Allenby On PGA Tour Players: "It's just everything is handed to them on a silver plate."
Mike Walker at golf.com passes along some of Robert Allenby's comments from Dubai about why there aren't more American PGA Tour players like Jason Duffner playing abroad:
"You know, Americans play for so much money, and when you've got a purse where $1 million, a million plus, is first prize, not to say that they are spoiled, but it's a little bit that way. It's like, well, why would I want to travel, when I can make a million bucks instead of going to Europe and only making $500,000 or $600,000?"
"The reason why I want to travel and play elsewhere is because I want my game to get better, and always, even at the age of 38, I want to get better. And the only way you can get better is to play different golf courses. If you're playing the same golf course every week, every year that you come back to, it just gets a little boring. For me, that's what I've found. I've got a little bit bored playing in America. I'll still play there full time, but I'm still going to try to play more tournaments in Europe at the same time and combine the two together."
"But I just think, you know, they have got it a little bit too easy. It's just everything is handed to them on a silver plate. And not to be rude or anything like that, because I'm very respectful for the amount of money that we do play for in America. We are very lucky and very fortunate. But I think the money that we play for in America, that's the reason why you don't see a lot of Americans or a lot more international players coming over and playing in Europe. They are in a comfort zone, and I think that's pretty much what it is."
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 08:08 PM
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Reader Comments (22)
If he isn't able to birdie (or better) every hole played, why is he bored?
Is he really bored by the courses, or is he tired of the competition?
His last PGAT win was in 2001 and he is still looking for his first $1M check.
...but he's really doing himself no favors at this point, just talking way too much.
On the new One-Eyed tour, http://oneeyedgolfer.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-q.html , at least 50% of the low 50 would lose their job each year and be forced to play the Nationwide Tour. THEN, they would flock overseas and beg to play for $500-600k.
The United Auto Workers have nothing on our current PGA tour players.
Neither I nor others said anything about Allenby's criticism.
Conditions are different in the U.S. and it is easy to see reasons to prefer conditions elsewhere.
However, I do not understand why a player whose game is no where near perfect can claim to need a different environment to both improve and to prevent boredom.
Given Allenby's results, the courses are indeed challenging and have not been mastered.
Why bored?
If he says he prefers playing in Europe, fine.
If he thinks European courses offer better challenges, still fine.
I may actually agree.
Even if I did not agree, I would not deny him his opinion.
But, bored while not able to master the challenge?
That indicates a degree of denial.
How is it possible that anyone questions that?
If you see a flaw, a missing piece, please let me know.
Why would anyone want to go and pay to see an American player, since they all have the personality of a golf towel?
The more of them that stay at home so they can't inflict the rest of the world with all their moaning about how nothing is as good as it is back home, the better.
RK must be confusing professional golfers with American Idol contestants.
Can I get back to you on that?
First prize at Dubai this week is €830,675 which at today's rate is $1,230,644. This after what was I believe a 25% slash of the purse.
Maybe Allenby's point would have been better made had he piped up a month ago at the Madrid Masters.
"If you're playing the same golf course every week, every year that you come back to, it just gets a little boring. For me, that's what I've found. I've got a little bit bored playing in America."
Now with that he's on to something, Same course every week is dead right. I don't know about playing but WATCHING golf in America sure has become a monotonous grind of a bore.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unkIVvjZc9Y
Dont see why Allenby should be pilloried for having an opinion-makes a refreshing change.