TV Time: Will the PGA Tour's new deal hurt the Canadian Open?

Apparently there's a new TV deal in the works (at least that's what Golf World is reporting) though tour commissioner Tim Finchem is trying to lengthen the deal in order to come up with the same amount of cash he received for the one that concludes at the end of 2007.

Aside from the fact ABC is apparently bowing out of broadcasting golf altogether (leaving Paul Azinger and Nick Faldo without jobs), and a revamped Florida swing, the new TV deal could be bad news for the struggling Canadian Open. Without a commitment from Bell Canada that will see the organization push forward with a sponsorship extention, the Canadian Open could face some problems. Among them is this comment from the Golf World piece:

The source said the tour would likely reduce its subsidy of purses from 62 percent to "somewhere in the 50s," putting pressure on tournament directors to get that revenue from other areas.

The Canadian Open already has problems raising sponsorship money, so where it will come up with additional funds is the question. Surely Bell isn't going to pay more, so that means secondary sponsors will become more important. Finding sponsors willing to use their marketing dollars on sporting events has become increasingly difficult these days. Here's hoping the Royal Canadian Golf Association has an ace up its sleeve on this one.

As for all of the other details of the TV deal, Geoff Shackelford has covered it off nicely on his site.