In Sport, the new Asian Tour is making waves. Essentially, it is a venture backed with Saudi money & the man calling the shots seems to be Greg Norman….. …..The suggested end game is a Golf "Super League", open only to the elite. I'll pass on that thanks. Top golfers are being offered eye-watering sums to commit to the Tour - Ian Poulter was reportedly offered £22 million. Ian is 46 years old...
I don’t think there will be a rush from the elite to join this. Both the PGA and the newly named DP World Tour have made it clear that anyone joining will immediately receive lifetime bans. That would also preclude participation in or captaining of the Ryder Cup. I’m not sure what the response has been from the Majors but you have to assume the USPGA will be shut to Super League participants.
Will Poulter give up a chance to captain the Ryder Cup?
The only current top name who has admitted discussions (and having signed a NDA) is DJ. quite surprised about him, to be honest.
I hope you are right. I fear you are not.
Poulter is 46 years old. His earning power is going to wane. If he is like pretty much every other 46-yr-old golfer in history. He has been (reputedly) offered £22 million. Lee Westwood has also said he has signed an NDA.
Lots of golfers in their 40s/50s will take the money. And quite a few younger ones, too.
The Ryder Cup? Tricky. Want the best golfers there? Or not?
There was a time when we tried to insist that European golfers played in Europe, not America. It didn't work. Why should this be any different?
I agree (earning power for Westwood and Poulter) plus Westwood by already having declined the opportunity to captain the Ryder Cup team, may have signed on the dotted line. And of course, older golfers will see all their money troubles disappear if they sign. But DJ is not in that bracket and I am surprised he has signed a NDA but maybe that is all he has signed.
Perhaps I am being overly optimistic in thinking that because both of the main Tours have said lifetime bans that will have greater weight to the doors that will close. Much will depend upon the R & A and The Masters I think. Have you heard what they might be thinking @Essexphil?
My initial thought was, if they are offering £22,000,000 to Poulter, they don't have any big names but DJ has made me think again. Finally, yes of course we all want to see the best players at the Ryder Cup but neither Tour is going to shoot itself in the foot, surely, by saying you don't have to support/play our tour but you can still play in the blue riband event?
Mini Gold Rush went to oats, only previous form was 2nd in a Mini in March last year.
As I don't have much to say about last night's Mini, here's a topical picture quiz - can anyone identify the object in the photo? N o googling, & no rude answers please.
Correct, it's an oat, & the winners alias was the clue. I never imagined an oat looked like that in it's natural form.
I thought it was a seed pod of some sort, then saw the winner's name, quite pleased with myself really. I knew that biology degree would come in handy one day/ It did however teach me that there are only two genders when there are now apparently at least 114. Oh how things change. I think today I shall be mostly Caelgender, which is a gender that shares qualities with outer space or has the aesthetic of space, stars, nebulas, etc. apparently.
p.s. 4.30 am and couldn't sleep, hence the waffle.
Correct, it's an oat, & the winners alias was the clue. I never imagined an oat looked like that in it's natural form.
I thought it was a seed pod of some sort, then saw the winner's name, quite pleased with myself really. I knew that biology degree would come in handy one day/ It did however teach me that there are only two genders when there are now apparently at least 114. Oh how things change. I think today I shall be mostly Caelgender, which is a gender that shares qualities with outer space or has the aesthetic of space, stars, nebulas, etc. apparently.
p.s. 4.30 am and couldn't sleep, hence the waffle.
Honestly, I so hope this thing falls flat on it's face. Nothing good can come from it.
There was a time the best British players played in Britain. Then those players transferred to the more lucrative European tour-the PGA European Tour. And then nearly all of them left to join the even more lucrative USPGA Tour.
The 1 thing that (until now) all the top Tours had in common? Membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours. Which has, for the last 25 years, openly met to organise the control of Golf. Even World Rankings are solely determined by PGA criteria.
Now? Someone else wants a slice of the pie. Money has always talked loudest in golf. With the exception of the Ryder Cup, it is not a team sport. It is all about the money. And has been for nearly 100 years. And probably will be for the next 100 years.
Golf is reliant on sponsors and TV contracts. Golf is increasingly perceived as old-fashioned, slow, and lacking immediate impact. Test Cricket if you will. And people want to give increased rewards, and jazz up the format.
Does that suit me personally? No. But then I like Test cricket. But it is not about me. It is about where the money is.
Comments
Perhaps I am being overly optimistic in thinking that because both of the main Tours have said lifetime bans that will have greater weight to the doors that will close. Much will depend upon the R & A and The Masters I think. Have you heard what they might be thinking @Essexphil?
My initial thought was, if they are offering £22,000,000 to Poulter, they don't have any big names but DJ has made me think again. Finally, yes of course we all want to see the best players at the Ryder Cup but neither Tour is going to shoot itself in the foot, surely, by saying you don't have to support/play our tour but you can still play in the blue riband event?
I thought it would be 'Our Roseeeeeee' @IrishRose 'coz I knew she was over there again, though she may be home by now.
YIPPPPPEEEEEEEE......... FANTASTIC result Rose. Hope to see you in Brighton at the SPT with everyone else
@MISTY4ME
Correct, it's an oat, & the winners alias was the clue. I never imagined an oat looked like that in it's natural form.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-10469879/Bryson-DeChambeau-offered-staggering-100MILLION-poster-boy-new-Saudi-Golf-League.html
Me neither Tony tbh....... though I do know wheat looks sort of similar, and I guessed with @oats winning the Main that's what it must be.
Jeez.
Honestly, I so hope this thing falls flat on it's face. Nothing good can come from it.
p.s. 4.30 am and couldn't sleep, hence the waffle.
@Enut
A new low for the Results Thread as it's used as a cure for insomnia.
The 1 thing that (until now) all the top Tours had in common? Membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours. Which has, for the last 25 years, openly met to organise the control of Golf. Even World Rankings are solely determined by PGA criteria.
Now? Someone else wants a slice of the pie. Money has always talked loudest in golf. With the exception of the Ryder Cup, it is not a team sport. It is all about the money. And has been for nearly 100 years. And probably will be for the next 100 years.
Golf is reliant on sponsors and TV contracts. Golf is increasingly perceived as old-fashioned, slow, and lacking immediate impact. Test Cricket if you will. And people want to give increased rewards, and jazz up the format.
Does that suit me personally? No. But then I like Test cricket. But it is not about me. It is about where the money is.