Comments on: International golfers reap harvest of U.S. championships http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/05/14/international-golfers-reap-harvest-of-us-golf-championships/ ajc sports columnist Furman Bisher covers the field. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:25:54 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: but we've got Anthony Kim... http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/05/14/international-golfers-reap-harvest-of-us-golf-championships/comment-page-1/#comment-484 but we've got Anthony Kim... Thu, 28 May 2009 16:41:49 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/?p=60#comment-484 THAT OBJECT IN THE MIRROR IS CLOSER THAN IT APPEARS For a golf geek such as myself there is nothing better than waking up early Saturday and Sunday morning to live coverage of the European PGA Tour on The Golf Channel. Renton Laidlaw's familiar voice and hilarious quips are a major part of that experience and he will be sadly missed when he steps aside someday. Granted, it's not the PGA Tour (American) but it's pro golf at its finest, nonetheless. Sergio Garcia recently inferred that the European Tour is "catching up" with its American counterpart, but it's my contention that it already has. Just examine the list of winners of golf's four major tournaments for the past 5 or 6 years. For what do we owe this phenomenon? PGA tour players are not as hungry. They're actually a little spoiled. PGA tour players are waited on hand and foot. They always play in perfect or near perfect weather on immaculately groomed courses. Tiger's presence has vaulted purses into the stratosphere such that PGA Tour players who don't even finish high enough on the money list to keep their playing privileges still earn over a million dollars per season in prize money. PGA Tour players don't need passports, VISA's or immunizations for Yellow Fever and Hepatitis. PGA Tour players have foul weather gear in their bags at all times but their's collects dust. Most PGA Tour players leave the country only during the off-season when they are on vacation. European PGA Tour players, however, are more like us. They carry their own bags and rent their own cars for the week. They play on greens that are akin to those at that one muni in your town that actually has a competent greenskeeper with an appropriate budget and not the fabled East Lake Golf Club. Their purses are not half as big as those stateside. And to see a European tour player playing in foul weather gear is more the rule than the exception. I know that hindsight is 20/20 but PGA Tour players not named Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson have NO shot when seasoned, battle-tested, champion European Tour pros suddenly appear in their rear-view mirrors. THAT OBJECT IN THE MIRROR IS CLOSER THAN IT APPEARS

For a golf geek such as myself there is nothing better than waking up early Saturday and Sunday morning to live coverage of the European PGA Tour on The Golf Channel.

Renton Laidlaw’s familiar voice and hilarious quips are a major part of that experience and he will be sadly missed when he steps aside someday.

Granted, it’s not the PGA Tour (American) but it’s pro golf at its finest, nonetheless.

Sergio Garcia recently inferred that the European Tour is “catching up” with its American counterpart, but it’s my contention that it already has.

Just examine the list of winners of golf’s four major tournaments for the past 5 or 6 years.

For what do we owe this phenomenon?

PGA tour players are not as hungry. They’re actually a little spoiled.

PGA tour players are waited on hand and foot.

They always play in perfect or near perfect weather on immaculately groomed courses.

Tiger’s presence has vaulted purses into the stratosphere such that PGA Tour players who don’t even finish high enough on the money list to keep their playing privileges still earn over a million dollars per season in prize money.

PGA Tour players don’t need passports, VISA’s or immunizations for Yellow Fever and Hepatitis.

PGA Tour players have foul weather gear in their bags at all times but their’s collects dust.

Most PGA Tour players leave the country only during the off-season when they are on vacation.

European PGA Tour players, however, are more like us.

They carry their own bags and rent their own cars for the week.

They play on greens that are akin to those at that one muni in your town that actually has a competent greenskeeper with an appropriate budget and not the fabled East Lake Golf Club.

Their purses are not half as big as those stateside.

And to see a European tour player playing in foul weather gear is more the rule than the exception.

I know that hindsight is 20/20 but PGA Tour players not named Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson have NO shot when seasoned, battle-tested, champion European Tour pros suddenly appear in their rear-view mirrors.

]]> By: Furman's righ http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/05/14/international-golfers-reap-harvest-of-us-golf-championships/comment-page-1/#comment-483 Furman's righ Thu, 28 May 2009 12:46:08 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/?p=60#comment-483 check out the post by Burnette: http://foreblackgolfers.blogspot.com/ check out the post by Burnette: http://foreblackgolfers.blogspot.com/

]]> By: dbc http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/05/14/international-golfers-reap-harvest-of-us-golf-championships/comment-page-1/#comment-480 dbc Tue, 26 May 2009 02:16:18 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/?p=60#comment-480 Does this guy write more than one column a month? Does this guy write more than one column a month?

]]> By: Tim http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/05/14/international-golfers-reap-harvest-of-us-golf-championships/comment-page-1/#comment-478 Tim Fri, 22 May 2009 16:17:37 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/?p=60#comment-478 Mustard Green, sorry you can't stand it that golf is only relevant these days because of Tiger, but that's a fact. There isn't a player out there who can touch him. Lucky putts? Try effort genius, he has more desire than every single PGA player combined. Mustard Green, sorry you can’t stand it that golf is only relevant these days because of Tiger, but that’s a fact. There isn’t a player out there who can touch him. Lucky putts? Try effort genius, he has more desire than every single PGA player combined.

]]> By: Mustard Green http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/05/14/international-golfers-reap-harvest-of-us-golf-championships/comment-page-1/#comment-477 Mustard Green Thu, 21 May 2009 00:24:29 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/?p=60#comment-477 Excellent column. Some people just get angry because every golf article isn't about their boy Tiger. He has not been making his usual number of lucky putts this year (except Bay Hill). Thus, he's not at the center of the golf world. Get over it! I'm sure he'll play well at the US Open as he's had plenty of practice from the rough this year. Excellent column. Some people just get angry because every golf article isn’t about their boy Tiger. He has not been making his usual number of lucky putts this year (except Bay Hill). Thus, he’s not at the center of the golf world. Get over it! I’m sure he’ll play well at the US Open as he’s had plenty of practice from the rough this year.

]]> By: dave http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/05/14/international-golfers-reap-harvest-of-us-golf-championships/comment-page-1/#comment-471 dave Sat, 16 May 2009 22:29:43 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/?p=60#comment-471 Gotta give it to ya' Furman, you stirred it up this week . . . Gotta give it to ya’ Furman, you stirred it up this week . . .

]]> By: kevin clarke, member pga of AMERICA http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/05/14/international-golfers-reap-harvest-of-us-golf-championships/comment-page-1/#comment-470 kevin clarke, member pga of AMERICA Sat, 16 May 2009 03:29:39 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/?p=60#comment-470 furman, please retire, or choose to not write about golf, you are not relevant at all...what is your point, golf has never been more relevant as a ressult of tiger woods, the most relevant athlete in the world, whom is an american!...golf is relevant world wide, because of players such as henrik stenson, padraig harrington, angel cabrera...the nfl wishes it could be as relevant world wide as professional golf...stay away from golf you hack!...give your cronies another "relevant story" about bobby dodd and grant field!!...and, be sure to include general neyland! furman, please retire, or choose to not write about golf, you are not relevant at all…what is your point, golf has never been more relevant as a ressult of tiger woods, the most relevant athlete in the world, whom is an american!…golf is relevant world wide, because of players such as henrik stenson, padraig harrington, angel cabrera…the nfl wishes it could be as relevant world wide as professional golf…stay away from golf you hack!…give your cronies another “relevant story” about bobby dodd and grant field!!…and, be sure to include general neyland!

]]> By: Song G http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/05/14/international-golfers-reap-harvest-of-us-golf-championships/comment-page-1/#comment-468 Song G Fri, 15 May 2009 19:32:57 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/?p=60#comment-468 good job Boots! You're a winner! good job Boots! You’re a winner!

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/05/14/international-golfers-reap-harvest-of-us-golf-championships/comment-page-1/#comment-467 Mark Fri, 15 May 2009 14:36:43 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/?p=60#comment-467 I've said it many times, but many of these trends began with the All-exempt tour in the USA. American players are not toughened by weekly qualifying and are perfectly content with big endorsements and mediocre finishes each week. That does not prepare them for playoffs, Ryder Cup pressure or Major Championship intensity. I’ve said it many times, but many of these trends began with the All-exempt tour in the USA. American players are not toughened by weekly qualifying and are perfectly content with big endorsements and mediocre finishes each week. That does not prepare them for playoffs, Ryder Cup pressure or Major Championship intensity.

]]> By: Dawg Daddy http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/2009/05/14/international-golfers-reap-harvest-of-us-golf-championships/comment-page-1/#comment-466 Dawg Daddy Fri, 15 May 2009 12:01:30 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/furman-bisher-blog/?p=60#comment-466 Furman: Maybe American players needs to quit whining, man up and play better golf. We're all about competition, right? Furman: Maybe American players needs to quit whining, man up and play better golf. We’re all about competition, right?

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