After his victory in an Oregon courtroom on Feb. 11, Casey
Martin got a belated invitation from PGA Tour commissioner Tim
Finchem. "The lawyers have made all their arguments," said
Finchem, a lawyer. "It's going to take years for the appellate
process to resolve this issue. In the meantime, let's see how
well Casey can play."
Many Tour players were less conciliatory. Fred Couples called
federal magistrate Tom Coffin's ruling "a farce." Brandel
Chamblee said the pros might load their carts with beer and
sandwiches. Tom Watson said he was considering demanding a cart.
"Would I play better? No question!" Watson fumed.
Meanwhile Martin, who recently signed an equipment deal with
Karsten Manufacturing, hesitated as if wondering what to do
next. Should he stay on the Nike tour? Or request sponsors'
exemptions into PGA Tour events—the surest way to fulfill his
dream of playing at the game's highest level? These were new
questions; no one had the answers yet.
Suppose you're Tom Pulchinski, tournament director of the Nissan
Open in Los Angeles. Do you keep Martin out to please the PGA
Tour, or invite him and turn your Tour stop into the biggest
sports event since the Super Bowl? "We would not shut him out
just because he won a court case against the Tour, but we won't
be putting him in just because he rides a cart," said
Pulchinski, who finally opted not to invite him.
Officials at this week's Tucson Chrysler Classic came close to
offering Martin an exemption. Having Casey in the field "might
be bigger mediawise than having Tiger [Woods]," said a Tucson
spokeswoman. Then they heard from Martin's camp: No thanks.
Agent Jim Lehman, Tour star Tom Lehman's brother, said his
client needed rest after a month of legal battles, TV
interviews, Nike commercial shoots and a trip to Washington,
D.C., to support the Americans with Disabilities Act. Martin was
also worried about appearances. He fretted that other players
would be offended "if he took advantage of his situation too
early," said Lehman. Melinda Martin felt the weight of her son's
worries. "Truthfully, he would love to play in Tucson or at
Doral or anywhere on the big Tour, but he doesn't feel he has
the right," she said.
After being offered an exemption to the March 5-8 Doral-Ryder
Open, Martin turned it down. He had promised to play at the Nike
Greater Austin Open. Martin's only major move came on Monday,
when he moved out of his parents' house in Eugene, Ore. He drove
10 hours (stopping every 100 miles or so to elevate his leg) to
Foster City, Calif., where he will share a condo with a former
Stanford teammate. The most talked-about man in golf made the
trip alone.
Issue date: February 23, 1998
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