European Tour 2018

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I'm not 100% sure, but I believe Justin Rose also relinquished his ET membership for a year, four or five years back. I can't imagine he'll have to forfeit the captaincy if he wants it.

Rory probably considers the so-called rules to be such a flag of convenience that they'll change next time someone has an extenuating circumstance. And I'd think he'd be right.

Don’t think Rory would want to be captain anyway. Too much hassle. Also, he doesn’t come across as a leader type.

Just seen an article on the ET website (HERE) which shows the changes to the R2D points system for 2019. Instead of a straight $=pt system, each event will be weighted to reduce the disparity in points allocation for each tournament. I'll leave you to work it all out.

They had a weighting some years ago as well. I think it makes sense.  Having a double dipper or affiliate member walk in a take the R2D crown by having played only a handful of (big) tourneys (which there was a real chance of this year) can never be desireable.

pedro wrote:They had a weighting some years ago as well. I think it makes sense.  Having a double dipper or affiliate member walk in a take the R2D crown by having played only a handful of (big) tourneys (which there was a real chance of this year) can never be desireable.

Yeah, I haven't had a chance to digest it completely, but it looks like it at least lessens the chances of the carpetbagging issue I brought up last week. Good move by the ET I think.

EDIT: Upon further examination, this really isn't going to do much to mitigate the "carpetbagging" issue. It might help someone with another Matt Wallace type season, but it's only marginally going to restrain someone doing what Patrick Reed or Schauffele did.

First man (Jason Norris) out in the Aussie PGA finished his round by 8.25 a.m.; wonder if that's a record?

Nice win for King Louis, but who's that man in 3rd place? Oliver Wilson, 'course it is!
Didn't see that coming.

And: What's with Brandon Grace? He gets to -4 for the day, then starts sleepwalking - and that costs him a Portrush qualification (for now anyway), plus could put his Masters invite in peril.

Yes Kwini Louis has a fantastic swing only question for me is why he's not adding to his Major tally. Here's one going back to the caddie debate and whether it's just about carrying a bag and can anyone do it or can you gain an advantage from approaching it professionally... Have a look at this vlog from a guy who plays a few holes with Paul Waring's caddie who talks him through the thought process and approach for maximising opportunity and minimising mistakes. Very insightful - https://youtu.be/VYLv0TiXXEU

Great to see Louis win and for it to obviously mean so much to him, just like Lee Westwood did a few weeks ago. I wish a few more pros would show some true emotion and prove that they are human after all! Louis has had to battle with injuries for a while, and also has the responsibility of running the family farm - remember he bought a new tractor when he won The Open - which is probably why he hasn't won more but a caption on yesterday's coverage said he has spent more than 200 weeks inside the top 50 in the world which is some going.

Surely Oosthuizen has enough money that he doesn't need to run a farm too?
I don't see that as a very good excuse for him not winning as much as he should have. He could afford to pay someone else to run the farm, or he could sell it.

super_realist wrote:Surely Oosthuizen has enough money that he doesn't need to run a farm too?
I don't see that as a very good excuse for him not winning as much as he should have. He could afford to pay someone else to run the farm, or he could sell it.

But he enjoys it, it's an escape from the grind of golf, something to pass on to his family and so why should he? I respect him for not being a golfing zombie.

OK, That's fine, but he doesn't "have" to run a farm as well as being a pro.
The way I read your post was that he was being hamstrung by running a farm and that the responsibility was holding him back from reaching his potential.
No problem with him running the farm, but he shouldn't use it as an excuse.

I think golf gets in the way of his farming rather than the other way around - never heard him complaining or making any excuse.
Kind of refreshing really.

It sounds as if there's another "everyone hates Patrick Reed" article on the way; Kevin Kisner quoted as saying of college teammates, "I don't know that they'd p1ss on him if he was on fire" according to reports in sports media (Sports Illustrated, Golf Channel) about an upcoming Golf Digest piece.

It'll be interesting to see if anyone comes to Captain America's defence.

Be interesting to see who was less popular. Reed or Grayson Murray.

kwinigolfer wrote:It sounds as if there's another "everyone hates Patrick Reed" article on the way; Kevin Kisner quoted as saying of college teammates, "I don't know that they'd p1ss on him if he was on fire" according to reports in sports media (Sports Illustrated, Golf Channel) about an upcoming Golf Digest piece.

It'll be interesting to see if anyone comes to Captain America's defence.

IMO Reed probably deserves every bit of what he's getting. And I say that with some regret.

The guy is an enigma with two sides to him. One of his main coaches is here he's a member at The Woodlands. I've been around him both when he's practicing and social things and working his AJGA event. In person he comes across as a everyday, not at all stuck on himself, nice guy. His wife's a little weird, but she's always pleasant too. I dunno. Just can't figure the whole thing out, or why he does this to himself.

Looking like another American win on the ET.

And perhaps another top finish from the late Oliver Wilson, with the help of tee-shots like this:

http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2019/tournamentid=2019006/news/newsid=363740.html

Not sure I've ever seen that before, and certainly not over water!
Good to see his career is back from the dead.

kwinigolfer wrote:It sounds as if there's another "everyone hates Patrick Reed" article on the way; Kevin Kisner quoted as saying of college teammates, "I don't know that they'd p1ss on him if he was on fire" according to reports in sports media (Sports Illustrated, Golf Channel) about an upcoming Golf Digest piece.

It'll be interesting to see if anyone comes to Captain America's defence.

Didn't like Reed at first, but have warmed to him. Unlike Kisner at least Reed has a personality.

Reed endeared himself to Europe a bit more with his jokey finger to lips in the Ryder Cup, shame old dead eyed fiend Harmon didn't see it that way.

super_realist wrote:Reed endeared himself to Europe a bit more with his jokey finger to lips in the Ryder Cup, shame old dead eyed fiend Harmon didn't see it that way.

Well... At the end of the day professional golf is entertainment, and there's little doubt Reed has that part down, in spades.

robopz wrote:

super_realist wrote:Reed endeared himself to Europe a bit more with his jokey finger to lips in the Ryder Cup, shame old dead eyed fiend Harmon didn't see it that way.

Well... At the end of the day professional golf is entertainment, and there's little doubt Reed has that part down, in spades.

He's a pantomime villain though.

Talking of pantomime villains, I see that Pelley has come down from his flying trapeze long enough to persuade Rory not to forego his 2019 European Tour membership.

Can anyone explain the tie up with GOLF TV to me? GOLF TV is the new European Tour tie up with Discovery Networks. there is this news release HERE but is that just for streaming? Does Sky still hold the "normal" TV rights?

PS - Mac - read the above link - there is a tie up with TW.

Golf TV doesn't have the rights in the UK

raycastleunited wrote:Golf TV doesn't have the rights in the UK

Correct. Golf TV will roll out in different markets depending on when current agreements expire. It's possible there still may be some partnering with existing rights holders either before or after those rights expire. Each on a case-by-case basis based on individual market needs.

I'm not saying this will happen, but for example golf TV could partner with Sky to deliver golf broadcasts via conventional means, while Golf TV simultaneously delivers via the streaming avenues. Possibilities are endless.

Strong field for Abu Dhabi.
Thanks Brooks, Dustin; but also Tommy Fleet, Hatton, King Louis, Henrik, Rafa, Poults, Pepp, Kiradech, Haotong Li, Wallace, Olesen, Bjerregard, Grace, Ben An, lw1.

Kwini

Stepping stone event at best.

McLaren wrote:Kwini

Stepping stone event at best.

Stepping up money event for others.

Interesting group in the "600 tournament" club on the Stepping Stone Tour:
Torrance
Jimenez
Lane
Montgomerie
Chapman
Lawrie
Darcy
Baker
McKenzie
Howell
Karlsson . . . .
. . . . and now Jacquelin

Wonder if Shane Lowry will join such exalted company - certainly on a roll this week, probably including sausage and swiss. Hope he wins - a win would likely be enough to get into The Masters and US Open, not to mention WGC's.

Stepping Stone Tour has several players near the top of the leaderboard who recently lost their playing privileges on the PGATour.

Lowry
Kjeldson
Sterne
Pieters

GPB wrote:Stepping Stone Tour has several players near the top of the leaderboard who recently lost their playing privileges on the PGATour.

Lowry
Kjeldson
Sterne
Pieters

It may well not finish up like this, but these guys are all currently ahead of the tourists from the "Big" Tour.

Small sample size.

Speaking of. Kjeldsen should be close to 600 as well?

pedro wrote:Speaking of. Kjeldsen should be close to 600 as well?

This is #575 according to the ET . . . . . . . spot on!

Surprised Bjorn is only at 525.

Appears the Euro Tour is back to having three fairly strong events at the top of their start of the year schedule again (by their standards anyway).

Abu Dhabi is an OWGR level 48 this week. Omega Dubai looks like it will be around 46... And it looks like the Saudi's opened up their appearance fee checkbook to guarantee a decent field for their inaugural event that looks like it's going to come in at about a 48 (Outside chance at a 50). Not bad at all. And from the sounds of it, the Saudi course is supposed to be quite spectacular.

But that's going to be pretty much it for 40+ level non major/WGC events on the ET until the Irish Open in July. (Outside chance the Mabank could break through to 40 though).

It won't matter to the rankings of the top Euro Tour players though. The Dual tour guys will be playing in plenty of big point events on the PGAT, and even a lot of the non PGAT member Euros will be making some good sponsor exemptions starts in addition to the co-sanctions & Players.

Kwini or whomever... Would it be possible to Pin the Euro tour 2019 thread up here at top instead of this one?

kwinigolfer wrote:

pedro wrote:Speaking of. Kjeldsen should be close to 600 as well?

This is #575 according to the ET . . . . . . . spot on!

Yeah I remember he made it 500 a few years ago at his home course in the Made in Denmark tourney, and the crowd went nuts when he arrived at the famous 16th hole.

robopz wrote:Kwini or whomever... Would it be possible to Pin the Euro tour 2019 thread up here at top instead of this one?  

I have no sway here, but would ask navy to make the necessary change.
Might also review a couple of outdated stickies.