Rory McIlroy Says No Thanks To PGA Tour
by Charles Boyer on Nov 9, 2010 11:14 AM EST
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The continuing saga of whether Rory McIlroy will join the PGA Tour as a member has taken a turn back to "probably not."
Actually, he sounded quite definite this time. In his most definitive statement on his feelings on the PGA Tour to date, McIlroy not only demurred from moving to America, he also scoffed at the FedEx Cup and showed a bit of disdain for PGA Tour culture.
To the FedEx Cup, McIlroy said that it forces a player into playing events that he might not be interested in.
Then he took a bit of a shot at the Tour culture itself: "If you're not playing well in the States it can be a lonely place. But if you're not playing well on the European Tour you still have plenty of mates to hang out with."
McIlroy is not alone in his decision. World's #1 Lee Westwood hasn't competed full-time on the PGA Tour since 2005. World's #3 Martin Kaymer said he doesn't plan to be a full time Tour member next season either - despite having a five year exemption thanks to his PGA Championship win earlier this year. Other stars like Francesco Molilnari also plan to demur from full-time Tour membership as well.
This may be a by-product of the 15-Event requirement that Tour members generally must meet -- European players who want to maintain their base there may feel put out by the requirement. Moreover, many, with exemptions into any American even they want and others who would be locks for sponsor's invitations, probably feel it better to pick and choose the events they like the most while skipping the others. In other words, you can bet you will see McIlroy, Westwood, Molinari and the other top flight European Tour members at Sawgrass for the Player's Championship, the WGC Championships here and a few select others, not to mention the three American-based majors. Given those options, they really have no need for the PGA Tour.
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I think...
The younger golfers are beginning to understand that all the success and travelling can have a serious effect on family life, and also get that though the European Your offers sufficent options whilst being close to home.
The ones who are going to have to adjust to these top Euro players deciding to stay in their own turf are the sponsors…IMO
"If it doesn't work, you are trying to hard."
http://twitter.com/Roy_Ko
Good point on the sponsors...
I was looking at the number of INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES, and was amazed to see the increase in numbers…I’m not going into all the reasons, but they are overseas….One of the largest, GE, just announced a large expansion in their China operation
I also feel that the travel is another hinderance to the yopunger group…If their going to play here, it almost means uprooting their lives and purchasing homes here…Lots of players don’t want to do that…especially those with families….I have always thought the 15 ecent rule was a bit silly, but you do need some number I suppose
And, maybe this is the beginning of the TRUE WORLD TOUR that EASY and myself have talked about until we’re blue in the face…At any rate, it makes things more interestin, when you have a core of top young players, that will cherry pick the events….STUB
The True World Tour definitely exists, albeit unofficially. It is the Majors, the WGC Events and certain events off of the two main tours…for example, the Player’s. Not sure that the ET has an event with quite as much panache (aside from the Open Championship), save for possibly the Scottish Open, which conveniently times well the week before the Open.
by Charles Boyer on Nov 9, 2010 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
OMP..I know it exists, why else would OL TIMMY
have made that trip that he did….I’m not up on all the events that the EUROS play. Maybe Wendy or Easy can fill us in…At any rate, I do believe they play some great events…I jut wonder, how long it will take the US players to recognize the advantages of playing different venues…Maybe when the dollars change, and isn’t that going right back to the Sponsors?…..STUB
Just to start trouble...
What are the advantages for US players to play different venues?
If/when the dollars (euros) change, wouldn’t that be the main advantage?
by TwoNuse on Nov 9, 2010 6:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Two...what were saying, is
if SPONSORS made the jump to some Euro events…that would equate to a difference in pay….not much difference for a 5 million event in US, or say Ireland…Trump might be the first to do so, at his new resort…..STUB
But why would sponsors leave the US PGA Tour for the Euro PGA Tour?
I don’t think AT&T gives a damn if the golf in Spain that week is better than the golf in Washington D.C. Philadelphia. AT&T wants US eyeballs to see their brand.
A cursory look at the 2010 schedule shows the following sponsors who moving to the European Tour makes no sense:
Farmers Insurance
Northern Trust
Waste Management
Banco Popular
Shell
Zurich
Wells Fargo
Valero
Nationwide Insurance
Travelers
John Deere
Greenbrier
Wyndham
Experience and Sponsor promo
Look at Ernie Els, he has played golf just about everywwhere, Gary player too, these guys didnlt belong to a tour, they played golf.
"If it doesn't work, you are trying to hard."
http://twitter.com/Roy_Ko
True world tour...
is already happening…though PGA is in denial
"If it doesn't work, you are trying to hard."
http://twitter.com/Roy_Ko
For all the complaining about the US PGA Tour's requirement of 15 events...
The Euro PGA Tour has changed their minimum from 11 in 2009 to 12 in 2010 to 13 in 2011.
It is becoming harder for anyone to be a member of both tours in good standing. And frankly, the people we are talking about (Westwood, McIlroy, Kaymer) don’t need to be US PGA members. Juslt like Mickelson, Furyk and Woods don’t need to be Euro PGA members.
Two... isn't it going back to the
sponsors? And where the money is….I agree, it’s almost going to be impossible to be a member of each tour….Sure will be a lot of cherry picking off the events which I think is great for our viewing….best of both worlds…..STUB
One thing I forgot...
None of the Euros want to be the next Paul Casey and potentially miss Ryder Cups due to playing too much in the US. I don’t know how much the Euro Tour (if any) had to do with Montgomerie’s decision to exclude Casey, but misson accomplished.
Casey played more Euro Tour events than Harrington, I think?
but I agree with your previous post that players can remain on their own tours, and participate in majors, cherry-pick other events and get to the top.
Hey sweet lady...I'm not that familuar
with all the events on the EURO tour…What are some of the big ones? I do know, that we don’t get that many of them here…too bad to…love the announcing, or lack therof…STUB
who cares (but the sponsors)..
about who’s playing where as long as they are good enough to play in the majors. four major battles a year between the world best players who seldom play each other…entertaining, unpredictable outcome. I mean, it’s like a brasil vs italy in the world cup, they don’t play in the same league year round right? would soccer be as entertaining (other than for americans…) if there was a global soccer tour? what makes soccer so entertaining is the fact that tere are as many leagues as there are countries. why not do the same with golf (continental leagues)?everybody plays his own tour and only the bests can play in the majors….just a question :)
by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 3:34 AM EST up reply actions
Partialy correct, Saint..
But to say who cares about the sponsors???…No sponsors to Tours, no TV time. Soccer is a very diffirent dyanamics to Golf, there is a lot patriotism that exists in Soccer, that doesn’t in golf. Golf fans are generaly loyal tot he top players, regardles of their origion, and we simply love good golf. Soccer is team, golf is individual, besides the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup etc, but they do have the same standing in wworld sport as the Soccer world cup, they are more about tradition and friendly togetherness, IMO, To have only the best play the majors, we eliminate potential rising stars that sometimes come from nowwhere and in a major, I mean hwo realy heard about McDowel and Oosthuizen before this year, very few indeed…
"If it doesn't work, you are trying to hard."
http://twitter.com/Roy_Ko
i think Mc dowel..
and OOsthuizen were well known in their respective tours. That’s what i am saying, the unknown challenger from a mysterious country (or tour). Like before the Tiger era, I don’t think the same as Sir Faldo or Seve or even the Shark did play the PGA as often as the youngsters do now. There was that feeling of “who’s that guy”’ that seems to be lost now. The underdog from afar that will blossom in the midst of great battle for glory. The same was possible both ways, Jones jr, Nicklaus all those guys who seldom played in Europe or Asia only to raffle the big price when they showed up…stuff of legend i’d say…And by the way I don’t see any more friendly togetherness in golf than in football…it’s competition, no friendship or togetherness, respect yes. Hogan was well known for his warm behavior towards his fellow competitors, as is Tiger during a round in a Major…It’s all about winning!! And may be we are loyal to top players but that’s coz there is only one tour that prevails now and all the best players are in it…what choice do we have but to fantasize on the Tiger?..What i mean is, they are so “upthere”…I never had the chance to watch any of them play, I’ve seen loads of football pros every week ends in my town ball park…where am i going with that? :( mmm yeah, a hero must also be close to his people, like the “home town hero” you know..well.. i guess now it’s one hero for the whole world..and he’s American : ) so who’s to complain right?
by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 5:05 AM EST up reply actions
You Have a Point...
On the Hero thing, everyone needs a hero and right now Golf doesn’t have one that fans can idolize. I don;t thinkt he nationality of the hero makes a diffirence in the game of golf, it is, after all, a lonely mans sport, betwween him/her and the ball and the elements, not the coach, caddy or family can feel what that golfer feels the split second before impact. That said and done, I believe by picking one our, the players are tryin to focus on their family’s and communities, as there is so much financial reard in the game these days, a resonably good player can manage his time between tour commitments and family commitments without bankrupting his finances or image. TV, internet, mobile technology, etc take us, virtualy, to whatever tour we want when we want.
"If it doesn't work, you are trying to hard."
http://twitter.com/Roy_Ko
you are right..
but it’s the system that has changed. Now, a mediocre player can make a living out of his mediocre game on tour and that’s always a bad sign for any society when it raises mediocrity as a model. why nobody could face Tiger for so long? The Will that shall drive any professional to become the best at what he’s doing is drowned by that cosy way of living that you are talking about…family blablabla etc…they are not common men working in cubicles in some stupid jobs waiting to go back home to their beers and wives!!! They choose a life of heroes, they are public figures that all common men look up to. I çan’t see sport as a simple job I am sorry..those guys are the modern heroes and they all should live up to their status!! I mean they are the Hercules of modern times!!! I think hercules killed his wife and children… :)
by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 5:42 AM EST up reply actions
How do we pick
Heros unless other set the standard of norm to beat?
"If it doesn't work, you are trying to hard."
http://twitter.com/Roy_Ko
We've had...
mostly 3000 years of history to set that standard :) every era has it’s heroes, and as i am tryieng to say, the hero of en era often illustrates what that period of time in our history was like. For instance I’d rather not give my point of view on the current state of our era :)
by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 5:59 AM EST up reply actions
and now i am talking like..
my grand-dad !!! :)))) In my time blabla :)
by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 6:04 AM EST up reply actions
I didn't want to..
say nobody cares about the sponsors, just nobody but the sponsors care about where the guys are playing blablabla…sorry :( my english is just not sharp enough to chat in the beautiful tongue of Shakespeare…trying though!! :)
by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 5:14 AM EST up reply actions
that isn’t what he said. He said “who care BUT the sponsors who plays” ? Not "who cares about the sponsors.
He’s still wrong – the fans care, TV cares. Everybody wants to see the best field they can. And the best in the world face off once a month (majors, WGC’s, The Players) as it is, then a few more times during the year in warm up events for the bigger tournaments.
Having the top guys not in the field every week builds anticipation for the big tournaments.
"Fathom the odd hypocrisy that Obama wants every citizen to prove they are insured, but people don't have to prove they are citizens." - Ben Stein
and he beat me to it – well said Saint…wait…not Simon Templer ??? (lol)
"Fathom the odd hypocrisy that Obama wants every citizen to prove they are insured, but people don't have to prove they are citizens." - Ben Stein
uhhh lost my halo long ago ;)
But I know Moore to be quite a player. Well a few years back, as he’s over 80 now. He used to play on the french riviera along with wagons of other Brits thx to clement weather i guess, for the courses aren’t that great down there.
Ad augusta per angusta
by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 10:54 PM EST up reply actions
The fans in america...
you mean?…for most of those tournaments are played on american soil…problem is, there are golf fans all over the world now, and when a international player takes its PGAtour cards it’s a loss for his own tour and his fan base. I say, play your own tour year long and your tour majors and meet on the battle field 4 (8 with the WGC but again i am not a big fan, 3 of them are played in the
US) times a year for the Big majors. As for The Players, it’s the PGAtour’s own tournament and counts only for PGAtour players with a card in good and due form. You want to build anticipation for big tournaments , less the better..
Ad augusta per angusta
by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 10:33 PM EST up reply actions
of tournaments..
not anticipation :)
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by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 10:34 PM EST up reply actions
oh lord – here we go again – socialism on the march – and these professional golfers shouldn’t be playing for their own benefit. (lol)
"Fathom the odd hypocrisy that Obama wants every citizen to prove they are insured, but people don't have to prove they are citizens." - Ben Stein
socialism...i don't see your point :)
But we can still talk about it if you like :) I mean, you are now a proud, and may be the only real socialist country in the world right? LOL
Nothing to do with socialism on that matter, i am just saying I’d rather see the big guys battling 4 times a year and expect something huge to happen than see them chase the big buck on the richest tour…I know what you’re gona say now :), the sempiternal diatribe about how they are private contractors and all, but my point was that if the europeean player were playing in europe the big buck (but in euro :)) would come. Just look at the Japantour…Ishikawa makes big money already, as are most of the top japanese players. And everybody seems happy, the fans most of all.
Ad augusta per angusta
by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 11:20 PM EST up reply actions
lol – not quite yet – but President Barry is doing his best to push us over the brink so we can be just like all the European countries that are…fleeing socialism as fast as they can…but Barry doesn’t care about that – he’s a big Star Trek fan and thinks we are ready for interstellar travel and the Federation.
"Fathom the odd hypocrisy that Obama wants every citizen to prove they are insured, but people don't have to prove they are citizens." - Ben Stein
LOL :)
as long as it’s not the Empire..
Ad augusta per angusta
by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 11:26 PM EST up reply actions
far from me the idea of him..
beeing Darth Vader :) I suppose the helmet won’t even fit…
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by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 11:34 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry STUB - had to look them by purse size ($m)
Barclays Singapore Open – 6
Dubai WC – 7.5
Qatar Masters 2.5
Dubai Classic 2.5
Volvo 2.5
BMW Euro 4.5
French Open 3.0
Barclays 3.0
Irish Open 3.0
Alfred Dunhill 5.0
Portugal Masters 3.0
Andalucia 3.0
negative negative negative...
…Rory’s staying close to that stunning girlfriend of his !! :-D
"Fathom the odd hypocrisy that Obama wants every citizen to prove they are insured, but people don't have to prove they are citizens." - Ben Stein
Could be that he has his marching orders from home.
Like I never get those, LOL.
by Charles Boyer on Nov 10, 2010 9:26 AM EST up reply actions
Is that so bad a thing?
Bit of an international player, now aren’t you OMP, hmmm?
If nobody else is going to ask: I am.
Where do you hail from Royko & Saint-just71? Great to have new & interesting voices on here.
Thank you WendyUK..
i’ve been reading you all for a year now (waggleroom is kind of my morning paper as I live in Asia) but never had the guts (I need a few white-russians before even thinking of writing in english :) ) nor the time to chat before. So Hail to everyone and keep writing, it’s quite entertaining!!! :))))
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by Saint-just71 on Nov 10, 2010 10:46 PM EST up reply actions
Felt the same way before my 1st post, Saint
now – HAH!
Your English is excellent (although some of the less-discerning posters here keep criticising mine). I think as long as the point is reasonably clear, no-one is bothered by spelling/grammatical errors anyway – at least OMP promised he wouldn’t come down on us like a ton of bricks for said errors.
PS – You don’t need an excuse to drink those white-russians – at least STUB never needs one for all those martinis he knocks back.
Thx for your warm reception :) and encouraging my drinking ;)
and em66, it really feels like i just walked into another dimension!!!
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by Saint-just71 on Nov 11, 2010 7:18 PM EST up reply actions
OK Saint...ur in the twilight zone,
so don’t make any sudden moves….STUB
...and try to save my..
sanctity??? :)
Ad augusta per angusta
by Saint-just71 on Nov 12, 2010 12:05 AM EST up reply actions
Hey, who said I didn't need an excuse....
it was all those lovely lasses what turned me down, it was…..STUB
keep going at them STUB !!!
Never give up on the Lasses!!
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by Saint-just71 on Nov 12, 2010 12:00 AM EST up reply actions
chasing the lasses i meant..
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by Saint-just71 on Nov 12, 2010 12:05 AM EST up reply actions
Oh dear... oh dear
“McIlroy not tempted by Americans’ Sawgrass manoeuvring”. Court will probably want to take his apology back now!
Rory says that he’ll defend his Quail Hollow title and then return to UK. Fair enough … but then adds that he doesn’t like Sawgrass anyway – “It’s a Pete Dye course and I find it very awkward off the tee. You are hitting across fairways all the time,” etc.
He does add “Not to say it isn’t a great event. It’s very prestigious and it would be great to win it one day.”
Be interesting to read the US media take on this in view of reaction to his previous comments.
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