institution1916–present

Professional Golfers Association

Disciplines:

Summary

The Professional Golfers Association (PGA Tour) is the governing body of professional golf in the United States, sued by Casey Martin over cart accommodation under the ADA.

Core Contribution

PGA Tour v. Martin (2001) forced the Supreme Court to adjudicate whether walking is essential to the game of golf — a philosophical question about a sport's telos that Sandel uses as a modern case of Aristotelian reasoning about purposes and excellences.

Key Spikes & Highlights

Walking rule defense (argued that walking 18 holes is an essential element of professional golf competition — the core claim of PGA Tour v. Martin)
ADA sports accommodation precedent (the Supreme Court ruled the ADA applies to professional golf, requiring reasonable accommodation)
Stevens majority ruling (Justice Stevens held that allowing a cart was reasonable accommodation and not a fundamental alteration of the game)
Telos of golf debate (the case forced explicit philosophical discussion of what golf is for — the lecture's central Aristotelian moment)

Historical Influences

No recorded historical influences.

Intellectual Lineage

American professional sports governance

Contemporaries & Peers

Boston Red Sox Casey Martin

Minds Influenced

No recorded minds influenced.

Intellectual Posterity

ADA application to professional sports precedent

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