Casey Explains: "I've been in too many hotel rooms wondering why I was there"

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The decision to pass on extra travel days just to make himself Ryder Cup eligible is no doubt still leaving Team Europe perplexed, but Paul Casey explains his thinking and remains consistent in his reasoning.
Even if it doesn't it well with most of Europe or perhaps entirely tell the full story of his 2010 snub.

From Bob Harig's ESPN.com report:

"I've been in too many hotel rooms wondering why I was there,'' Casey said. "I felt many times like I was going through the motions, going to play to get a number. That is so against what it is to be a competitor.''

On the European Tour side, Casey needs five European starts. One would be the Ryder Cup itself. The Olympics, if he qualities, also counts. He could play the BMW PGA Championship and British Masters in his home country of England and be one tournament away, perhaps the Scottish Open or one of the Final Series events.

Casey said he's heard some of the rumblings concerning why he'd want to forego the Ryder Cup, but said his decision was not about that event.

"It's an unfortunate by-product of the decision I've made,'' he said. "It's purely about my family and spending quality time. The Ryder Cup is what's talked about, but this is not what this is about."

 

Euro Tour Commish Pelley: "This is theatre."

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I hate to encourage a man who owns more than one pair of blue-framed glasses, but it's hard not to get excited reading John Hopkins' Global Golf Post Q&A with new European Tour Chief Keith Pelley.

Why?

He's punching all of the buttons that Tim Finchem covers with duct tape, belly-flopping if he has to: faster play, golfers as entertainers first, a global tour, etc...

I'm too lazy to transcribe, so please hit the link and give GGP some hits. But for the sake of archiving, Pelley's take on golf tournaments as an entertainment vehicle differs in noteworthy fashion from the PGA Tour's view that tournaments are a playing opportunity first and formost, a form of entertainment a distant second.

Pelley's take on golf tournaments as a form of entertainment, first:

Foreign Secretary Plans To Intervene At Wentworth!

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Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter for the Telegraph, says Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond has signaled an interest in trying to solve the row between members of Wentworth and its new owner, Reignwood Group.

Take that, John Kerry!

Mendick writes of Britain's most important foreign relations representative coming to the defense of Wentworth's members and includes a letter from Hammond outlining how he can help. There was also this:

Relations between Reignwood Group, which bought the club last year for £135 million, and its membership have sunk to an all-time low.

In a growing escalation in tensions, Wentworth’s Chinese owners are being accused of a lack of respect after the St George’s flag was lowered to half mast for victims of the Paris atrocity while the Chinese flag that also now stands outside the clubhouse was not.

Reignwood has countered with new membership categories.

In a statement, Wentworth Club has announced it plans to invest £20 million over the next two years “to significantly enhance and improve its three championship courses, facilities and service quality”.

It also insisted it was listening to members’ concerns and had “introduced two new [membership] categories with discounted rates as a result”.

It went on: “We lowered the St George’s flag at the entrance to the Club, along with the Union Flag on the roof of the club, as a mark of respect following the devastating terror attacks in Paris earlier this month.

“The inference that there was any disrespect as a result of the Chinese flag not being lowered is deeply upsetting. We are extremely disappointed to think that any of our members would construe this to be the case.”

New European Tour chief Keith Pelley also recently balked at the idea of Wentworth as host of the European Tour's "flagship" event while expressing reserved optimism for the upcoming changes.

New Euro Tour Chief Vows To Crack Down On Slow Play

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In contrast to Commissioner-Slow-Play-Penalties-Give-Me-The-Willies, new European Tour chief Keith Pelley has sought to differentiate himself by voicing his disdain for slow play. You may recall that Tim Finchem has openly suggested that actual enforcement of the rules (and leading to penalties) bugs him and he's also questioned the desire to play faster, citing in epic out-of-touch fashion how you don't want to play fast around Cypress, Augusta and Pine Valley. But Pelley? He's declaring a "personal war."

The Golf Paper's Adam Ellis reports.

Ironically, his announcement in Dubai yesterday came just 48 hours after an incident in the final hour of the BMW Masters in Shanghai, where Spain’s Sergio Garcia was involved in a 15-minute discussion with a referee over where he should drop his ball after hitting it into the lake beside the 18th green at Lake Malaren.

“Slow play drives me mad,” said Pelley.

“I have had the chance to talk to a number of players at all levels – the elite, the medium and low-ranked players – and one of the things that keeps coming up, and which we are going to address, is slow play.
“We are going to be the leaders in dealing with slow play.

“I cannot tell you what that means from a concrete perspective right now, but I have had significant dialogue with Martin Slumbers from The R&A, and they are in violent agreement that it is something we need to deal with.

Violent agreement! I guess that means you haven't brought up how the ball going too far leads to deadly backups.

There is a conference call next week with The R&A. We will participate in it and do this in cooperation.

“I can tell you that when we sit here next year we will have a completely different philosophy on slow play. Slow play is a critical part of our game and we will address it.”

Good luck with that, especially judging by the quotes of Martin Slumbers, new R&A head man, talking about the release of the R&A's report discussed in St. Andrews this week. From a report by Phil Goodlad & John Barnes, Slumbers talking:

"Maybe we need some marshals out on the course to help find balls," he added. "Maybe we need to play over shorter formats, nine-hole golf; playing off tees that are further forward, not cutting the rough as thick and deep as possible.

Not cutting the rough as thick and deep as possible? I don't even know where to begin with that, but I suspect explaining to him that rough is a product of offsetting modern distances might be lost on the R&A's head man?

"But the key thing is getting people aware and recognising that playing reasonably quickly and getting a move on isn't just good for their game but fair to everybody out on the course."

Enforce those time pars!

CEO Of Rory McIlroy: No More Mistakes, Next Decade Mine

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Rory McIlroy, CEO and Chairman of Rory McIlroy, Inc, reiterated after winning the Race To Dubai that he won't be making the same mistake with his empire going forward.

The fighting words have to be music to the ears of tour commissioners and fans who have suspected the CEO wasn't taking the job as seriously as he should have been. But a focused, no-more-kickabouterering McIlroy should put fear in his opponents.

Iain Carter reporting after McIlroy's win Sunday capped off a strange year marred ultimately by his soccer-injury prior to The Open.

"I had a big lead in the world rankings and you see Jordan and Jason play the way they did. Fields are so deep, you can't let up at all.

"Tagging along with that, you know, this is my time to capitalise on my career. The next 10, 15 years is my time.

"I really can't be doing silly things like playing football in the middle of the season to jeopardise even six months of my career. It's a big chunk where I could make some hay and win a major or two.

"I won't be making those mistakes again next year."

Someone learned his lesson! Look out world...

The European Tour posted this video from the week of Rory's pre-round approach.

Video: Okay, We'll Let You Go Ivor Robson

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Easily the most famous first tee announcer the game has ever known is hanging up his mic and can drink the tallest glasses of water he likes, as Ivor Robson worked his final event Sunday in Dubai.

The European Tour did a swell job saying goodbye to the distinctive voice. But is there any greater compliment than the spot-on impersonations by players who aren't exactly supposed to be taking notes at the time Robson was usually clearing his throat, saying "I'll let you go" and then announcing their names

These all kind of speak for themselves...

 

And this August ESPN.com feature from Michael Collins was excellent too, particularly Adam Scott's impersonation.

Wentworth Members Pondering Court Challenge To New Owner?

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CNN Money's Jim Boulden says the Wentworth membership met Friday to discuss how to battle their new owner, who wants to run most of them off and just days after European Tour Chief Keith Pelley suggested the BMW there is not necessarily the tour's flagship event.

Fun times at Wentworth!

Boulden writes:

Wentworth residents are meeting Friday to discuss how to proceed, and they could go to court.

"There are distinct legal implications in their actions. Failure to listen will bring Reignwood into disrepute and be a terrible case study for China-UK relations," local resident Nigel Moss said in a statement.

Wentworth club told CNNMoney that as a private member's club it won't discuss its new demands.

Video: Most Interesting Man's Warm-Up With A GoPro

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I'm sure when the grade school teachers of the European Tour's social media expert Jamie Kennedy see him strapping a GoPro to Miguel Angel Jimenez, they will gush with pride. All so that we can see the most interesting man warm up! The subtitles were a nice touch, too.

 



This Week Is Ivor Robson's Finale As A First Tee Starter

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Oh sure, he'll probably be enlisted to record voice mail messages for charity and whatever else someone lures him into, but the legendary first tee announcer Ivor Robson is calling it a career after this week's European Tour event.

While Dubai isn't quite St. Andrews (where Robson called his final Open Championship last summer), this will be your final chance to hear a grown man sounding like he's been goosed everytime he announces a golfer on the first tee.

From the European Tour's Instagram account:

 

 

Willett Almost Makes Race To Dubai Fun In A Controversial Way

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The headlines all but had Danny Willett categorizing tournament-skipper and kickabouterer Rory McIlroy as some sort of subversive deserter.

But after a close reading of the Race to Dubai's second place-holder's comments, it appears Willett almost called out McIlroy for receiving special treatment to reach the finale.

From Ewan Murray's Guardian story:

Pressed on the fact other players, including Willett himself, have competed when not fully fit, the Englishman added: “That’s the thing. There’s a lot of guys who play through injuries week in, week out; guys with problems with their back, ankles, wrist. It’s the story of the game.

“If it had been anybody else in a different situation, they potentially might not have been given the same treatment. But it’s Rory and he’s going be the life force of this tour for the next 15 years. So have you got to look after him? Yes. I don’t think it was an incorrect decision at all.”

Fighting Words (Golf Style): Pelley Striving To Make European Tour A "Viable Alternative" To The PGA Tour

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No, it's not trash talk as we know it, but in his first big press conference as European Tour Chief, Keith Pelley is taking a different attitude public than his more genteel predecessor.

You have to admire the confidence but it also sets Pelley up for some lofty goals.

Phil Casey's PA Sport report includes this:

"We need to provide a viable alternative to the PGA Tour for our elite, medium and low-ranked players. End of story," Pelley said ahead of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

"We need to be too important to be dismissed from our sponsors, from our stakeholders, from our players. And that means we are going to have to increase our prize purses.

"That won't happen overnight. That's not going to happen necessarily in 2016. You'll start to see it happen in 2017. You'll start to see it come to fruition in 2018. We definitely in three to five years will have a viable alternative, so that players don't necessarily need to go to America to be able to make as much money as they possibly can."

He's focused on the flagship BMW event at Wentworth as Example A for improvement. Note the tone, which is hopeful but also a bit guarded. Not the usual Commissionerspeak!

"The important thing for me at Wentworth is what they do to the West Course. From everything that I have heard, there is significant investment. We are continuing at Wentworth until at least 2018 and if the West Course becomes exactly what they believe it will, and we can increase the prize purse, then perhaps it can be a flagship event going forward.

Casey's story also delves into the effort to get Paul Casey to change his mind about membership.

2015 European Tour Q-School Notables: Struggling

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They still meaningful Q-Schools in Europe and a EuropeanTour.com report explains who halfway leaders Lukas Nemecz and teenager Marcus Kinhult are.

The full list of scores can be found here. (At the end of the six rounds the top 25 players and ties will earn places on The European Tour for next season).

Of note are several names of recent Walker Cuppers and veterans who have work to do if they want a 2015-16 card: former Ryder Cuppers Soren Hansen (T48) and Eduardo Molinari (T77), recent Open Championship star Paul Dunne (T55), Walker Cup hero Ashley Chesters, veterans Nick Dougherty (T148) and Peter Lawrie (DQ).

Forward Press: Two Races-To-Cash Wrapping Up, Aussie Majors Starting And Loopers In The Booth!

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It's a bizarre week in golf as the LPGA Tour and European Tour end their respective "races."

One (LPGA) has a lot on the line with a possible entertaining showdown. The other is teetering on the edge of silliness as players defect and the points leader got to the finals on a free pass from the home office.

For American west coasters, the joyous annual ritual that is going to bed watching Australia's golfing triple crown is upon us. And finally, Friday and Saturday's tour event from St. Simons Island, Georgia will feature two caddies named Bones and Woody working as on course reporters, prompting me to wonder in the column if the next "Rossy" is upon us.

Here is this week's Forward Press column at GolfDigest.com, with links and some fun embeds.

Speaking of Rossy, for those of you too young to remember the beloved ABC/ESPN on-course reporter, I went hunting for a "he's got no chance" clip on YouTube. Sadly, that signature phrase from the late Bob Rosburg was nowhere to be found.

But do check out this short British Pathé highlight reel from Wentworth, circal 1960. The Ballantine's event was played to test the larger American ball. It includes Rosburg, stylish crowds, a stylish version of that now-mangled golf course (no doubt this clip will be studied by restorer Ernie Els) and best of all, those wacky flagsticks!

Playoffs In Golf Aren't Playoffs Files: Sergio Passing On Dubai

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Ewan Murray's files a story on Sergio Garcia, currently 30th in the Race To Dubai and bound to move up thanks to a strong BMW Masters showing, deciding to pass on the European Tour's grand Dubai finale.

As Murray notes, Garcia has been positive about this latest format tweak, but instead has played in Asia the last two weeks and is passing up the chance to take an easy check just for showing up in Dubai.

García cited scheduling and tiredness issues when he was among a trio of players in 2013 who refused to meet the playing criteria required for the flagship Dubai tournament, in what was the inaugural year of the European Tour’s Final Series. The format for that has since been tweaked and will be again during an announcement by Keith Pelley, the European Tour’s chief executive, in Dubai on Tuesday. Pelley will also unveil new criteria for Tour membership, the template for which was revealed by the Observer last week.

At the time of the previous alteration to the Final Series, García said: “I’m very happy with the changes and I’m looking forward to the Final Series. At the end of the day, we are all working together. I’m very happy to see that we’ve reached a middle ground which should help make us all happy.”

This latest in a neverending list of player defections, WD's and overall mail-in jobs during playoff season got me thinking: have any of these golf "playoffs" on the major tours ever generated an onslaught of positive press?  Or just mostly negative stories about player apathy, fatigue, boredom or nonchalance?