Westwood, McIlroy Missing the Essence of the PLAYERS Championship

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: February 20, 2011

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The reality is that the 2011 PLAYERS Championship will go on as scheduled beginning on Thursday, May 12th with or without World No. 1 Lee Westwood or No. 8 Rory McIlroy. Sadly Westwood and McIlroy will be the ones to miss out. It really isn't about the golf tournament. It is about the game of golf and something called respect. Yes it might be staged in the backyard of the headquarters of the PGA TOUR on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. 

The PGA TOUR, like the European Tour, is a nonprofit business with the primary focus of benefiting its player members. Westwood and McIlroy were eligible to join the PGA TOUR this year but chose the European Tour citing a preference to play more often closer to home and country on the European Tour.No problem with that—an offer extended, an offer politely declined. 

What did cross the line in the opinion of this golf writer are the recent comments of their manager Chubby Chandler. Saying it ranks 10th and "does not have a place," speaks more to business logistics and profit maximization than to the traditions of the game and what has transpired in the last 150 years of competitive professional golf.

The move to May gave the "so-called fifth major" its rightful spot on the major calendar to complement the Masters in April, U.S. Open in June, the Open in July and the PGA Championship in August. One a month for five months straight seems like good sport and good business from a fan interest level.

Each major has its own spotlight. THE PLAYERS now has better weather and a more major-like "firm and fast" course setup with its May date. Ironically the move seems to favor international players with Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson and Tim Clark being the most recent champions. "I'd go over for the Players if I could play in the tournament the week before, but I don't want to pitch up at the Players cold, having not played for fo...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Golf

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