I think Ryan Moore is going to be something special in the next few years. Besides him it seems like many of the young players who challenge in the US AM are stuck in the lower tours, Casey Whittenburg, Rickey Barnes and Nick Flanagan come to mind right away.
While 10 years is a long time, nobody but Tiger has emerged in the past 10. It's rather ironic that everthing that Tiger has done for the game may ultimately be the reason for the death of The Champions Tour. All of the big names in their 30s & 40s will be wealthy beyond their wildest dreams, due in large part to the increased purses and related endorsement opportunities Tiger has wrought. Why would they want to endure the grind of a (much) lower profile Champions Tour ? Norman is the first good example of that. I suspect more big names will follow suit as the come of age.
That is a very good point. It probably deserves it's own thread. Hopefully, the will play for the competitiveness of it.
I think Ryan Moore is going to be something special in the next few years. Besides him it seems like many of the young players who challenge in the US AM are stuck in the lower tours, Casey Whittenburg, Rickey Barnes and Nick Flanagan come to mind right away.
We can let the Aussies continue to claim Nick.
Add Sean O'Hair to Ryan Moore.
It's actually quite unusual to have two accomplished Americans under 25 who are already PGA Tour pros coming on at the same time. I think in the last 20 years we have only had 4 guys play their way onto the tour without going to Q school - Phil, Justin, Tiger and Ryan. The norm is to kick around minor tours for a few years and mature into a contender on the big tour between 25 and 30. After 30 is the normal time for peak major performance to kick in. Tiger skews our view of that.
Last edited by BPC : August 21st, 2006 at 04:41 PM.
There are PLENTY of talented players in high school and college. The problem is, the young players that are not able to contend with him now, were also highly touted amateurs. Tiger is just something different. It's going to be a LONG time before someone is truly a serious threat.
And truthfully, I personally don't have much problem with it. I couldn't imagine someone giving me more enjoyable viewing than Tiger has for the past 10 years. When he's on tv, I don't miss a swing.
With the influx of non-American professionals in recent times, there has subsequently never been a harder time for the American young guns to establish themselves on tour !
The talent is there, but perhaps currently on the Nationwide tour for example, as opposed to the regular tour ! That`s why in time (maybe within the next twenty years) I think there will definitely be an `assured places scheme`for American professionals, to preserve the USPGA tour itself ! and I wouldn`t blame the Tour for doing so either!
Other than Furyk, Woods, and Mickelson, we are probably not near as strong in talent as Europe and definitely the rest of the world. DiMarco and Toms are next. C. Campbell may be our 6th best player. After that, we just aren't as strong. With golfers like Love and Couples passing their prime, we have a bunch of players that don't draw fear into the Europeans and may be weaker than the wekeat link of the Euroepan team.
With the influx of non-American professionals in recent times, there has subsequently never been a harder time for the American young guns to establish themselves on tour !
The talent is there, but perhaps currently on the Nationwide tour for example, as opposed to the regular tour ! That`s why in time (maybe within the next twenty years) I think there will definitely be an `assured places scheme`for American professionals, to preserve the USPGA tour itself ! and I wouldn`t blame the Tour for doing so either!
I hope this never happens...I enjoy the US PGA tour as it is, featuring the best players regardless of nationality...limit the competition and you limit the value of winning, as well as the value of viewing...what you would have is assured lower ratings...I want to see the best playing against each other, not an affirmative action tour for Americans...(I am American BTW)
I hope this never happens...I enjoy the US PGA tour as it is, featuring the best players regardless of nationality...limit the competition and you limit the value of winning, as well as the value of viewing...what you would have is assured lower ratings...I want to see the best playing against each other, not an affirmative action tour for Americans...(I am American BTW)
I strongly agree. What would you rather watch: The National Championships or the Olympics?
Americans have dominated golf for 95% of the last 75 years. I wouldn't be too worried.
droogy33, I think the golfing world is now a different place than in decades past. When Gary Player was travelling, he used to joke that he had to win a tournament just to break even...and it wasn`t far off the truth !
However, with the huge increase in prize money from the `Tiger Factor` it is now financially viable for many non-American players to have a base in America as well as one in their own country of origin ! There are only so many places on the (U.S) P.G.A Tour, therefore the new young American talent now has to compete not only with his fellow Americans, but also against a clutch of `world golfers` too. Making their task all the harder.
Whilst the likes of Tiger and Phil continuing to win so many majors it isn`t an issue (they are outstanding golfers), but I don`t think you can ignore the non-American golfing talent continuing to improve, purely on the grounds of previous golfing history....that would be complacent ! I think that every tour could do with a bottle of whatever the Australians are drinking at the moment for example......as their current success is amazing !
The LPGA Tour was in on the verge of financial difficulties until the timely arrival of the likes of Wie, Creamer, Kerr, Gulbis etc. The previous generation of American lady golfers may also have dominated the golf world, similar to your illustration/comment about the American male professionals....but as the LPGA Tour illustrates, nothing secures sponsorship,interest, stability and growth in/on a Tour more than home grown talented players !
droogy33, I think the golfing world is now a different place than in decades past. When Gary Player was travelling, he used to joke that he had to win a tournament just to break even...and it wasn`t far off the truth !
However, with the huge increase in prize money from the `Tiger Factor` it is now financially viable for many non-American players to have a base in America as well as one in their own country of origin ! There are only so many places on the (U.S) P.G.A Tour, therefore the new young American talent now has to compete not only with his fellow Americans, but also against a clutch of `world golfers` too. Making their task all the harder.
Whilst the likes of Tiger and Phil continuing to win so many majors it isn`t an issue (they are outstanding golfers), but I don`t think you can ignore the non-American golfing talent continuing to improve, purely on the grounds of previous golfing history....that would be complacent ! I think that every tour could do with a bottle of whatever the Australians are drinking at the moment for example......as their current success is amazing !
The LPGA Tour was in on the verge of financial difficulties until the timely arrival of the likes of Wie, Creamer, Kerr, Gulbis etc. The previous generation of American lady golfers may also have dominated the golf world, similar to your illustration/comment about the American male professionals....but as the LPGA Tour illustrates, nothing secures sponsorship,interest, stability and growth in/on a Tour more than home grown talented players !
The only thing I disagree with is concerning the LPGA. This year has been a setback. Last year was good for the LPGA, but Creamer has declined and Pressel and Wie and Gulbis haven't won yet. Also, Kerr needs to win a major. The youngest U.S. woman golfer to win a major is Hillary Lunke. The second youngest is (gasp)..34 yr. old Brandie Burton. I think the 3rd youngest is 37 year-old Kelly Robbins.
droogy33, I think the golfing world is now a different place than in decades past. When Gary Player was travelling, he used to joke that he had to win a tournament just to break even...and it wasn`t far off the truth !
However, with the huge increase in prize money from the `Tiger Factor` it is now financially viable for many non-American players to have a base in America as well as one in their own country of origin ! There are only so many places on the (U.S) P.G.A Tour, therefore the new young American talent now has to compete not only with his fellow Americans, but also against a clutch of `world golfers` too. Making their task all the harder.
Whilst the likes of Tiger and Phil continuing to win so many majors it isn`t an issue (they are outstanding golfers), but I don`t think you can ignore the non-American golfing talent continuing to improve, purely on the grounds of previous golfing history....that would be complacent ! I think that every tour could do with a bottle of whatever the Australians are drinking at the moment for example......as their current success is amazing !
The LPGA Tour was in on the verge of financial difficulties until the timely arrival of the likes of Wie, Creamer, Kerr, Gulbis etc. The previous generation of American lady golfers may also have dominated the golf world, similar to your illustration/comment about the American male professionals....but as the LPGA Tour illustrates, nothing secures sponsorship,interest, stability and growth in/on a Tour more than home grown talented players !
Tennis is another example. We used to domiante it. I think we have only 2/3 U.S. male players in the top 50. same with females. There are no women in the top 10 and only 2 men with one ranked 10th. We wonder why we don't hear much about tennis around here.
August 21st, 2006, 04:02 PM
Linear Mode
Similar Threads
