Yet another drop out.

[bozza]

So after Garcia and Stenson saying they won't be playing in the European Tours flagship event at Wentworth this year now Poulter has decided not to play because he has a poor record and there aren't many world ranking points.

Personally I think it stinks that European players can't be bothered to support this but then bang on how there isn't enough UK golf tournaments.

Bet if they lumped more cash into the prize find they would soon change their minds.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not sure the cash makes that much difference although I'm surprised the flagship event doesn't have a chance to offer more ranking points. That would seem to be a bigger incentive

 

[Beezerk]

Poulter's trousers make him look like a knob anyway so no loss there.
Seriously though it is a shame, specially when home players drop out.
So it asks a wider question, is Sky to blame for golf selling its soul? Much like other sports now shown on Sky have.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Nothing to do with Sky. If it wasn't for them the "flagship" event wouldn't get any TV coverage but that's a red herring. Players don't pick and event because of the TV coverage. I think its a shame the RC players like Poulter don't support it every year but only seem to play alternate years to get RC points. That would seem to be a bigger problem

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Prize funds, at current exchange rates, for Wentworth and the corresponding US event are $5.4 million over here compared with $6.5 million over there.

Lower travel costs and no acclimatisation issues for those of them resident in the States and I can only wonder why more of them are not staying over there. After all it is where they and their families live and where they play most weeks.

The European Tour could always deny them eligibility for future Ryder Cups.

 

[bozza]

Not sure the cash makes that much difference although I'm surprised the flagship event doesn't have a chance to offer more ranking points. That would seem to be a bigger incentive

You will only get more world ranking points for the event if more of the top players play in it.

None of the Americans travel over for it and now some of the top European players are deciding not to play in it.

 

[Foxholer]

Something wrong when players are deciding to give the flagship event a miss!

Surprises me that there aren't sufficient points available.

Almost inclined to think that participation should be compulsory, barring medical exemption, not so much for the event itself, but the commitment to 'The Tour'!

 

[Tongo]

And yet Poulter will be hoping people turn up to his event. Players and supporters. Quid pro quo Ian?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

And yet Poulter will be hoping people turn up to his event. Players and supporters. Quid pro quo Ian?

Fair point well made. Given where it falls in the calendar I wouldn't be surprised if a large contingent of the top European players did give it a swerve. Won't the FedEx race be coming to an end and so the race for those points surely a bigger lure

 

[6inchcup]

they are not obliged to play if they do not wish to,poults has never done well there and some pros dont like the place,its not about money,as BRUCEY said "points make prizes,what do points make"

 

[Deleted member 15344]

And yet Poulter will be hoping people turn up to his event. Players and supporters. Quid pro quo Ian?

It was also one of the reasons for his drop out - doesn't come back to the UK much and is doing a lot of work in the background for the tournament.

I have no issues with people not playing - because of the U.S. Tour and the ranking points over there the top players will miss more and more ET events - they need to stop weighting world ranking points based on who plays IMO - the PGA should be weighted the same as the U.S. One

The players are following the money and the money is in the states

 

[pbrown7582]

The same occurred a couple of years back when Westy and Rory skipped the players.

 

[Deleted member 15717]

Some of them are genuine reasons though...scheduling etc. Poulter I can understand. Hosting own tournament and has never played well around Wentworth. Why play a tournament at a course that you can't get on with?! Yes he has his millions, but he still has to earn a living. As a family man, maybe he'll just take the week off and spend it with his kids?

 

[Slab]

Sure I read somewhere that Stenson plays more tournaments than any other of the top guys, I guess he can't do them all