Euro PGA Head Concerned About Ryder Cup's Direction

Martin Dempster reports that Sandy Jones, chief executive of Europe's PGA, is hoping to see that the Ryder Cup does not become an event that entails "squeezing every penny out of it". Mind you, he's on the side of the Atlantic where they hang a for sale sign on the venue selection and then suggest that it has to be done or the European Tour would collapse, which he seems to be aware of.

From Dempster's story...

“We’ve got to remember those core values of the match.The integrity, the respect, not squeezing every penny out of it. We've got to be more Augusta-like, where they do it quietly and effectively. It's not in-your-face commercialism.

Yes, behind closed doors commercialism. So much better!

And just to make sure there's some off-course tension, Jones  took an odd shot at the PGA of America's selection of Captain Tom Watson, pinning it all on president Ted Bishop even though it's a committee vote.

"Ted said he needed a captain that knows how to win. Are you telling me that Jack Nicklaus doesn't know how to win, or Corey Pavin, Davis Love? And then for Ted to say, 'We need someone who understands European golf and Scottish golf'. Well, Gleneagles is an American-style course.

"It's nothing to do with that. If you really wanted someone who really knew Gleneagles why not get Nicklaus? Jack built the bloody course."

Bishop issued this statement in response to the remarks by Jones:

"There are a lot of things in golf that Sandy Jones and I don't see eye to eye on, which is a good thing if you are me. The PGA of America takes the charge of picking our Ryder Cup Captains very seriously and despite what Sandy says it wasn't just my decision. It's obvious from his comments that he is somewhat worried about the outcome of this year's Ryder Cup and if I were in his shoes I would be too.

"I could not be happier with Tom Watson. He brings many dimensions to the U.S. Ryder Cup team and certainly preparation is at the forefront. No matter what Sandy infers, Watson is the most dominating player in the modern era of Scottish golf and his record supports that. I am somewhat surprised that Sandy's comments did not reflect that."