In one of life's least surprising turn of events, the European Tour Players' Committee has voted to increase the minmum number of events required for membership from 11 to 12.
In itself, not a startling event - but in the context of a potential power shift in the global game, hardly surprisng. With the recently confirmed and scheduled "Race to Dubai" (think "marathon", not "sprint") boasting obscene amounts of money, including a cash-soaked denoument that falls outwith the main PGA Tour schedule, a number of US-based players have been making positive noises about joining the tour.
But while you may be salivating at the thought of Mickelson, Scott, Ogilvy and Villegas making occasional forays into Europe (or more likely the gulf states or Asia), the rank and file of the European Tour have been less than open to this prospect. A shift in the membership criteria from 11 to 12 events is hardly seismic, and may not entirely deter those watching from the States, but it's not exactly rolling out the welcome mat.
So, if the promised appearance of some PGA Tour stars doesn't materialise, you can thank the august members of the ET Players Committee as you watch the likes of Mattias Eliason and Francisco Valera strut their stuff.
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1 comment:
Yes and no.I would have went along with you but Sandy`s walk out after what was it 9 or 10 holes at Birkdale this year was not stuff of future Ryder Cup captains.Unless they go for a tried and tested dried out Woosnam I`d give him a chance but that Open incident leaves me in doubt.
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