Page 10 - Golf World (February 2020)

“I think with a different camera angle they would have realised that if it was
from the side you would have seen that it was not improving the lie because it
was far enough away from the golf ball.” Patrick Reed offers a weak attempt to defuse a
cheating furore after cameras caught him clearing sand from behind his ball at the Hero World Challenge.

Wolff eagled
the final hole at
on the PGA Tour last season. In
the 3M Open to
1999, only 36 players reached
win by one
that figur
shot. e. In Europe, 49 players
made over a million last season.
In 1999, only five players made
that much.

What’s the problem?
So the game’s best players are
making unprecedented
fortunes, but why is that an
issue? Well, golfers play for
money. That’s not a cynical
assessment; it’s a fact. Every
professional event has a prize
purse, and the season-long
league tables of the FedEx Cup
and Race to Dubai are based on
how much each player has
earned throughout the year.
When golfers already have
tens of millions in the bank, one
of the main incentives to play –
money – suddenly has far less
impact. That means they are
becoming increasingly selective
about the events they play.
The world’s best golfers
played an average of 24.9
events in 2015. In 2019, that
number had dropped to 22.3.
“Everyone has to look out for
themselves and next year, I’m
looking out for me,” said Rory
McIlroy ahead of the 2019
season. “I’m trying to do what’s
best for me to help me get back
to the best player in the world
and try to win majors again.”
In fairness to Rory, he played
25 events in the season
following that statement. Of the ‘IF WE EXPECT TOP PLAYERS TO PLAY W
world’s top-10 players, only
Tommy Fleetwood, with 28,
played more. Rather than After all, you can afford to. significant drop from the 27 and suffering,” says eight-time Order
justifying a lack of events, “It’s just about managing 28 he was clocking up a few of Merit winner Colin
McIlroy was explaining his time now and trying to figure years ago, before he’d made a Montgomerie. “The first thing a
decision to focus his attention out what’s going to work best,” fortune. These players all have sponsor asks is, ‘Who is
on the PGA Tour at the expense says Bryson DeChambeau, who more than enough money to playing?’ If you say, ‘A lot of the
of the European Tour, due to the has decreased his number of live on for the rest of their lives, guys won’t be there due to the
greater prize money and world starts the last two years but no one is suggesting they fact they are playing in
ranking points on offer. running. are about to hang up their America,’ then they’ll come back
McIlroy is one of ten players At his peak, he game and say, ‘Well then I’m not
to boast PGA Tour career played 23 or 2 ore wins, putting in as much money as I
earnings of over $50 million. 180 per season. La ors. The might have’.”
players have made over $10 he played 14. I m rests “It doesn’t take a
million in their careers, while 53 the year befor th the mathematical genius to work
players have made over €10 Woods, of cou sser out that the economy in Europe
million in the European Tour. Is it his mid-40s an ents. is not very good,” says Graeme
any surprise that those players managing a bo McDowell. “The European Tour
are being more selective about has undergone w the schedule is not ripe with $3-,
their schedules? Got a major numerous ope $4- and $5 million events.”
coming up in a few weeks? Why World number standard, It’s a vicious circle. If you
not take some time off to rest Brooks Koepk the-mill don’t have the big money on
and get yourself prepared for He played 22 e ean Tour offer, you can’t attract the best
the events that really matter? last year, a ts that are players. But if you don’t have

10 Golf World February 2020 | golfworldtop100.com