Why do senior Pros not play on the regular tour?

[Losttheplot]

Also didn't Bjorn win a few weeks back on the tour?? He's no whippersnapper either.

 

[timgolfy]

When you're young with your career infront of you the desire and will to win and be the best will be markedly higher than when you have been playing for so many years and already achieved alot of the things along the way. The younger players almost devote their lives to it, whereas I'm sure the older guys have a few other things that take on importance.

As a guess I would say this is it exactly. As well as the distance issue, I would assume that keeping competitive is gruelling work. Doing it from childhood until the age of 40 is gruelling enough. Doing it for another 20 years with money already in the bank, success already achieved. So maybe it is just a mental issue - not loss of mental sharpness, just loss of desire?

 

[Swinger]

I don't see distance as an issue for a majority of them.

They play on Senior Tours for money.

Lot of money to be won and a better chance of getting names on trophies.

I seriously think that a lot of Senior tour players could still hold their own on the tour.

I can see 58+ as being an age where bodies start to break down more. These guys weren't playing football into their 30's.

It is a shame that we don't see more of the likes of Langer, Couples, David Frost and Calcavecchia, to name but a few, more often on the regular tour. I really feel they can still compete right at the top.

Maybe the desire dries up a bit.
Lacking in dedication and work ethic they used to have.
'Easy' moneyto be had.

I feel distance isn't a big factor.

 

[surefire]

It might be worth remembering we had a player in the Ryder Cup last year who was over 40yrs old.

Jiminez.

He isn't fit, doesn't work out and is getting on a bit in golfing years on the main tour... So it's not just about being young, fit and healthy.

The thing is Jiminez works out quite a lot. He just keeps a bit quiet about it, because it doesn't fit his image.

 

[Swinger]

It might be worth remembering we had a player in the Ryder Cup last year who was over 40yrs old.

Jiminez.

He isn't fit, doesn't work out and is getting on a bit in golfing years on the main tour... So it's not just about being young, fit and healthy.

The thing is Jiminez works out quite a lot. He just keeps a bit quiet about it, because it doesn't fit his image.

He hides it by wearing a fat suit?

 

[barrybridges]

To be honest - I doubt it's the physical stuff. Some of these senior players are hardly 'old' old if you know what I mean.

I imagine it's more a question of motivation and convenience - look at the interview with Calvecchia to see that. They've made their money and aren't going to be challenging for the titles, so easier to switch to a more lifestyle type of competition where the schedule is less punishing..there's time for family...and the money is still good. Better to be a big fish in a small pond that a small fish in a big pond?

 

[viscount17]

you have to consider who is playing on the Senior tours now and who will be playing in the future. I doubt that you will see any of the current crop of top players, they will have made their money and for the most part have it earning for them.
With some exceptions, most of those out on tour were either winning at a time that first place didn't equal what 25th can get now or were also rans even then. Who ever heard of Devon Cambridge in his 20's or 30's? He's now a regular on the European Senior Tour.
For many I think they're there because they have to be, for some because they need to be.

 

[surefire]

It might be worth remembering we had a player in the Ryder Cup last year who was over 40yrs old.

Jiminez.

He isn't fit, doesn't work out and is getting on a bit in golfing years on the main tour... So it's not just about being young, fit and healthy.

The thing is Jiminez works out quite a lot. He just keeps a bit quiet about it, because it doesn't fit his image.

He hides it by wearing a fat suit?

Fit isn't the same thing as thin.

It's a common misconception that you have to be thin to be fit for a sport. Some sports such as marathon running require a low body fat percentage, but golf requires a different type of fitness.

As a completely non golf related example, look at Terry Hollands, proper fatty, but would you say he isn't fit for his sport because he is fat?