus over the last two years is trying to stabilize the events. A little attrition is not a bad thing, but we want to have long-term relationships. We have four events that have been playing with us since Day 1 [in 1990]. Those are performing at a high level. We’d like to have more stability. I think we’re building events in the right way, in a better way that gives us the most chance for success. We really do want events to be on the Tour long term, and I think we’d like to add some events. We’d like to get back to 28 to 30 tournaments. David Barrett: What do you expect from 2017 and beyond for the Web.com Tour? Bill Calfee: I see our players continuing to have a dramatic impact on the PGA TOUR. I see continued solid growth in our events and building new markets, adding events and getting to that 28 to 30 number. I see a bright future. We’ve got a tremendous umbrella sponsor in Web.com, and they’ve been great partners and that will continue. We’re going to try to push purses a bit, but we want to balance that with charitable contributions in the communities where we play. We’re on a solid course to continue to do well in the future and grow.