"If we are able to accelerate that process of creating heroes then I would predict that the overwhelming new demand for the game will result in some mechanism that creates far more accessibility to the game itself."

Scott Michaux writes about Billy Payne's China trip this week to help crown the first winner of the Asian Amateur Championship (which will be on ESPN2). And while I appreciate the sentiment, I'm not sure I'm buying his thinking:

"We know how human nature is," Payne said in an interview with The Augusta Chronicle last week. "People become role models and are worshiped by younger generations who aspire to achieve the same goals and emulate the same success. If we are able to accelerate that process of creating heroes then I would predict that the overwhelming new demand for the game will result in some mechanism that creates far more accessibility to the game itself. Demand will create the access."

Huh...here in the States, demand usually creates price increases.

But I guess it's just a little weird for me to read about the boys at Augusta National hoping to create "heroes" via initiatives like this. Wouldn't it be easier to create heroes by returning the Augusta National's design as a more compelling stage?

"When it deals with growth and potential, how to get the most impact and how do you get the most bang for your efforts, I think it was pretty logical that we would begin in the Far East ," he said. "I think it helps that through the decades we have already aggressively looked for and recruited participation in our tournament from that part of the world. It was just kind of obvious."

Since we now have had a look at the field, if nothing else, it'll be worth tuning in to hear how he spins a non-Asian winner.