“I think this is where golf is going to be for the foreseeable future, if you want to play at the highest level.”

Those strong words uttered by Shane Lowry to RTE Radio’s Greg Allen were a blow to the European Tour’s future prospects.

The Irish Golf Desk’s Brian Keogh with the full remarks from the 2019 Open Champion:

“[My daughter] Iris has just turned four and she starting school soon so we have big decisions to be made in the next six months,” Lowry told RTE Radio’s Greg Allen on Saturday Sport. “I think this is where golf is going to be for the foreseeable future, if you want to play at the highest level.”

Alistair Tait reviewed where this leaves the European Tour’s potential star power “drain” and wonders if the “strategic alliance” with the PGA Tour may not have addressed the issue. I know, shocking.

Tait writes:

Thankfully, the European Tour still has the Rolex Series events to attract the top Europeans back to their home circuit. However, Covid-19 has had an impact on that series. It consists of just four events this year, down from a high of eight despite a hoped for 10 when the series was announced.

Ryder Cup participation is another reason for the top stars to play in Europe, since only European Tour members can play in the biennial match. But membership only requires a handful of regular starts along with the majors and World Golf Championships.

Whatever way you cut it, the European Tour has its work cut out to stop the talent drain to the PGA Tour becoming a flood. Wonder if that subject was discussed when the “strategic alliance" was agreed?