"America no longer can say it produces the vast majority of the best players in the world - arguably it does not even produce the majority"

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Mike Clayton previewed the Australian Open and weighs in on the proposed tour merger with Japan and Asia:
The long-term future of golf in Australia should be tied to golf in Japan and Asia and there has been movement on that front in recent months.

Only the combined strength of these small tours - given the measure of a big tour is America or Europe - will see them create something significant, something to rival Europe and something that is worth a sponsor investing a considerable amount of money.

The problem with rolling three tours into one is that the players are always going to look at the game the way players always have and that is 'how does this affect me?'

Big decisions must be made with the long-term benefit of the game in mind and clearly the long-term benefit of the professional game is to create a tour to rival the best in the world.

America no longer can say it produces the vast majority of the best players in the world - arguably it does not even produce the majority - and that balance will only continue to tip in favour of the 'foreigners' as the rest of the world uncovers talented players with games that are capable of winning big tournaments including the biggest events in America.

"Melbourne seems to bring out the odd yahoo, while Sydney is not really renowned for that."

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Brent Read looks at Paul McNamee's attempt to mimic the antics of TPC Scottsdale's 16th hole at The Australian's 11th tee. While it screams of a "be careful what you wish for" scenario, there is great joy in reading Robert Allenby trying to dig himself out of a hole.

Allenby did little to endear himself in his home state of Victoria by claiming Melbourne was renowned for producing the "odd yahoo" at its tournaments, while Sydney produced a more refined spectator.

The par-three 11th is based on the famous 16th at the Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, where spectators line the hole and create an atmosphere more akin to a rock concert.

"There's no problem in the world with people being loud," Allenby said.

"I'm coming up to 17 years as a professional. I play in America for God's sake. That's the land of the loud. I don't have a problem with someone being loud on a hole. It's when people use foul and abusive language."

Asked whether he expected to be targeted given his strident criticism of the hole, Allenby replied: "I have my earplugs ready for 11, that's not a problem. I know people are going to come just for me.

"That's just the way it is. I'll deal with it. I'm here to win the tournament, I'm not here to come second.

"At golf tournaments, I'm used to people yelling. It's just when people are abusive and use (bad) language, that's not very nice because there's always a lot of kids at our tournaments."
Fast forward...
Pressed on the differences between spectators in Melbourne and Sydney, Allenby suggested the affluence in Sydney's eastern suburbs meant the fans were more respectful.

"The areas around here are a little bit more subdued, sophisticated," he said.

"Obviously there's a lot more money in Sydney than in Melbourne. I don't mean that in a bad way because I am from Melbourne and I have a lot of friends there and people who support me.

"Melbourne seems to bring out the odd yahoo, while Sydney is not really renowned for that."

Allenby also advocated selling light beer at the tournament, as they do in the United States.

"Your average (beer), they're 4.9, 5 per cent," he said. "You down three of them and you're buzzing. It's not so much serving alcohol. It really depends on where and how much you serve."

Rory: Media Twists My Idiotic Tiger-Related Remarks

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See, I didn't twist his remarks!

Geoff Roach reports on Rory Sabbatini's sit-down with the Aussie inkslingers to explain how he's entitled to his high sense of self esteem even if Tiger mops the floor with him every time they play head-to-head.

"But then those same people want to burn you for it. Sure I speak my mind because I'm just as entitled to my opinions as everyone else is. The thing is, if you are going to say something, at least have the courage to say it to the person concerned and not behind their back."

Well, he was asked, is there a bit of behind-your back-stuff out there on Tour?

"Definitely," he said. "Quite a bit of it. But I'm not a person who is going to step back and be a follower. I'm one of those guys that wants to be up there. l want to be leader of the pack.

"If you spend your whole life trying to please everybody in this world you're going to be miserable because you're not going to be able to achieve that.

"You may as well be the person you are and enjoy that. I know whose opinions I respect and trust and they're the ones I listen to."
But does the unpopular tag bother you, he was asked.

"Look, a lot of that is being unfortunately created by the media," he replied.

"Some of my remarks, like those about Tiger, have been twisted. I know what I said. I know the person I am."

You know Geoff Ogilvy is opinionated yet he never seems to have a problem with the media twisting his words. I wonder what the difference is? Hmmm... 

Jason Day Looking To Dethrone Rory's Claim As Best Player Who Could Believes He Could Be Better Than Tiger (And Is Dumb Enough To Tell A Reporter)

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Looks like Australian Jason Day has been reading too many of his own press clippings, including this howler from the PGA Tour. From The Age on Nov. 27 (yeah, I'm a little slow).

Day has already claimed his own slice of US golfing history as the youngest player to win a PGA Tour-sponsored event when he won on the secondary Nationwide Tour in July.

"I had a really good amateur career," said Day, who emulated Woods' feat of winning a world junior championship, if not his three consecutive US Amateur crowns.

"Making five out of seven cuts on the PGA Tour (on sponsor invites) was pretty big at 18," he added.

"Winning at 19 and being the youngest on the PGA tour to win ever is pretty big.
Uh...it's called the Nationwi...ah forget it.
"At 19, Tiger didn't win a tournament as a professional.
And that has what to do with this?
"I'm just trying to mark myself up against him.
How about we just play a major first! Or win a PGA Tour event and then we'll try to compare. 
"Next year when I'm on the Tour somehow I've got to win two tournaments because that's what he won and I want to try and keep up with him."

What a good idea!

Day said winning a tournament boosted his confidence.

"At the same time the pressure builds up," he said.

"You're a 19-year-old kid, the youngest kid to ever win a PGA sanctioned event and the media is building you up like you're going to chase down Tiger next year which is a big, big ask for a 20-year-old kid on his first year out on the PGA Tour.

Take that Rory!

"I want to chase Tiger and my goal is to become the number one golfer in the world. That's been my goal since I was a little kid.

"If I work hard on what I need to, I'm sure I can take him down."

Oh but there's more. On whether he thinks Tiger could pick him out of a police lineup:

"He (Woods) watches a lot of golf. He has so much time.

"He played 16 events, what does he do with his time?

"He'd be aware of me, he'd be saying 'here's another kid coming up'

Well if he wasn't aware before, he sure is now.

"I just want to work really hard and take him down."

So glad you repeated it just in case the unbylined writer missed it the first time.

Day owns a house in Orlando just a lob wedge away from Tiger's mansion - at least till Woods relocates to his new spread under contruction.

He hasn't met the great man he plans to dethrone.

"He lives 10 minutes down the road but I've never come across him," he said.

"I must just knock on his door and have a coffee with him and let him know I'm chasing him."

My guess is Tiger doesn't drink coffee Jason. Maybe a carrot juice or some wheat grass.

Meanwhile, Nick O'Hern was asked about the comments. 

"I don't know Jason myself but from what I've heard and from what I've seen, he's a fine player," said O'Hern.

"One thing I've learned about Tiger though is you don't annoy the guy.

"If you do - look what happened to (Rory) Sabbatini and Stephen Ames."

Hey, at least they'd actually played on the PGA Tour and even entered majors, shoot, even contended in majors when they opened their mouths.

"Since then the event venue has been for sale to the highest bidder."

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Mike Clayton previews the Australian PGA and ponders the dynamics of choosing a host site. Thanks to reader Hugh for spotting this.

The players and their families love the resort, the locals have supported it in numbers Brisbane only dreamed about (even when Greg Norman was in the field) and whilst the course is not one of the best in the country it is a good test and the nature of professional golf all over the world is that commercial considerations are of fundamental importance when it comes to the choice of the golf course.

If you don't believe that, have a look at the courses the Europeans have chosen for the Ryder Cup. The last time a course was chosen on merit was in 1981 when they went to Walton Heath. Since then the event venue has been for sale to the highest bidder.

 

"We want to come back, we want to support the tour, but you come back and all you do is cop abuse from the media"

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Thanks to reader Hugh for this Robert Allenby rant on the morbid state of Australian professional golf events. It seems  we read about this argument every year...

In an unprompted tirade during a press conference ahead of this week's Australian Masters in Melbourne, Allenby accused the media of having driven former world No.1 Norman out of the country through constant negativity.

And he said a similar thing was being done to the latest generation of Australian players.

"It's quite amazing that everyone plays in America, they think (Australian players) are pretty awesome in how we play and they love us over there, but sometimes we're perceived that we're not that good in Australia," Allenby said.

"I think it comes down to that tall poppy syndrome that Greg Norman fought for a lot of years.

"If you look back and look at the abuse that the media did give Greg Norman, eventually he'd just had enough and said I'm not coming back.

"That's kind of what happens to a lot of players.

"I'm not saying that's the reason why Geoff (Ogilvy) and Adam (Scott) are not here (for the Masters), but sometimes it can wear on you, especially when we're over the other side of the world playing for most of the year.

"We want to come back, we want to support the tour, but you come back and all you do is cop abuse from the media ... I think that's really hurt Australian golf."

 

"How much is Rory getting paid and how much is he worth?"

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I think it's safe to say that Stuart Appleby and Rory Sabbatini will not be talking cars anytime soon after Appleby's backlash over Rory's Australian PGA appearance fee. Yes, that's right, someone paid Rory Sabbatini to be at their golf tournament.

Many of Australia's best golfers are said to be unhappy about the reported $200,000 appearance fee being paid to the cocky South African and Stuart Appleby underlined this fact on Thursday when he questioned Sabbatini's worth.

"To me the question is: How much is Rory getting paid and how much is he worth? "That's what I want to ask the Australian PGA," Appleby, who has slipped back to No 38 in the World this year, told the Telegraph

"If a player is being paid ten times as much as someone with comparable standing, we want to know whether it's a good investment.

"I don't know if $200,000 is the correct figure. That's something I want to find out."
And if that wasn't enough...

"He is maybe not as well known for his golf as he is for his words ever since he said Tiger was vulnerable (in June)," Appleby continued.

"The thing about Rory is that he has not based his career purely on golf equipment. He's a really streaky player and maybe he needs his golf to speak louder than his words.

"I'm not sure that should be the type of player we are looking for. They've had John Daly there before. What do we want: a talented golfer or a loose cannon?"

Australians and Cell Phones

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First the British Open and now the Australian Open have made me proud to be an American because we ban cell phones at golf tournaments. Andrew Powter has the ugly details.

On a lighter note, Peter Stone's game story as well as John Huggan's piece on the official site (thanks reader F.X.) give the impression that it was one swell event. Hopefully it'll return to American TV next year.