Looks like a decent field will be assembled in China this week for the $5 million HSBC Champion's event, co-sanctioned by the European, Asian, Australasian, and Sunshine Tours. No doubt Lefty will be pleased that the top two players in the world, Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh, have managed to find their passports (as well as their likely enormous appearance fee checks ) to cross the Pacific for this inaugural event. No doubt getting these two guys to come to China for an event such as this will be a huge boost to the golf scene in China.
I think it is sad that only one American can make the effort. The quote from the top CHinese player shows how important this is to the Chinese and ,most important, the growth of the game. Maybe it is time to put something back into the sport.
Quote:
Chinese number one Zhang Lian-Wei said: "Tiger's presence has moved China golf forward by 10 years.
"Young Chinese kids who don't know golf will want to learn the game and hopefully this will help develop golf further.
"I certainly hope more world-class players will continue to play in China as it is only good for the game here."
Last edited by Lefty : November 8th, 2005 at 03:48 AM.
I think it is sad that only one American can make the effort. The quote from the top CHinese player shows how important this is to the Chinese and ,most important, the growth of the game. Maybe it is time to put something back into the sport.
Sad, but in all honesty the only one who matters did make the trip, which is important. No doubt China has the potential to be a huge golf market, and getting the most recognizable player in the world to go over there will aid that progression greatly, as the quote alludes to.
With the big purse it has and the ability of the event to give out large appearance fees, I wouldn't be surprised to see this become an elite event world-wide soon. I would suspect that more big names will be showing up in the next few years...this event will be good for the development of the game there, and should a Chinese player ever reach the upper echelon of the sport's elite, the game will explode there, not unlike the way basketball has taken on there after the arrival of Yao Ming on the NBA.
Last edited by stlcard_25 : November 8th, 2005 at 11:30 PM.
I think it is sad that only one American can make the effort.
I agree. And while it is true that these guys are, in fact, independent contractors, I so wish Phil Mickelson would embrace a more ambassadorial role in golf. It is good that Tiger went.
I agree. And while it is true that these guys are, in fact, independent contractors, I so wish Phil Mickelson would embrace a more ambassadorial role in golf. It is good that Tiger went.
It would be interesting to see Tiger's appearance fee check.
You can lament about the lack of Americans all you want, but it's half way around the world, the PGA Tour season just ended, and other than a handful of recognizable players who are these guys? I tend to believe that appearance money and the fact that this is the first event of the European Tour's 2006 schedule is the only reason most of those recognizable names are even there.
I'm not making excuses for the American pros but let's be real here. If you were in their shoes would you fly to China? While I'm at it......there's more than a few stars from the European Tour that made the same choice as the Americans.
I'm not making excuses for the American pros but let's be real here. If you were in their shoes would you fly to China?
I most definitely would, League. If I had the talent and skill of a Phil Mickelson, and were a touring pro, I would use that to do two things that would be very important to me...see the world and help spread worldwide interest in the game of golf. But, hey, that's just me.
I most definitely would, League. If I had the talent and skill of a Phil Mickelson, and were a touring pro, I would use that to do two things that would be very important to me...see the world and help spread worldwide interest in the game of golf. But, hey, that's just me.
I would go also, but obviously not everyone thinks like you and I. I'm sure the top guys see all of the world they want to between golf and family vacations and they certainly log more than their share of miles durring a PGA Tour season.
I think most every top player promotes the game in one way or another. Could they do more? Sure. Will they? Probably not.
Tiger went for the check, for sure (plus his share of the $5 mil purse, which could be a considerable bonus, lol)...so if the highest paid golfer in the USA, ok world, thinks it's worth it, why don't any other American pros? Sure, their check may not be as big as Tiger's but I bet it'd be more than the winner's check in most American events. I don't think El Tigre is the only American that mattered...I have to believe the Chinese are aware of other American pros. I'd do it, heck Halk did it for a lot less and didn't even get to play golf, lol. (glad you found work, Halk) Also, if you follow European golf at all, that is far from a no-name field. With the exception of the Chinese golfers (sorry) I'm familiar with better than half the field...no guaranteed win for Tiger, imo.
I follow the European Tour enough to know that only 43 of the top 125 on the 2005 Order of Merit made the trip to China to support the season opening event on their own tour.
Why are there only 75 players playing in this event? Does the European Tour have such a limited field in other events? How many Americans were even eligible to play in this European Tour event?
November 8th, 2005, 12:02 AM
) to cross the Pacific for this inaugural event. No doubt getting these two guys to come to China for an event such as this will be a huge boost to the golf scene in China. 
While I'm at it......there's more than a few stars from the European Tour that made the same choice as the Americans. 
You can take that to the bank!
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How many Americans were even eligible to play in this European Tour event?
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