Tiger Sounding Non-Committal (At Best) On Euro Tour Membership

From today's presser to announce the field and new sponsor for the year-end World Challenge at Sherwood.

Q.  Wondering what your thoughts are on ‑‑ you mentioned before that you might be joining the European Tour a few weeks back.  I want to know what that would mean if you chose to do that.

TIGER WOODS:  Well, they asked me the question whether or not I would entertain it, and I said, yeah, I entertained it early on in my career, there's no doubt, because at the time there was only 11 events, and I believe it was eight cross‑overs, and I played once or twice in Europe, and that put me at nine or ten ‑‑ usually at 10 because I played in Asia and I played as well in Germany for all those years.  So I was only one event away.

Now it's at 13.  13 is a little bit more difficult to get to, but that's one of the reasons why I think they implemented the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup as events that count towards that number.  I certainly can see the benefits and also see the negatives of playing that much golf.  But going forward, I don't know.

Chubby: Turkey Final A Model For Others

Dermot Gilreese assesses the Turkey Final cash grab that so enriched the lives of eight men last week. The primary organizer explains how it could be a model for future events.

Meanwhile, the money flows. And given his success in attracting such leading names to last week's enterprise, Chubby Chandler of International Sports Management believes it could work in other countries as a promotional vehicle. Indeed as an early by-product, it is hoped that several of last week's octet will return to compete in the Turkish Open in 13 months. As Chandler put it: "I've already established that it's a free week for Tiger."

And Chandler explains how he insured that there were no last minute WD's:

Even with attractive figures being thrown around, it seems that good faith is crucial to the success of these ventures. Which explains why Chandler made sure that $150,000 -- half the minimum guaranteed prize money -- would be lodged to each player's bank account on September 1 of this year -- almost six weeks before the event. "As a gesture, I felt it appropriate to assure them that they were going to be paid," he said.

So much classier than a brown paper bag full of cash or chips to the casino!

Why Tiger Joining The European Tour Would Have An Impact

I saw the news out of the Turkey Final about Tiger suggesting he might take up European Tour membership if the rules are changed to include the various Cups as appearances. And I yawned, then moved right along.

But Bob Harig explains that such a membership requirement change, coupled with a few other factor$, makes the scenario increasingly likely and would certainly mean fewer appearances in the U.S. Perhaps as many as 3-4 events shaved off his PGA Tour schedule.

Because he is formalizing an endorsement deal with Turkish Airlines, it would make sense that Woods add a new Turkish European Tour event to his schedule -- which will be played in November 2013, just a week prior to the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

So four majors, four WGCs, Abu Dhabi (or something similar early in the year), Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup, Turkey and the season-ending Dubai event would bring the total to 12. He could, possibly, add the European Tour event in China prior to the WGC; or he could play another event around the time of Abu Dhabi during the tour's Gulf Coast Swing.

Update on 2012-10-11 03:25 by Geoff

**Rex Hoggard says there is another dynamic at play here where Commissioner Calendar Year holds one trump card over Tiger even if he joins the European Tour.

Yet according to PGA Tour guidelines Woods would only be allowed three competing-event releases to go play in Europe unless he plays more than 20 events in the United States or is given special dispensation by commissioner Tim Finchem.

Woods hasn’t played more than 20 Tour events in a season since 2005 and he currently has 19 starts with no additional U.S. stops scheduled in 2012, which leaves the ball in Finchem’s court.

And if recent history is any indication Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., may not completely embrace Woods’ newfound globetrotting ways. Just this week, for example, the Tour granted competing-event releases for all eight players at the Turkish Airlines World Golf Finals based on a quid pro quo to play the Frys.com Open, this week’s Tour stop, at least once over the next three years according to multiple sources.

Paul Casey's Four-Legged Stalker Attacks Mid-Round!

From an AP report, accompanied by a Ross Kinnaird Getty Image:

"It's the weirdest thing I've ever had happen on a golf course," said Casey, who was playing at Kingsbarns. "I noticed the dog on the 12th tee and he sort of followed us down the fairway before taking a real liking to my golf ball."

Casey, who is partnered with Olympic great Michael Phelps in the pro-am event, was ready to play with another ball but a spectator stopped the pooch near the 13th tee and recovered the original.

A European Tour rules official inspected both and Casey was allowed to play his original ball. He ended up with a birdie to get to 1 under.

You can see the entire reel of images at Getty.

Scottish Open Returning To Castle Stuart, Then Off To Royal Aberdeen

Thanks to reader Brian for sending along the great news that Castle Stuart will host the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open again in 2013 and Royal Aberdeen will land the event in 2014.

The 18th at Royal Aberdeen (click on image to enlarge)I highly recommend both courses if you visit the region and if you want to take in a European Tour event, you'll be hard pressed to find a more wonderful tournament and town experience outside of St. Andrews than Inverness in July.

From an unbylined Scotsman story:

Castle Stuart, near Inverness, will stage the event from 11-14 July next year and, in 2014, Royal Aberdeen will host the first-ever European Tour event over the Balgownie links from 10-13 July.

Founded in 1780, Royal Aberdeen is the world’s sixth oldest golf club and the course was originally designed by Carnoustie’s Simpson brothers, Archie and Robert. It was re-bunkered and lengthened by James Braid and Hawtree and Company have now been engaged as course architects to ensure it keeps pace with the modern game.

I'm not sure if the course can get lengthened or narrowed much, but I know players will still enjoy it. As for Donald Trump's course up the road? I'm a little surprised it didn't get the 2014 slot but perhaps The Donald is aiming for something else.

Photos: Castle Stuart Sunday

Jeev Milkha-Singh won the Scottish Open in a playoff and gained a spot in next week's Open Championship.

"Hoping I'll finish top three or top-5 and take the confidence from there," he said after his round, completed 90 minutes before the final group.

With more wind Sunday the golf course played much more difficult, an early 67 allowed him to catch Francesco Molinari, who he eventually beat in a playoff.

It was an eye-opening weekend for me, as I could not be more impressed with the European Tour-run event. A nice-sized gallery turned out Sunday and the overall flow and operation were seamless despite the one-lane roads leading to the course. And as for Castle Stuart, it exceeded my expectations in every department. No hole better captured the essence of strategic tournament play than the 12th, featured in two images below. Also included are some shots of the excellent village on site for shopping, eating, wagering and promotion of local golf elements, highlighted by the Scottish Golf Union's outreach efforts. No mention of core values anywhere, either.

Lytham here we come!

 

Update on 2012-07-15 22:41 by Geoff

**John Huggan saw a big difference in the setup of Castle Stuart this year compared to last year. And he didn't like what he saw. And I must say, compared to early photos I had seen of the course, the defined fairway and rough look was a shame.

And yet, when the European Tour's finest -- plus welcome guests like Phil Mickelson, Kevin Na and John Rollins from across the pond -- returned to the Inverness area for the second year in succession, they arrived to find Hanse's concepts diminished by a narrowing of the fairways, the growing of rough and the addition of length on many of the holes. Clearly, the low scoring in 2011 -- when Luke Donald won the weather-shortened championship with a 19-under par aggregate for 54-holes -- had convinced those in charge that the course was "too easy." And that something had to be done to make it "more difficult."

Trouble is, all of those changes to the course made little difference to the proliferation of red numbers on the scoreboard. Like every links, Castle Stuart needs hard, fast conditions, firm greens and at least a breeze to make it play its best. So it was that, in almost perfect scoring weather, eventual runner-up Francesco Molinari of Italy led after three rounds on 17-under par.

Scenes Of Inverness, 2012 Scottish Open

I don't think I've quite adequately captured the lovely setting that is Inverness during the Scottish Open, but I can highly recommend this as a great base for someone visiting this area to see Dornoch, Castle Stuart, Nairn, Lossiemouth, Fortrose, Rosemarkie and the many other underrated courses (some mentioned by Gil Hanse in our Q&A). And for non-golfers, you are at the hub of many great sightseeing and outdoor sporting activities as Inverness is the gateway to the Highlands.

You'll find plenty of outstanding Bed and Breakfasts (I highly recommend the centrally located Craigside Lodge), numerous fine restaurants of all varieties and one fantastic pub that was a hub for golf fans (Castle Tavern).

Included here are scenes of the Inverness Castle, Castle Stuart and city: