Russian Open - whats the point!?

JerryHandbag

Anyone watchin this tournament, theres nobody at it! Its kinda funny watchin the guys holding up the "Quiet Please" signs, cos theres no spectators to make any noise! Surely they could host a tournament such as the Northern Ireland Open, for example, where fans will go, and where there are some great courses, rather than a Russian Open where nobody could be bothered? When Per Ulrk Johansson putted out on the 72nd hole last year, there must have been about 30 people around the 18th green....surreal! :eek:

fred funk }{

The Russian Open even sounds wrong. I'm not sure how golf is regarded there but It's not an event that would attract many of the top golfers.

Mister Sifter

I think it's all about taking golf to new places. You're dead right, nobody is interested in it in Russia, but i think the hope of all invloved is that playing an event there will help raise the profile of golf.

Poor enough field at it, but to be expected after 4/5 big events in a row.

mousey007

What channel was it on? didnt see it at all...would have watched it if i knew it was on tv

Trampas

even if the Irish Open was on it would find it hard to field a strong field as British Open the previous week, WGC this weekend and PGA the following weekend most pros would be taking that weekend off if they are due to play in the 3 of them

JerryHandbag

Trampas wrote: »

even if the Irish Open was on it would find it hard to field a strong field as British Open the previous week, WGC this weekend and PGA the following weekend most pros would be taking that weekend off if they are due to play in the 3 of them

I agree totally, but I wasnt so much makin an issue of the quality of the field, more so the lack of atmosphere from spectators on the course, or indeed lack of spectators in the first place....in fairness there was a bit of a crowd around the 18th on the sunday, more than last year anyway.

Adiaga 2

Anyone seen any of the scores at the Russian Challenge Cup? It's on the ET challenge tour. Currently propping up the field is promising amateur Gleb Fetisov on 51 over par. Unfortunately professional Kirill Lachin had withdraw for some reason after a round of 106 yesterday(and he finished with a par too!!). Another pro, Andrey Burmakin, was something like +36 after 14 holes when he mysteriously had to withdraw also.

I'm sure the tour have little choice but to let these play to keep sponsors happy but it doesn't do the tour any favours.

Paddy1111

Yevgeny Kafelnikov (frmr world no.1 tennis player, for those of you that don't follow the tennis threads!) is playing, he actually came home in 39 yesterday. But the level of golf is so low in Russia, that he can also claim to being one of their top pro golfers.

Adiaga 2

Yeah I missed Kafelnikov. He has played in the Russian Open also in the past. His golf game is improving I see. I think there's a few pro-hockey players in there aswell.

Monty Burnz

Paddy1111 wrote: »

Yevgeny Kafelnikov (frmr world no.1 tennis player, for those of you that don't follow the tennis threads!) is playing, he actually came home in 39 yesterday. But the level of golf is so low in Russia, that he can also claim to being one of their top pro golfers.

Had to laugh at this in Wikipedia:

Since retiring, Kafelnikov cashed three times at the 2005 World Series of Poker.[1] He also played golf on the European PGA tour at the 2005 and 2008 Russian Open. He stated that he was there not to make up the numbers, before finishing last by 20 odd shots in 2005

Paddy1111

Suprised that Simon Thornton isn't playing this week, he had a good result last week, got him upto 16th on the Challenge Tour rankings, just one spot outside qualification for the European Tour next year.