Seniors Tour,Where's the support?

[shivas irons]

Many great players have used the European tour as a platform for their careers such as Faldo,Norman but wheres the Seniors support when the European tour need it?.You get the likes of major winners Woosnam,Lyle, great Ryder cup guys such as Sam Torrance involved but none of golfs European superstars will play unless its The Seniors Open.OK the moneys not good but a lot of people would love to watch these guys again locally and it would be great for them to give something back to the tour which made them........

 

[MetalMickie]

But when you have been competitive at the highest level do you then wish to play in lesser events and become little more than a "ceremonial golfer".

In the US Arnold Palmer was happy to do so but Jack Nicklaus had a very short Seniors' Tour career for that reason.

Also if money remains an issue to a former European Tour player then, if he is still competitive, he will, like Des Smyth & Mark James, play on the Champions Tour in America.

 

[birdieman]

No one owes a Senior Tour anything. These guys have had their time yet still get really well paid to turn out in their dotage when their game is nothing like it was in their prime. Other sports like tennis and football do silly exhibitions once players become overage yet in golf it is still treated as a serious game at senior level. Dont know who dreamed this up but imo once you cant cut it at playing level you graciously stand aside for the next generation. Golfers have 25 years at the top, loads more than most sports, is that not enough?

I mean does anyone really want to watch Des Smyth and his ilk play golf?

 

[Imurg]

Using Monty as an example - he's made more money than he can spend, he's been touring for 25 years, he doesn't NEED to play on the Seniors Tour. The Seniors Tour may need him but Monty's done his time.....
And if he did want to then he'd go and play in the US - only ones that play on the Euro Senior Tour are those that can't make the US Senior Tour....

 

[Doon frae Troon]

One of the problems with the European tour was that the 'names' could not compete with the 'no names'.

Golf fans are not going to come out in thier droves to watch the likes of Mark Mouland, Barry Lane and Carl Mason.
Seniors golf needs to be re-thought with an exhibition type league which has enough big names playing to draw a crowd.
Or even an International series of European countries playing each other.

 

[shivas irons]

I hear what you guys are saying and agree with some of it,thing is as a matter of honour for what the tour has done for them it would be nice if the big names turned up to some events after all Lyle and Woosnam who definatly don't need the money attend some events.As some of you know I have caddied on the Euro Seniors in the past and there was bigger names back then compered to now,most of the field nowdays is made of of senior club pro's.The bigger names would have bought the bigger sponsors and kickstarted the tour to be on par with the US champions.........

 

[Fader]

Using Monty as an example - he's made more money than he can spend, he's been touring for 25 years, he doesn't NEED to play on the Seniors Tour. The Seniors Tour may need him but Monty's done his time.....
And if he did want to then he'd go and play in the US - only ones that play on the Euro Senior Tour are those that can't make the US Senior Tour....

^^^^Pretty much sums my thoughs up on this nicely.

Think of it this way, you do 25 years service at a compay in a high profile with good wages and a pension that tides you more than over so no need to work again, but the same company offers you a job upon your retirement in the post room! Are you going to take it? If it was me then I wouldn't.


Or

Whereas you could have been the post boy for 30 years and struggled to make ends meet, but just when you think this is my lot they offer you the chance to have a 10 year paid jolly earned a better sum than you were on before, its not as much as the bigger boys earned but enough to tide you over whilst having fun.

Now its option 2, you'd take but the reason you took it is because its better than what you had before because you never made it up the corporate ladder when you were younger like the guys in option 1.