Euro Stars Want New Chief To Raise Tour Profile; Golf World Wants New Euro Tour Chief To Have A Profile!

As the European Tour prepares to kick off its flagship event at Wentworth (Golf Channel covers the BMW from 5 a.m.-1 p.m. ET Thursday and Friday), Alistair Tait talks to players about the purported start to a new era this July when Keith Pelley replaces the retiring George O'Grady.

Perhaps respecting the tenure of his predecessor or maybe just not easily tracked down in his native Canada, Pelley has maintainted an amazingly low profile since landing the gig. But Tait says top European players have expectations, including Justin Rose.

“I think just a little bit more strength across the board on the European Tour,” said Rose, when asked what he wanted from the new man. “There's a huge variation in the events that we play, from prize fund and quality of golf course and excitement and crowd, from the top end to the bottom end. Just to try to make the mean average go up. I think for me that's what I want to see. That's what you have in America. You could almost throw the dice 20 times and build a good schedule on the PGA Tour.

“It would be nice to get close to that on the European Tour. I know there's a lot more factors in terms of where we play and a lot more going on and a lot more to manage, but to move towards that would be fantastic – just a more consistent product, I suppose.”

Pelley's marching orders from the committee that hired the television executive are undoubtedly clear, but what until he appears and starts cutting deals, we will be left to wonder what the European Tour future looks like.