A Foreigner on the PGA Tour

Description

A Foreigner on the PGA Tour: Abstract

This case is about a fictional French-born golfer (Philip Lévy) who first achieved success on the European Tour. After qualifying to join the PGA Tour, the world’s most prestigious golf circuit, for the 2018 season, Philip migrated to the U.S. After a series of setbacks on and off the course, some of which were related to adaptation and discrimination issues, Philip had to decide whether to play in the second division of the PGA Tour or return to the European Tour. To complicate matters, Philip was contemplating filing a formal complaint with the governing bodies of the PGA Tour about what he considered to be the discriminatory treatment of foreign players. If such a complaint were leaked to the press, it could seriously damage both Philip’s reputation and that of the PGA Tour, which relies on the participation of foreign athletes and international corporate sponsors.

Teaching objectives

• Understand the phenomenon of liability of foreignness in the sports industry.
• Understand how a sports organization’s business model could be affected by a discrimination complaint.
• Identify practices that would help a sports organization become a workplace with a more inclusive, global mindset.

Additional information

Teachers’ notes are available for university teachers only. Please contact the HEC Montréal Case Centre.