The European Tour

[pj1000]

The European Tour is extremely successful, but they must be somewhat dissappointed with the field at Estoril Open de Portugal this week.

The big names are nowhere to be seen, Lee Westwood and co it seems are in US, and Westy has made an excellent start I see!

 

[bobmac]

It's down to prize money I guess.
Estoril first prize...£135,000
St Jude first prize...£635,000

 

[Imurg]

Plus its the US Open next week so anyone who's qualified will be over there aclimatising

 

[bobmac]

Plus its the US Open next week so anyone who's qualified will be over there aclimatising

That too if in it and a week to get used to the time zone.

 

[pokerjoke]

I put that down to bad planning on the Euro tours part.

 

[DCB]

With golf now being a global sport, the big names are going to travel to where the money is. That currently is the PGA tour. Yes we have them playing in Europe and being members of the European Tour, but if they are high enough in the rankings, they can play a full PGA Tour schedule and taking the WGC events and Majors into consideration, they don't have to play too much in Europe at all.

Since both Tours are now playing for 10 months of the year, it's hardly surprising there are clashes.

I'll put money on it that there are PGA Tour players over here the week before The Open. It's usually The John Deere Classic or some other equally forgettable tournamet that clashes with The Open.

Each Tour has to do it's best in an ever increasing hard market place. Big name player needed, prizemoney needed to lure big name player, major sponsor needed to pay prizemoney to lure big name player.

Bid name player goes elsewhere....sponsor goes elsewhere... a cynical view I know, but....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

You are in the US open. Do you a) try and win the Portugese Open, then fly out and have to get over jet lag with limited practice or do you b) go over early, get use to the heat and conditions and maybe try and get some world ranking points.

It is really a no brainer for the European guys that have qualified. To be honest the guys that are in Portugal are actually in a favourable position in terms of getting money towards retaining their card without the big guns there and it gives one of them a chance for an exemption for winning

 

[CrapHacker]

Also it'll give some of the guys lower down the pecking order a chance to raise their own level.

We might see a new face rise to the top this week, and take that chance to become the next superstar.

 

[HughJars]

I put that down to bad planning on the Euro tours part.

What? Should they just not have held a tournament this week?

 

[HRC99]

Every tour has sub-standard events around the time when big events take place on other tours. Nothing wrong with that. Gives a chance to others.

It's a world tour for the top players now.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

You are in the US open. Do you a) try and win the Portugese Open, then fly out and have to get over jet lag with limited practice or do you b) go over early, get use to the heat and conditions and maybe try and get some world ranking points.

It is really a no brainer for the European guys that have qualified. To be honest the guys that are in Portugal are actually in a favourable position in terms of getting money towards retaining their card without the big guns there and it gives one of them a chance for an exemption for winning

Spot on in my opinion.