Now, The Pga’s Doing Cartwheels Tour’s Ruling Body Tries To Jump On Casey Martin’s Bandwagon

Trying to turn a public relations disaster into a publicity plus, the PGA Tour has all but embraced Casey Martin and his cart.

Commissioner Tim Finchem said Thursday that Martin almost certainly will play in a PGA Tour event this year and probably will have at least two years without legal interference to ride on the pro tour.

“Casey Martin is a guy you want playing on the PGA Tour,” Finchem said from his office in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. “He is an extremely popular individual and a role model. How would you not want him playing?”

After months of fighting Martin - and losing three times in court and even more decisively in the court of public opinion - the tour now seems ready to accept the disabled golfer.

Along with the acceptance by the tour, Martin will have his pick of big-money endorsement deals but will live with the fear his shriveled right leg will eventually not allow him to walk at all.

The PGA Tour still plans to appeal the federal judge’s ruling that allows Martin to ride in tournaments because his leg makes it painful to walk, Finchem said. But the tour will allow the appeal to unfold at its own pace. It could have requested an immediate stay of the ruling and could ask the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to expedite the matter.

Finchem said the PGA Tour still feels it has the right to make the rules for its competitions, that walking is an essential part of the game and that a player riding has an advantage.

Martin is scheduled to play in the next Nike Tour event March 5-8 in Austin, Texas. And even though he is not a member of the PGA Tour, he could be invited to a tournament by a sponsor.

“Casey is a national figure. I have to assume some sponsor would want him to play,” Finchem said.