“They are so spoiled in the fact that they have so many tournaments over there. The tournament they are playing this week, The Colonial, it’s a huge tournament. The prize fund is almost equal or even bigger than the one here.”
So what’s the figure that might change their minds and play at Wentorth? “I don’t know, make it a $10 million tournament,” Singh admitted.
I suppose that's kind of obvious but this kind of surprised me.
Quote:
“There’s so many new drivers coming out, manufacturers want you to use the latest driver. You get comfortable with one driver and then they come up with a new model and that’s what they are promoting, that’s what you’ve got to use.
“It happens with everybody. I think every guy out there is in the same situation. No matter who you look at they have their manufacturer’s top driver.
“Unless it’s not in the contract then you have to use what they want you to use.”
Singh is one of those with such a deal. He justifies it by saying that the new product might benefit his game. “You never know if it’s better than the one you have already got. We are very greedy; you want the best out of the club.”
I found it surprising that one of the top players like Vijay has to play what the manufacturer wants.
I suppose that's kind of obvious but this kind of surprised me.
VJ is not afraid to say what's on his mind.
Quote:
I found it surprising that one of the top players like Vijay has to play what the manufacturer wants.
It's not surprising at all really. So many players are not getting what they want out of their clubs. They are playing with constantly updated equipment they can't get used to while the equipment they were great with rots away at home in the garage... either because it's "old" technology or a different brand.
I suppose that's kind of obvious but this kind of surprised me.
I found it surprising that one of the top players like Vijay has to play what the manufacturer wants.
Top players like V.J. are the face of the company they are the main ones whose contract demands that they play with the latest technology from thier manufacturer.Who cares what Johnie Lump Lump plays.Thats whats wrong with Tigers driving he always has to play with that * that Nike makes.In the niddle of the year when the push for sales is over he will not have to hit that driver,remember at last years British Open when he only hit the driver once the whole tournament.The reason being is that they are not promoting the driver in July; the promotional season is over for that years model ,and thats exactly why you can walk into Golfsmith in July and buy almost all of this years model drivers half off.
Last edited by victory : May 27th, 2007 at 08:50 AM.
Reason: language
That's an interesting take on it. You think the top players of the game would have more leverage but then, they are also the "face" of the company. I don't think the Nike driver is what's wrong with Tigers driving.
I think these days, a lot of players have chosen distance over accuracy. Tiger could easily play a shorter shaft or a steel shaft in his Nike driver but doesn't. I would think it's because he doesn't want to sacrifice distance when he does pull it out of the bag.
It's interesting. I read an article on Greg Norman's various business interests recently. The article delved into his ownership stake in MacGregor golf. Norman said that he always played Macgregor irons largely due to the influence that Jack had on him. He said his favorite was the Murifield muscle back blade. He said that even when he was endorsing Cobra, he got blanks from MacGregor and had Cobra stamped on them. Apparently it was well known on tour and they came to be known as MacCobras.
I said in a previous thread that golf is a business. And like any professional sport it's about the money. It's not Michelle Wie's fault if she is offered an exemption...the sponsor wants $$$$. Most people on Tour play for $$$$. You can talk about the honor of the game, the integrity, but when you're struggling to make it in the top 125 you're thinking about money. Endorsements, appearance fees, etc., those are not freebies. Sure, a guy may call a penalty on himself, but you don't hear about that kind of thing very often.
Golf is a business. Business is about profit. A guy like Tiger, who earns approximately $80 million a year in endorsements, doesn't have to worry about money lists, etc., and can go after the records, but your journeyman golf is out there surviving. As Paul Goydos said in his interview after he won the Sony (and the announcer was praising him for his courage down the stretch), Goydos replied to the effect that, "I'm a golfer. It's what I do. What I did didn't take any courage. I don't know how to do anything else."
I know golf is a business. That's why it doesn't surprise me that people won't go to Europe for a huge tournament when there's one simultaneous right in the United States with a big purse. I also don't find it surprising that a lot of players play whatever their sponsors tell them to. If you're winning a million in prize money, I'm sure "tee up" money from equipment manufacturers can supplement your income quite nicely.
I am surprised that someone like Vijay doesn't have more say over what he plays. He may not earn like Tiger does but I wouldn't think he's hurting for money.
It's not surprising at all really. So many players are not getting what they want out of their clubs. They are playing with constantly updated equipment they can't get used to while the equipment they were great with rots away at home in the garage... either because it's "old" technology or a different brand.
I noticed with Michelson that his game slumped temporarily when he switched to Callaway. Duvals did too when he went to Nike, but we know with him there are other factors.
Wie actually controlled her driver much better until she started using the Nike Sasquatch.
May 27th, 2007, 01:45 AM
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