Professional Golf 2024 & 2025

[Lord Tyrion]

Hardly surprising really. Why would any of the real top players in today’s game consider playing Champions tour, they have all the money in the world have accomplished everything the game offers and don’t need to spend even more time away from home in effectively their retirement years.

Champions tour, Staysure tour etc will going forward continue to be for middle of the road players looking to earn some decent extra coin and achieve things they didn’t manage in their regular career. The likes of Langer etc going down that road is going to become far fewer but you may see the likes of a Fowler etc do it where they’ve under achieved a little.

I think you are missing the other aspect, the psychological miss. These players, like all professional sports people, have largely become institutionalised via their work. Whether it is the training, the routine, the chatter, the identity it gives them, I suspect that is far more to them than the money. None of these guys need the money but they need to be a pro golfer still. If not, what are they? Too many can't handle that question. Champions Tour gives them the extension to their career that allows them to withdraw graciously and at their pace.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I think you are missing the other aspect, the psychological miss. These players, like all professional sports people, have largely become institutionalised via their work. Whether it is the training, the routine, the chatter, the identity it gives them, I suspect that is far more to them than the money. None of these guys need the money but they need to be a pro golfer still. If not, what are they? Too many can't handle that question. Champions Tour gives them the extension to their career that allows them to withdraw graciously and at their pace.

Oh I don’t think I am missing it. If anything I think this is something they will have ticked off way before they (top level players) hit that point of their career. They know the point at which they age out of regular tour schedules and will have done a lot of forward planning.

That’s why I think they will play the odd invitational, majors they’re eligible for and perhaps 1 or 2 may dip their toe in the champions tour for a bit but I stand by my thoughts on it that there is nothing there for the real top guys to chase. If they get to 50 and think all they are is golfers then that’s actually quite sad on a deeper emotional level and I think the likes of Rory, Tiger, Scottie the real top bods know they’re a lot more than that and will have plans by then to move forward with whatever path they choose.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Oh I don’t think I am missing it. If anything I think this is something they will have ticked off way before they (top level players) hit that point of their career. They know the point at which they age out of regular tour schedules and will have done a lot of forward planning.

That’s why I think they will play the odd invitational, majors they’re eligible for and perhaps 1 or 2 may dip their toe in the champions tour for a bit but I stand by my thoughts on it that there is nothing there for the real top guys to chase. If they get to 50 and think all they are is golfers then that’s actually quite sad on a deeper emotional level and I think the likes of Rory, Tiger, Scottie the real top bods know they’re a lot more than that and will have plans by then to move forward with whatever path they choose.

I think you are over estimating an awful lot of pro sports people. Tiger is half the player he once was, not even that, and he is still trying to get back out on the PGA thinking he can challenge. Some manage it very well, some really don't. I maintain, for these guys the money is not relevant, it is everything else that goes with being a pro.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I think you are over estimating an awful lot of pro sports people. Tiger is half the player he once was, not even that, and he is still trying to get back out on the PGA thinking he can challenge. Some manage it very well, some really don't. I maintain, for these guys the money is not relevant, it is everything else that goes with being a pro.

Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. It’s merely my opinion that I believe they’re forward thinking people and know there is a longevity to what their careers are and in recent years we’ve see the softening of Tiger showing he’s more family oriented, same with Rory and his choices to relocate and move his schedule based on family, Scottie has outright said golf simply isn’t as important as other aspects of his life and could walk away. Only time will tell if I’m right or wrong but it’s my opinion and I’m sticking with it

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Incidentally, I totally agree regarding Scheffler. He seems very grounded. Lots will be, some won't

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I think you are missing the other aspect, the psychological miss. These players, like all professional sports people, have largely become institutionalised via their work. Whether it is the training, the routine, the chatter, the identity it gives them, I suspect that is far more to them than the money. None of these guys need the money but they need to be a pro golfer still. If not, what are they? Too many can't handle that question. Champions Tour gives them the extension to their career that allows them to withdraw graciously and at their pace.

Think there will be no doubt that some players will still need to have that competitive edge in their life - that’s why imo Woods hadn’t retired and will still keep trying

Someone like Rory I don’t think will be in that category and he will get his golf fix elsewhere and also just play in the 4 majors

 

[The Squirrel]

I just think thank God golf isn’t like boxing. How many boxers have done themselves serious damage with an ill-advised comeback. Does show how hard it can be to let go of "the life" with the discipline and meaning it brings though, when you've likely dedicated your entire life to it and have enjoyed the competition, recognition and acclaim. At least with golf you're only going to pulll a back muscle if you try and compete beyond the limits of your physical abilities.

Anyway, with so many complaints about slow play in pro golf, maybe here's the anwer (or maybe at least an example that you play just as well if not better if you don't spend 5 minutes pondering and standing over a shot!)

Rory McIlroy's team converts birdie in 28 seconds at 'Golf Channel Games'

In the "Optum Golf Channel Games," teammates Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry each contribute to a 28-second birdie in the timed shootout.

www.pgatour.com