Eric there are a myriad of ways to distribute tickets. Lottery, stand in line at XYZ golf courses, first tee giveaways for 1 child/adult. That is the way to level the playing field. Heck, isn't grow the game in your mission statement even? Therein lies why it is incumbent upon the PGA to not sell out their marquee event to the rich.
Geoff
, I didn't really talk about "ways to distribute tickets." I simply made the simple economic point that they sold out, so economics says they could have and potentially even should have sold the tickets for more than $750. And if they had sold the tickets for less, you'd simply find profiteers buying them up for resale on the secondary market. I'd much rather the PGA get that money than the secondary market sellers.
They'll give some tickets away, I'm sure, but I disagree that it's incumbent upon them to not make as much money as they can within reason.
Particularly when they can take that money to then grow the game — I don't think offering some kids who can't afford to play golf as often as they'd like $250 tickets will do much to grow the game more than Youth on Course or the First Tee or PGA Junior League or a bunch of other things.