Tomorrow night (Thursday), a major announcement is expected by the European Tour. Citing a need to improve sponsorship relations and encourage European Tour players to compete in its most popular events, there's a proposal in discussion which would require European Tour players to compete in a minimum of 12 Tour events, 4 of which must come from the Tour's six "core" events. This policy is not aimed at the everyman European Tour player, but rather at those who are dual-card carrying members of both the PGA Tour and European Tour, otherwise written as the best in the world who, for reasons ranging from nationality to sponsorship affiliations, maintain their allegiances to the European Tour.
I'm not going to get involved in the seeming conflict between Padraig Harrington and the European Tour's Tournament Committee Chairman Thomas Bjorn, although Bjorn only moments ago announced that he was resigning his post. Their discourse has been catty at best and ultimately erroneous at worst.
The existing rule is that members must play only two out of the big six events (2009 tournament dates listed):
Irish Open (May 14-17)
PGA Championship (May 21-24)
French Open (July 2-5)
Scottish Open (July 9-12)
Dunhill Links Championship (October 1-4)
Portugal Masters (October 15-18)
Below are the complimenting PGA Tour events, including the events proceeding and following the European "core" events:
The Players Championship (May 7-10)
Valero Texas Open (May 14-17) - Irish Open Weekend
HP Byron Nelson Classic (May 21-24) -- PGA Championship Weekend
Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (May 28-31)
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Travelers Championship (June 25-28)
AT & T National (July 2-5) - French Open Weekend
John Deere Classic (July 9-12) - Scottish Open Weekend
U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee (July 16-19)
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The Tour Championship (September 24-27)
No Event Scheduled (October 1-4) - Dunhill Links Championship Weekend
No Event Scheduled (October 8-11)
No Event Scheduled (October 15-18) - Portugal Masters Weekend
Based on last year's schedule (the only one available online), the largest conflict will involve the back-to-back French Open (played opposite the AT&T National - Tiger Woods' event) & Scottish Open (played the week prior to the British Open). As Tiger's event increasingly gains notoriety, the game's European Tour stars will be reluctant to compete in it (most will already be in the States because the US Open is two weekends prior) and then immediately travel to compete in the Scottish Open and then the British. While many golfers enjoy playing in Europe the weekend prior to the British as a means to acclimate themselves to the differences in the style of play warranted, 3 consecutive weeks that include a shift in continents is excessive and potentially detrimental to their game. If, as I predict is the case, European Tour players may be forced to miss their maximum two "core" events in this period, favoring instead larger tournament purses and an improved level of competition.
The other issues, which are similar, could be traveling immediately following play at the Players Championship (for the Irish Open) and, similarly, following the Tour Championship (for the Dunhill Links Championship).
Aside from the scheduling flaws and the transportation concerns, it seems like this policy could have potential serious negative repercussions for the European Tour, and potentially the PGA Tour. Assuming this policy is effective, it will encourage European Tour players to remain oversees and to play less on the game's, widely considered, greatest stage, the PGA Tour. On the other hand, this policy could as easily deter dual-card carrying members from maintaining their European Tour allegiances, choosing instead a Tour where the purses are larger and the tournament's feature more players that top the World Golf Rankings.
Policies in sport that aim to be inclusive by practicing exclusionary ideals are counter-intuitive. Obviously there is a concern as how to compete with a "superior" product (look at the LPGA Tour's struggles with English-only policies), but rather than challenge that, why not embrace it and broadcast as an alternative with alternative benefits.
Photo(s): European Tour
2 comments:
Professional Tours have been playing for great purses. The economic downturn is making it very difficult to continue at that level unless sponsors can be certain of getting the top players in their field. . . Hard to know where this will all end up. . . The favorable news may be that the "richest 2%" are getting richer and if they continue wanting to hang with Tiger, Phil and their supporting cast the money might still be there?
Maybe there are too many Tours trying to have big money events? Is it possible there simply are not enough "great players who draw fans, viewers and sponsors?" . . . Is it not possible than anyone lower than #50 in the World Rankings is actually a minor league player who should be on a developmental Tour? How long will companies continue to ante millions and be lucky to get one or two top players in their event?
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