Goosen shot 66's both mornings to establish a healthy lead. Ferrie was par, but hensby was way over. So he playing well, but his opponent today helped.
I think a little bit of knowledge might help you here. The Open is the oldest championship, and has always been held in Great Britain, primarily in Scotland. It was a major before any of the American majors were an itch in their father's shorts. If any major needs to change ,let's start with the younger ones ,not the first one.
That's not what I was talking about...sure, it's old and has always been held in Great Britain, but the R&A is the only one of the associations that run the majors that is not tied to a course or country. Some may say St. Andrews, but they've already broken precedent and played it other places, so that doesn't count anymore. The Masters is run by Augusta National Golf Club and you can be sure that the club would shut the tournament down before they moved it anywhere. The USGA runs the US Open, so unless they moved it to Mexico where they also have jurisdiction, then there's not much else they could do. Finally, the PGA of America runs the PGA Championship...I've gone into that enough already.
I wouldn't want to see the Open played anywhere besides in GB or Ireland, moving the others won't or can't happen, and adding more majors would simple water the field down and devalue the meaning of a major. WGCs are about the only bigger events that are going to be moved, so the rest of the world will just have to suffice with that.
We 've thrashed this to death ,and the Americans like things the way they are, the rest of the world want to change things to reflect the World as a whole, not the bit governed by the dollar. Reality is that it will not change quickly.
I don't hear, or see, the rest of the world clamoring for professional golf to change (or add to) the majors. Just you! You are very persistent to "fix" something that is not broken. There are plenty of professional events held around the world every week. Why is it you feel that the rest of the world needs to have majors?
As an American, my only venue for attending a Major is at Oakland Hills (site of numerous US Opens and the recent Ryder Cup) because of the course's proximity to my home. Augusta National, Baltusrol, Pinehurst, Bethpage, Winged Foot, etc may as well be in a foreign country because they are all a thousand miles, or more, from me. Unless I plan a very expensive "golf vacation" (unlikely with a non-golfer wife ) I watch them on TV just like you do. Holding majors in other countries isn't about the small number of fans that attend these events. It's about the organizations that put them on. Wanting majors to be held worldwide may be an honorable intention, but I've yet to hear a plausible explanation as to why any changes are necessary. Apparently neither have the powers that be.
Lefty, if you start an organization that will change the current system or add to it........I promise to support you. I'm a sucker for lost causes.
R&A is the governing body of golf in Great Britain.
...and everywhere else in the world but the USA and Mexico, I might add.
The World Cup lost out when they decided to go with the top two players from each country, rather than allowing the top player to pick his partner. I can't imagine Tiger and Phil having an enjoyable week together at that event. The Amex has been rotating between the USA and Europe lately, and that's a good pattern. The matchplay could use a new course once in a while, and it they positioned it better unlike they did in 2001 in Australia, then they would probably get a decent field.
The author lost me when he mixed golf with politics. You Euros have your thoughts on "typical" American media rubbish and this article certainly falls into our category of typical European media trash. And what's with bashing Freddie? He's one of the most fan friendly American players there is and because he chose not to play in some weak European match play event he's the bad American? That's garbage.
Its ultimately about giving sponsors and tournaments with heritage the respect and loyalty they deserve. The americans arent great at doing that. Theyd rather take the easy route, which i can understand with older players like freddie couples, who have families and are coming to the end of their competitive careers, but guys like Tiger, who has sulked ever since he lost to O Meara a few years back in this tournament, have no excuse. He doesnt need the money, so playing for a million pounds (is that about $1.5, or 1.6? million) wouldnt be the motivation, just winning a great tournament would and should be.
They have changed the usual time of this tournament, and at a **** time too, with the presidents cup next week. I think next year theyll definitely be a better field. Ernie'll be back anyway.
Last edited by leaguegolf : September 16th, 2005 at 08:15 PM.
Reason: Inappropriate Language
Its ultimately about giving sponsors and tournaments with heritage the respect and loyalty they deserve. The americans arent great at doing that. Theyd rather take the easy route
There's only so many tournaments these guys can play in a year's time and stay competitive. You can point fingers at the Americans all you want but your Euro boys don't show up, or show loyalty, for all the tournaments that have a heritage either.
Face the facts. This 16 man match play event at Wentworth doesn't have the prestige it once had, and by the looks of things, it probably will never regain it's luster. You can blame that on the Americans too. I say the blame lies with the addition of the WGC events and to a certain degree, the invention of the President's Cup. Too many tournaments means some have to suffer. Again, that's probably the American's fault.
The face of modern golf has changed in the last 10 years and in today's world the top players are going to pick and choose the tournaments that best suit them and their schedule. That holds true for all the top players....not just the Americans. It's easy to sit back and criticize American players for the woes of the have nots of the world but professional golf is healthy and getting better all the time. If the rest of the world can't keep up with what's happening with golf in America, that's not the American player's fault.
I read a lot of whining about Americans should do this, or that, and Americans should go here, or there to play, and Americans need to give up a major championship for the good of golf all over the world. Bla....Bla....Bla! If anyone, or any organization, with any power thought for one minute that would work, it would've been done by now. You want to blame the Americans for something? Blame them on the great shape of professional golf today. Everything else just sounds like jealousy and sour grapes.
And just how is an American Major, held on American soil, open to all the top players in the world, a "detriment" to the rest of the world? If the rest of the world can do golf better then you need to do it and quit crying about Americans and golf in America. I sure don't hear your Euro players whining about the state of professional golf in America. They're too busy reaping the rewards and enjoying American hospitality to care much about the European Tour or moving major championships to other countries.
And just how is an American Major, held on American soil, open to all the top players in the world, a "detriment" to the rest of the world? If the rest of the world can do golf better then you need to do it and quit crying about Americans and golf in America. I sure don't hear your Euro players whining about the state of professional golf in America. They're too busy reaping the rewards and enjoying American hospitality to care much about the European Tour or moving major championships to other countries.
I was home in Scotland on vacation last October and was fortunate enough to be invited by a member to play Royal Troon. I was introduced to a gentleman in the clubhouse who had served as an executive on the European Tour. He had nothing but sincere praise for the way that the USPGA sets up and conducts their tournaments ( majors or otherwise ). He said that the European Tour, although well organised and a solid organisation could learn a great deal from their American counterparts. Who could fault any top European player from taking his skills to American soil where the rewards are much higher and yes, the hospitality at U.S. tournaments is second to none.
No intentions of " crossing swords " with you skaghetti but, the " PGA Tour of America " ????????? I thought it was plainly the Professional Golf Association. The British Open, or " The Open " as its' known is, as it states, a championship that is open to all. Likewise with the United States Open championship, the final major of the season is the PGA which is open to every professional golfer in the world. The Masters, the U.S. Open and the PGA are conducted by the U.S.G.A. but due to the large field of players from all over the world that play in these majors its' more like an international event rather than an American event. Just my humble opinion my friend.
well for the events played in the States it is a part of the PGA Tour of America circuit. it's not very plausible to export majors around the world because things are already so embedded and it's just part of the tradition and heritage of the events. for those of you who think we're just being selfish it follows the same logic as to why you won't see the Open Championship being played anywhere but in Great Britain.
take a look at the PGA seal. it is the PGA Tour of America. it's not very plausible to export majors around the world as we like the events on American soil and it's just part of the tradition and heritage of the events. for those of you who think we're just being selfish it follows the same logic as to why you won't see the Open Championship being played anywhere but in Great Britain.
Never at any time did I even suggest that any of the three majors ( Masters, U.S. Open, PGA Championship ) be " exported around the world ". The idea of that is absolutely ridiculous, the courses used for those events are world class especially Augusta National one of the most beautiful settings in all of golf. My point ( which I feel is perfectly valid ) was that these tournaments, just like the Open Championship, have become world wide golfing events in this day and age. Its' not that far back in golfing history where the mere idea of a player from South Africa, Korea, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, etc. etc. winning one of the four majors would have been laughed at. In my opinion there is nothing selfish ( as you put it ) about wanting to keep three majors that have always been played on American soil on American soil !
Why do you expect everyone to go to California in March for a one round competition?
did anyone ever say anything along those lines? nobody is compelled to play in any event and if they happen to withdraw so be it, whether it be a euro or, god forbid, an ungrateful American PGA pro.
September 16th, 2005, 11:49 AM
The Masters is run by Augusta National Golf Club and you can be sure that the club would shut the tournament down before they moved it anywhere. The USGA runs the US Open, so unless they moved it to Mexico where they also have jurisdiction, then there's not much else they could do. Finally, the PGA of America runs the PGA Championship...I've gone into that enough already.
You are very persistent to "fix" something that is not broken. There are plenty of professional events held around the world every week. Why is it you feel that the rest of the world needs to have majors? 
It's about the organizations that put them on. Wanting majors to be held worldwide may be an honorable intention, but I've yet to hear a plausible explanation as to why any changes are necessary. Apparently neither have the powers that be. 
You Euros have your thoughts on "typical" American media rubbish and this article certainly falls into our category of typical European media trash. And what's with bashing Freddie? He's one of the most fan friendly American players there is and because he chose not to play in some weak European match play event he's the bad American? That's garbage. 
If anyone, or any organization, with any power thought for one minute that would work, it would've been done by now. You want to blame the Americans for something? Blame them on the great shape of professional golf today. Everything else just sounds like jealousy and sour grapes. 
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