TALENT DRAIN FROM EUROPEAN TOUR TO UNITED STATES
FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN
The European Tour has the Ryder Cup in its possession, but next season it seems likely the US Tour will have all but one of the 24 Ryder Cup players on its books.
Little wonder, therefore, that Luke Donald, pictured, says his home continent’s
golf circuit “should be a bit worried”.
By JAMES CORRIGAN
The European Tour has the Ryder Cup in its possession, but next season it seems likely the US Tour will have all but one of the 24 Ryder Cup players on its books.
Little wonder, therefore, that Luke Donald, pictured, says his home continent’s
golf circuit “should be a bit worried”.
Nicolas Colsaerts and Peter Hanson are the latest to express their intentions
to take up their US Tour cards, with Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari
seriously considering joining this blue-and-gold exodus across the Atlantic.
In truth, this trend means they should more than “a bit” concerned down at Wentworth HQ.
In truth, this trend means they should more than “a bit” concerned down at Wentworth HQ.
Consider the following. In the season after the 2010
Ryder Cup, only four of Colin Montgomerie’s victorious side held US PGA
Tour cards, with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood resisting the
pull of the dollar.
In 2013, Paul Lawrie could well be the only player dedicated entirely to Europe. Hence Donald’s realism.
In 2013, Paul Lawrie could well be the only player dedicated entirely to Europe. Hence Donald’s realism.
“If I was the European Tour I would be a bit worried, with a lot of the guys
suggesting they are going to play their minimum [number of events] in Europe
and concentrate mainly on the US PGA Tour,” said the world No 3.
“I think that as a top player if you don’t at least try it for a year or two you’re going to have regrets.”
“I think that as a top player if you don’t at least try it for a year or two you’re going to have regrets.”
Donald, who has lived in America since college, spelt out the lure of
Stateside. The strength of field is one plus, as, of course, is the prize
money boosted by the end-of-season FedEx Cup extravaganza.
And with so many tournaments falling by the wayside in cash-strapped Europe, the practical positives are also persuasive.
And with so many tournaments falling by the wayside in cash-strapped Europe, the practical positives are also persuasive.
“Geographically wise it’s easier,” said Donald. “You’re not flying country to
country, the tournaments are a lot closer together, and you can travel with
your family. It’s a very attractive tour. I’m sure the European Tour are
watchful about these guys leaving, but there’s probably not much they can
do.”
The evidence backs up Donald. Not only are the Ryder Cup heroes planning on decamping, but there are players on the next rungs down such as Pablo Martin, Oliver Fisher and Romain Wattel trying out for America.
Twenty-three Europeans entered the first stage of US PGA Tour Q-School recently; an unprecedented number.
So how should the European Tour act? In Donald’s opinion it must merely seek to ensure the cash-cow that is the Ryder Cup remains competitive.
“If it was me, I wouldn’t be thinking this with a ‘European Tour versus US Tour’ mentality,” he said.
“The European Tour just wants to cultivate the good players and continue obviously to be strong in the Ryder Cup. I do understand, though, if you’re losing some of the top players it’s going to be tougher to sign big sponsors to events.”
With four tournaments lost on the continent to the recession this season, and with fears of more to follow, that already seems an implausible challenge.
Donald speaks for all when expressing the hope “that the economy will turn around and we’ll get more events in Europe”.
Otherwise the European Tour must ensure that it retains a strong start - centred around the Middle East - and a strong ending - centred around the Far East - on its calendar. Yet as Donald noted “the US Tour is looking to come over here more”.
“That’s just the way it’s trending,” he added.
Next season this week's tournament - the WGC-HSBC Champions Tournament in Shenzhen - will become an official event on the US PGA Tour’s schedule, as will the CIMB Classic in Malaysia.
There are also rumours of another US PGA Tour event being set up in Beijing. That would be alarming news for the European Tour, which at the moment can pride itself on being the biggest golfing power in Asia.
On a personal basis, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen was claiming rights to that moniker at the halfway point of the HSBC. There are five par-fives on the Olazabal Course at Mission Hills and, astonishingly, the 2010 Open champion was 11-under for these long holes after two rounds, having birdied nine of them and eagled the other.
Friday’s 63 helped Oosthuizen to 16-under and into a five-shot lead over Adam Scott and Ernie Els in second, with Donald three strokes further behind in a tie for eighth.
In fourth, on 10-under, came the 25-year-old Shane Lowry. The Irishman, who won last month’s Portugal Masters, is another with plans to focus on America next year.
The talent drain is in danger of becoming a flood.
The evidence backs up Donald. Not only are the Ryder Cup heroes planning on decamping, but there are players on the next rungs down such as Pablo Martin, Oliver Fisher and Romain Wattel trying out for America.
Twenty-three Europeans entered the first stage of US PGA Tour Q-School recently; an unprecedented number.
So how should the European Tour act? In Donald’s opinion it must merely seek to ensure the cash-cow that is the Ryder Cup remains competitive.
“If it was me, I wouldn’t be thinking this with a ‘European Tour versus US Tour’ mentality,” he said.
“The European Tour just wants to cultivate the good players and continue obviously to be strong in the Ryder Cup. I do understand, though, if you’re losing some of the top players it’s going to be tougher to sign big sponsors to events.”
With four tournaments lost on the continent to the recession this season, and with fears of more to follow, that already seems an implausible challenge.
Donald speaks for all when expressing the hope “that the economy will turn around and we’ll get more events in Europe”.
Otherwise the European Tour must ensure that it retains a strong start - centred around the Middle East - and a strong ending - centred around the Far East - on its calendar. Yet as Donald noted “the US Tour is looking to come over here more”.
“That’s just the way it’s trending,” he added.
Next season this week's tournament - the WGC-HSBC Champions Tournament in Shenzhen - will become an official event on the US PGA Tour’s schedule, as will the CIMB Classic in Malaysia.
There are also rumours of another US PGA Tour event being set up in Beijing. That would be alarming news for the European Tour, which at the moment can pride itself on being the biggest golfing power in Asia.
On a personal basis, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen was claiming rights to that moniker at the halfway point of the HSBC. There are five par-fives on the Olazabal Course at Mission Hills and, astonishingly, the 2010 Open champion was 11-under for these long holes after two rounds, having birdied nine of them and eagled the other.
Friday’s 63 helped Oosthuizen to 16-under and into a five-shot lead over Adam Scott and Ernie Els in second, with Donald three strokes further behind in a tie for eighth.
In fourth, on 10-under, came the 25-year-old Shane Lowry. The Irishman, who won last month’s Portugal Masters, is another with plans to focus on America next year.
The talent drain is in danger of becoming a flood.
Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, November 02, 2012
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