Seriously, it is an attempt to create an elite field and a sixteen man matchplay event to saviour. Look att hose who qualified originally and tell me you would not want to watch the event if they all made the effort. $100,000 for one round of golf is an incentive.If you look at the way in which they tried to create an elite field,you have to admire the logic.
Lefty, I would love to see it if all the guys originally slated to play showed up. However, since the event is so close to the President's Cup, I think that hurt it a little with the American players at least. I'm not sure why Tiger isn't playing, given his relationship with IMG (I can only hope it's because he's playing the 84 Lumber event, which he shafted last year with his late withdrawal ....but that's another story.), so the President's Cup and not wanting to do the trans-Atlantic shuffle for what could be one round probably is the reason for it. Vijay (assuming his back recovers) will be defending his 84 Lumber crown and Phil and Dimarco (not sure about Freddie or DL3, but I'm sure the cool damp weather wouldn't do their backs any favors the week prior to the PC ) will also be in Pennsylvania for the event. Now, I don't see why Sergio isn't in the field....unless he's saving all his match play prowess for us in the Ryder Cup next year.
Hey.......I said "if" I was wrong, and it turns out I was right!
And lefty only wishes I was wrong!
Trying to glamorize this Match Play event is like trying to make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Wentworth is a marvelous course with a rich history. That's the best thing that can be said about this event.
Indeed, leaguegolf posts an opinion and I help correct it. Works for me! :nodsmiley
It's nice to have you around to look after me and to provide such outrageous fodder for GR members. I enjoy humor as much as the next guy but some of your "Americans and golf in America" stuff is off the charts!
Typically, the 16 man HSBC World Matchplay boasts a roster of players as impressive as most any in golf, but this year that won't be the case. Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson all decided to skip the Spet. 15-18 event this year, leaving a not so star-studded field left to duke it out for the purse and newly added (as of last year) world ranking points.
The field is: Michael Campbell, Retief Goosen, Colin Montgomerie, Angel Cabrera, Thomas Bjorn, David Howell, Paul McGinley, Luke Donald, Jose Maria Olazabal, Bernhard Langer, Tim Clark, Steve Elkington, Kenneth Ferrie, Mark Hensby, Trevor Immelman and Geoff Ogilvy.
Actually, come to think of it, it looks rather like the top 16 on the Euro Tour order of merit.
I have to wonder thtat the change in the world rankings (reducing the value of these events in World Rankings Points) hurts.
your "Americans and golf in America" stuff is off the charts!
As a great fan of USA , I am interested in examples. When your friends point out your weaknesses ,they do it to help ,so you should pay more attention.
Campbell feels next week's Presidents Cup, which takes place in the United States, may also have convinced the Americans to stay away.
"It is a long way to come for one week and go back again," said Campbell.
"But I feel for the sponsors because they put up a lot of money, this is the richest first prize in all of golf, and the tournament is not as strong as they would like to have it.
"You can say it's probably a slap in the face to the sponsors.
"It leaves a very bad taste in your mouth from a sponsor's point of view and the general public here."
Michael Campbell 's opinion on the matchplay that starts today.
I saw that Lefty...he also called it "one of the 5th majors of the world." All silliness in that comment aside, his logic makes sense. It's tougher to draw a crowd across the pond to an event where one could end up playing one match, and then fly back across for another matchplay event the following week.
On the other hand, the "prize" for losing in the first round at the HSBC is c£50K, or between $80-100K US. That's about what you get for a top 20 at the 84 Lumber. It's risk-free cash.
August 31st, 2005, 02:49 PM
....but that's another story.), so the President's Cup and not wanting to do the trans-Atlantic shuffle for what could be one round probably is the reason for it. Vijay (assuming his back recovers) will be defending his 84 Lumber crown and Phil and Dimarco (not sure about Freddie or DL3, but I'm sure the cool damp weather wouldn't do their backs any favors the week prior to the PC 
) will also be in Pennsylvania for the event. Now, I don't see why Sergio isn't in the field....unless he's saving all his match play prowess for us in the Ryder Cup next year. 
I enjoy humor as much as the next guy but some of your "Americans and golf in America" stuff is off the charts! 
All silliness in that comment aside, his logic makes sense. It's tougher to draw a crowd across the pond to an event where one could end up playing one match, and then fly back across for another matchplay event the following week.
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