Diagnosis Revealed
Tim Finchem, the former PGA Tour commissioner who oversaw an era of dramatic growth in professional golf, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. His wife, Holly, disclosed the diagnosis in a letter published by Global Golf Post, describing it as "a heartbreaking diagnosis, and one that has changed our lives in ways that are hard to put into words."
Tim Finchem, 79, led the PGA Tour from 1994 to 2016, stepping down at the end of that year. Holly Finchem's comments offered a rare and personal glimpse into the couple's life since his retirement, expressing both the pain of witnessing the disease's effects and the enduring presence of her husband's character.
"To watch him face this disease has been painful beyond measure," she wrote. "But even now, the essence of Tim remains present in the moments we treasure most – in his love for our family, his connection to the game and the enduring relationships that have meant so much to him throughout his life."
The diagnosis carries a particular poignancy given Finchem's reputation as a quick-thinking negotiator. A retrospective piece on golf.com recalled how he could respond to reporters with long, circuitous answers, prompting the observation that "this guy had some mind."
A Legacy of Growth and Transformation
Finchem assumed the role of the PGA Tour's third commissioner in 1994, following Joe Dey and Deane Beman. During his 22-year tenure, the tour's financial and cultural footprint expanded considerably. Annual prize money grew from $91 million across three tours when Finchem took office to more than $401 million across six tours by the time he retired in 2016.
His era saw the creation of marquee events and programs that remain central to the tour's identity: the World Golf Championships, the FedEx Cup season-long points race, and The First Tee in 1997. Charitable contributions connected to the tour rose to a then-record $166 million in his final year as commissioner.
Reflecting on his legacy, current PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in remarks at the 2025 Players Championship: "Tim Finchem built on what Joe Dey and Deane Bannon – his two predecessors – created and then took the Tour to incredible heights during his 22 years leading our organization. It's impossible to fully articulate the impact he had on the PGA Tour."
Finchem's earlier career included practicing law in Virginia Beach and working in the White House under President Jimmy Carter from 1978 to 1979 before co-founding a consulting group in the early 1980s.
Honors and Memories
Finchem was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2022, an honor shared on the same night as Tiger Woods. In 2025, he received the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award—an award he helped establish in 1996—presented by Monahan at the Players Championship. Finchem, at the time, called the honor "extremely humbling" and noted that it carried meaningful weight.
Deane Bannon, his predecessor and one of the Tour's earlier commissioners, praised Finchem"s tenure: "Tim was always someone I could turn to, and I relied on his financially, particularly in his decades of service."
In a more personal recollection, golf.com highlighted Finchem's attendance at the 2017 Masters in a green member's coat, an invitation from club chairman Billy Payne.
Charitable Commitment
The Finchems are donating $13 million to PGA Tour Charities, a gift intended to support the organization's philanthropic efforts. Laura Neal, executive vice president of PGA Tour's Strategic Philanthropy, described the contribution as "a legacy-defining, transformative gift" that will help "generating more focus, coordination, resources and visibility."
The donation marks a new chapter for the couple, as they navigate the challenges of Alzheimer's while supporting the causes Finchem championed during his career.