Asian Influx

PAULWATSON

Read an interesting Peter Lawrie interview a few weeks back. He mentioned the massive uptake of the game in China, Korea and so on. If the male tour turned into a similar situation to the LPGA tour (asian dominated) would you still follow the tournaments as avidly.

From my own point of view, I prefer to watch the American and European players.

AGC

PAULWATSON wrote: »

Read an interesting Peter Lawrie interview a few weeks back. He mentioned the massive uptake of the game in China, Korea and so on. If the male tour turned into a similar situation to the LPGA tour (asian dominated) would you still follow the tournaments as avidly.

From my own point of view, I prefer to watch the American and European players.

Crazy post

The reason you are watching European and Americans is because they are currently the best in the world. If in months or years to come Asian players are on tour good luck to them and that is what we will be watching.

if American/European ladies aren't up to the level of Asian players they need top work harder

PAULWATSON

AGC wrote: »

The reason you are watching European and Americans is because they are currently the best in the world. If in months or years to come Asian players are on tour good luck to them and that is what we will be watching.

if American/European ladies aren't up to the level of Asian players they need top work harder

I watch them because I identify with the players. I won't be watching if the PGA/EPGA tours are dominated by asian players.

Significantly the LPGA have had massive problems with this issue, both in attracting supporters and indeed sponsors.

Just wanted the opinions of my fellow fans.

AGC

American college are flooded with European, American and Asian golfers, I am sure there is players from Australia, South America etc... So I am sure many more will come through

Do you not identify with the players because they are on the telly every week?

Do you have a problem watching KJ Choi, Jeev Milkha etc???

bustercherry

PAULWATSON wrote: »

I watch them because I identify with the players. I won't be watching if the PGA/EPGA tours are dominated by asian players.

Significantly the LPGA have had massive problems with this issue, both in attracting supporters and indeed sponsors.

Just wanted the opinions of my fellow fans.

You must have been disappointed when the best player in the world was black... Good job only one of those black's was any good or no one would have been following the PGA or European Tours.

PAULWATSON

AGC wrote: »

Do you not identify with the players because they are on the telly every week?

No, because we have the same cultures.

AGC wrote: »

Do you have a problem watching KJ Choi, Jeev Milkha etc???

Not at all. Bit if diversity and all that. But these boys don't have the charisma of someone like GMAC, or Shane Lowry.

PAULWATSON

bustercherry wrote: »

You must have been disappointed when the best player in the world was black

The best player in the world is still black

ssbob

I will be keeping a close eye on this thread, while I feel this is a valid point to be discussed about the future on mens and womens golf, this may go too close to the racism line.

Be Careful.

m r c

PAULWATSON wrote: »

The best player in the world is still black

Said best player was/is Asian too.

A bit of a silly original post there op. I'd reckon most golf fans want to see the ebb and flow of the worlds best no one cares about nationality or race of them.
I think there are some very exciting Asian prospects on the PGA tour ATM. John Huh etc dont need to name them but some serious major winning contenders in the next few years.
And don't forget that a lot of the 'Asians' you speak of are living in the states years Huh being an example.

Almaviva

m r c wrote: »

the worlds best no one cares about nationality or race of them.

I think it more complicated than that. We do not watch sport with such purity unfortunately. Look at the following for the Irish golfers on these pages. Interest would be lower if there were no Irish golfer in the top 200 - perfectly possible - look at the ladies game.

The LGPA already suffers and is debating how to handle the changed profile of its stars and their (lack of) appeal to US audiences (57 of the top 100 ladies are Asian, 38 are Korean alone). Yes they have them game and are fully entitled to compete and be the best, but the knockon effect is that fan's, media, and most crucially, sponsor, interest in some countries is reduced.

It wont happen, but to answer the OP question, and taking it to the extreme, if the top 100 male golfers were Asian, and if there were no Irish golfer within a shout of competing on the tour, I probably wouldnt follow on a regular basis, only tuning in for the British Open (out of nostalgia and tradition) (and the Masters, just to see how Clifford Roberts, Hord Hardin, and Hootie Johnson's successors would handle things).

Rikand

PAULWATSON wrote: »

No, because we have the same cultures.



Not at all. Bit if diversity and all that. But these boys don't have the charisma of someone like GMAC, or Shane Lowry.

No charisma ?

[Born in South Korea]

m r c

Almaviva wrote: »

I think it more complicated than that. We do not watch sport with such purity unfortunately. Look at the following for the Irish golfers on these pages. Interest would be lower if there were no Irish golfer in the top 200 - perfectly possible - look at the ladies game.

The LGPA already suffers and is debating how to handle the changed profile of its stars and their (lack of) appeal to US audiences (57 of the top 100 ladies are Asian, 38 are Korean alone). Yes they have them game and are fully entitled to compete and be the best, but the knockon effect is that fan's, media, and most crucially, sponsor, interest in some countries is reduced.

It wont happen, but to answer the OP question, and taking it to the extreme, if the top 100 male golfers were Asian, and if there were no Irish golfer within a shout of competing on the tour, I probably wouldnt follow on a regular basis, only tuning in for the British Open (out of nostalgia and tradition) (and the Masters, just to see how Clifford Roberts, Hord Hardin, and Hootie Johnson's successors would handle things).

Hmm, I'll give you that but only kinda because "I" like to see the worlds best race and creed included but I did infer we as in the general public.

So maybe it's just me. Then to see louis oosthuizen dominate to win a major or win in the masters in convincing style this year after losing last year in a play off would give me the thrill you only get from watching sport. It doesn't bother me he's African.

What you said about Irish golfers can't be ignored though, the fact that I'm golfing earlier today is most likely in no small part due to Harrington.

Maybe I'd sum it this way better, the local man got me interested and the worlds best keep my interest peaked.

PAULWATSON

m r c wrote: »

Said best player was/is Asian too..

Sorry, I was referring to Rory.

Almaviva wrote: »

I think it more complicated than that.

Agreed

PAULWATSON

Rickylovesuall wrote: »

No charisma ?

[Born in South Korea]

:eek: I don't go to coppers on a monday night

ShivasIrons

PAULWATSON wrote: »

Read an interesting Peter Lawrie interview a few weeks back. He mentioned the massive uptake of the game in China, Korea and so on. If the male tour turned into a similar situation to the LPGA tour (asian dominated) would you still follow the tournaments as avidly.

From my own point of view, I prefer to watch the American and European players.

The male tours probably won't end up Asian dominated like the LPGA currently is due to a simple numbers game.

The ladies game is dominated by Asian due to the massive numbers of them playing in Korea and elsewhere. Whereas in America and Europe there is not the same number of girls playing, drop down to your local golf club and see how many junior girls members there are. There isn't too many in this country with more than ten girls who play and we are a country with a strong golf tradition.

In Korea there are thousands upon thousands playing. Just simple numbers explain that if you have a bigger pool of people playing you will have more good players. You could argue that Korean golf is not the success story some people imagine, very high rates of overuse injury and high burnout rates as well. With the numbers playing and the high work ethic, they actually should be doing much better.

Boys golf in Europe, America, Australia has still a high participation rate so even if more Asians take up the game you may get some more tour players but not to the extent that is in the ladies game.