He described the he season-ending event, which launches in 2009, as “great for professional golf globally.”
"It reduces the clamour that, because purses on the PGA Tour are high somehow the quality of golf is suffering,” he said.
The European Tour hopes the big jump in prize money will stop talented young Europeans moving to the US Tour, where the financial rewards have traditionally been greater.
Finchem believe the cash injection shows it is possible for golf to match the money available in international team sports. "It sends a message that slowly but surely professional golf is making strides to keep up with or gain on team sports," he told the BBC.
