The DP World Tour Thread

Rikand · 23-01-2021 5:39pm

Mars Bar wrote: »

https://www.facebook.com/280901855968/posts/10157632349330969/

This is pretty funny!

I'm looking forward to the slow golfers meeting next week

ligerdub · 23-01-2021 10:42pm

El Sueño wrote: »

Hard to believe Molinari is 130th in the world now :eek:

That is nuts, although I suspect a lot of that is how the long break between events took a lot of ranking points out at once and his more recent form was awful.

Looking at his results, things seemed to be going really well up to and including Masters week of 2019. His career has completely nosedived since then. It would be tough to argue that it has damaged him, be it professionally or personally, to the extent that he may never regularly compete at the top level again.

gypsy79 · 23-01-2021 11:18pm

ligerdub wrote: »

That is nuts, although I suspect a lot of that is how the long break between events took a lot of ranking points out at once and his more recent form was awful.

Looking at his results, things seemed to be going really well up to and including Masters week of 2019. His career has completely nosedived since then. It would be tough to argue that it has damaged him, be it professionally or personally, to the extent that he may never regularly compete at the top level again.

Did his brother not have a very similar nose dive??

Bill Ponderosa · 24-01-2021 9:39am

This should be very interesting, can't see anyone outside of the 3 lads getting it done. For me Fleetwood has been the most impressive the last few days. Should be a cracker.

Mushy · 24-01-2021 10:20am

Good start by Mcillroy, long putt on 3 to go -2 for the day and stretch his lead

Barnaboy · 24-01-2021 10:21am

This has started beautifully. Rory looking great. But Hatton and Fleetwood 6not going anywhere. Great entertainment on a Sunday morning!

Mushy · 24-01-2021 10:30am

Bogey now on 4, back to 1

Bill Ponderosa · 24-01-2021 10:47am

Fleetwood shaky off the tee but his irons are just so good, 2 under thru 6 and looking good.

LuckyGent88 · 24-01-2021 11:08am

Really enjoyable golf so far. Going to be a great battle on the back 9. Hatton is a super competitor and has more experience at winning lately than Rory

Bill Ponderosa · 24-01-2021 11:27am

Rory just starting to spray it off the tee, one back and not looking good for him. Hatton looking very comfortable so far.

Mushy · 24-01-2021 11:33am

Some putt by Hatton there to go 2 ahead

Mushy · 24-01-2021 12:00pm

And now an even better one on 10. Mcillroy birdie too but hard to catch up if leader is holing those putts

LuckyGent88 · 24-01-2021 12:04pm

Mushy wrote: »

And now an even better one on 10. Mcillroy birdie too but hard to catch up if leader is holing those putts

Was going well past the hole too. Still plenty of holes left. Rory is putting very well do just needs to keep giving himself the chances at least

Barnaboy · 24-01-2021 12:20pm

Rory's gone now. Just not got enough control of the ball. And too many loose shots. Not helped by Hatton being utterly relentless. Only going to be one winner.

frink · 24-01-2021 12:20pm

Hatton finishes level for the last 7 and hard to see him being caught

Bill Ponderosa · 24-01-2021 12:22pm

Hatton is just different gravy at the moment.

Bill Ponderosa · 24-01-2021 12:25pm

Looks a class course. In savage weather also.

LuckyGent88 · 24-01-2021 1:14pm

Just majestic golf from Hatton. Made himself into one of the best in the world now. 3 big wins in last 12 months. Major has to be his next step

Mushy · 24-01-2021 1:42pm

4 Rolex wins, that's some going. Will be a great asset on ryder cup team

Barnaboy · 24-01-2021 1:43pm

Hatton was just magnificent. Fully deserved win.

FixdePitchmark · 29-01-2021 2:16pm

Not a fan of the desert swing - or any of these places. But it is golf , during covid . Strong enough field. Greens look terrible.

Paddy going well - remarkable the only Irish flag these days in any Euro Tour event. What happened to all our hopes - Shane hanging around too.

Lads from Belgium , India , Finland , Paraguay flying up the board. For all our talk. We are in a bad place in the game at the moment. For all the crap we give Rory - where would we be without him.

Bill Ponderosa · 29-01-2021 2:23pm

Why don't you like the desert swing?

FixdePitchmark · 29-01-2021 2:29pm

Bill Ponderosa wrote: »

Why don't you like the desert swing?

It isn't Europe.
It is ethically misaligned with Europe. Slave labour etc
Fairly dodgy human rights record
Human rights not aligned with European Tour / Europe
Environmental disaster (not that golf can talk)
Serious equality issue.

Overall a great place

Complete sell out.

29-01-2021 2:36pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

It isn't Europe.
It is ethically misaligned with Europe. Slave labour etc
Fairly dodgy human rights record
Human rights not aligned with European Tour / Europe
Environmental disaster (not that golf can talk)
Serious equality issue.

Overall a great place

Complete sell out.

All of what you say is correct but if the European Tour was only to be played in Europe I don't think there would be much of a Tour if any.

Bill Ponderosa · 30-01-2021 8:49am

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

It isn't Europe.
It is ethically misaligned with Europe. Slave labour etc
Fairly dodgy human rights record
Human rights not aligned with European Tour / Europe
Environmental disaster (not that golf can talk)
Serious equality issue.

Overall a great place

Complete sell out.

Right but you're not going to get golf in these conditions anywhere in Europe in January.

They have some fantastic courses and they are wonderful places to visit. The weather is always fantastic.

Given our recent report on the mother and baby scandals I don't think we're in any position to be preaching on human rights.

CMcsporty · 30-01-2021 11:45am

Harrington going well today-3
Lowry also -5

Harrington playing captain!!

He all but confirmed Garcia will be playing no matter what.
It was kind of a slip of the tongue when Dougherty was asking him about how Sergio was playing.

billy3sheets · 31-01-2021 12:14pm

Looks like Casey has it in the bag. 4 shot lead after 12. McIntyre is just a very poor putter. Mind you they're all missing very makeable putts and loads left short. The greens look very rough so maybe that's not helping.

Arnold54321 · 31-01-2021 12:30pm

CMcsporty wrote: »

He all but confirmed Garcia will be playing no matter what.
It was kind of a slip of the tongue when Dougherty was asking him about how Sergio was playing.

Was surprised to hear that during the interview. Previously felt when push comes to shove he would pick his buddy Shane over Sergio given the bad blood they’ve had over the years, that if it even comes down to picks.

Must say I’ve enjoyed these past events in the UAE, both have had great fields. Greens this week a bit patchy but that view of skyscrapers from the 8th is very impressive.

Lip Out · 31-01-2021 12:38pm

Greens look in brutal shape.

eagle eye · 31-01-2021 12:43pm

billy3sheets wrote:

Looks like Casey has it in the bag. 4 shot lead after 12. McIntyre is just a very poor putter. Mind you they're all missing very makeable putts and loads left short. The greens look very rough so maybe that's not helping.

MacIntyre isn't normally a bad putter. I don't know what's going on with him and you can't blame the greens for missing putts from inside four feet.

Pdoghue · 31-01-2021 1:06pm

I attended the Race to Dubai finish in Dubai 2 years ago on the way to a work thing in the Far East. However much I felt about these events in the Middle East beforehand from watching on TV (had notions of glamour, sun-kissed courses, modern cosmopolitan UAE), I had a completely different perspective after being there. FixdePitchmark is absolutely right; having golf courses in the desert is an abomination, an environmental crime, and the UAE has a lot wrong about it under the surface.

Harro's slip yesterday about Garcia was revealing alright, but I'd want him in my team too, especially for an away match. They've made their peace, so there will be no issue there. You'd also want the likes of Casey and Westwood in the team. But plenty of time left for guys to play their way in, including Lowry hopefully.

billy3sheets · 31-01-2021 1:50pm

eagle eye wrote: »

MacIntyre isn't normally a bad putter. I don't know what's going on with him and you can't blame the greens for missing putts from inside four feet.

Yeah, there was a good few poor putts all round. A lot came up short which pros don't normally do. Must have been hard to read them .

FixdePitchmark · 31-01-2021 2:24pm

Pdoghue wrote: »

I attended the Race to Dubai finish in Dubai 2 years ago on the way to a work thing in the Far East. However much I felt about these events in the Middle East beforehand from watching on TV (had notions of glamour, sun-kissed courses, modern cosmopolitan UAE), I had a completely different perspective after being there. FixdePitchmark is absolutely right; having golf courses in the desert is an abomination, an environmental crime, and the UAE has a lot wrong about it under the surface.

Harro's slip yesterday about Garcia was revealing alright, but I'd want him in my team too, especially for an away match. They've made their peace, so there will be no issue there. You'd also want the likes of Casey and Westwood in the team. But plenty of time left for guys to play their way in, including Lowry hopefully.

Thanks - I seem to be at odds with the world at present.

. Nice to see someone agree with one thing.

But the whole concept of the Race to Dubai - basically stealing / saving our European tour has been very sickening for me. (even if I accept the reality we are in).

You have a situation where the likes of the Irish Open was at risk - other flagship events in genuine great golf countries taken off the roster - there was hope with the Rolex series for a while - but it seems to be all drifting back to the middle east again. Of course weather plays a part - but we are now starting our tour there and ending it. It is now saying - golf is for the wealthy - played in wealthy countries and for the elite. It was always like that to a degree - but after many years of trying to widen the game , open it up. The image of the European tour is all wrong. I'm not even offering a very extreme view. Someone could put forward a fairly reasonable argument , no tour event should be in any county without free press - or full equality.
These are considered the norm and a basic right within the majority of Europe. The European Tour is holding events in countries , completely at odds with the fundamental concepts of Europe ( the majority of)

I'm not completely daft - and at the end of the day money talks. But for all the talk of golf being a game of honor and ethical and of some higher level of altruism - we need to all let that go. It is completely mercenary.

Hopefully when covid is over - we can rebuild the European Tour in Europe - there has to be a place for golfers below the top level to play top level golf in Europe. We have wonderful successful companies in Europe, that golf could align well with their corporate identify. But it probably is difficult for them to align themselves to golf - when our flagship European event is called the Race to Dubai - you couldn't actaully make it up.

Anyway rant over

Paddy unreal stuff - maybe the Ryder Cup thing came too young for him, he should be doing what he should be doing . Playing golf. He will be an unreal senior.

As for the other Irish lads - it is a serious kick in the arse , to see an auld fella leading the leading Irish flag.

Pdoghue · 31-01-2021 3:54pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

The image of the European tour is all wrong.

Agreed. It's all mercenary. When you look at the monster that the Ryder Cup has become, all the hullabaloo with the captaincy and who'll be picked, the hyperbole of the European players during the event about doing it for European golf, blah blah, etc. you'd have to wonder. Most of the big money qualifying events on the European Tour are in the Middle East or Asia. The old motivating thing that Seve harped on about was that he felt European players were slighted when they played in the US - that's all gone now. These guys all live in the US, and barely play any tournaments in Europe itself.

billy3sheets · 31-01-2021 4:41pm

Yeah @fix we should hold all European tour competitions in Europe, a continent where most of the larger countries have a shocking history of colonialism and exploitation of smaller nations. Where forests have been levelled, bogs drained and rivers poisoned all in the name of progress.

Pdoghue · 01-02-2021 10:26am

billy3sheets wrote: »

Yeah @fix we should hold all European tour competitions in Europe, a continent where most of the larger countries have a shocking history of colonialism and exploitation of smaller nations. Where forests have been levelled, bogs drained and rivers poisoned all in the name of progress.

Yeah, imagine that, European Tour events in Europe, Asian Tour events in Asia, and USPGA events in the US!

ClutchIt · 02-02-2021 2:32am

Pdoghue wrote: »

Yeah, imagine that, European Tour events in Europe, Asian Tour events in Asia, and USPGA events in the US!

You did mention it in your post as well, but you can't really have a tournament in Europe in winter. They must play somewhere hotter. Fully agree I'd prefer to see them play in a more democratic country but the tour is a private company. Of course they go where the most money is. That's the way of professional sport, nothing new or surprising in it.

Pdoghue · 02-02-2021 11:35am

ClutchIt wrote: »

You did mention it in your post as well, but you can't really have a tournament in Europe in winter. They must play somewhere hotter. Fully agree I'd prefer to see them play in a more democratic country but the tour is a private company. Of course they go where the most money is. That's the way of professional sport, nothing new or surprising in it.

Agree and disagree!

You say that you can't really have a tournament in Europe in winter. What about Spain (incl the Canaries and Balearics), Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus? There could be tournaments held in warm weather in the Canaries, mainland Spain, and others of the locations I mentioned above from January. In fact, if you look at the schedule, the first time the European Tour comes back to European territory is the 2 week swing in the Canaries in mid-April! I remember the old days when they'd be playing in the UK in April, think it was the Benson & Hedges at St. Melion, and then onto the PGA at Wentworth in May.

Of course, it seems the tour can't find enough sponsors to put up big cash for tournaments in Europe, or the tour finds sponsors to put on big money tournaments in Asia, etc., so you're right in that they go where the most money is.

FixdePitchmark · 03-02-2021 5:57pm

https://irishgolfer.ie/latest-golf-news/2021/02/03/strong-saudi-field-is-not-something-to-celebrate/

Whatever you think about all the issues around events held in certain countries. Any nation that murders a dissident / journalist should be completely boycotted by the journalists - never mind anything else.

billy3sheets · 04-02-2021 7:54pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

https://irishgolfer.ie/latest-golf-news/2021/02/03/strong-saudi-field-is-not-something-to-celebrate/

Whatever you think about all the issues around events held in certain countries. Any nation that murders a dissident / journalist should be completely boycotted by the journalists - never mind anything else.

This is nothing compared to what the Chinese are doing to the Uighurs https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55794071

The Volvo China Open is a men's golf tournament that has been held annually in China since 1995. The event is organised by the China Golf Association and has been co-sanctioned by the European Tour since 2003.

Bill Ponderosa · 04-02-2021 10:13pm

Saudi Prince must have handed out some bucks to get the Americans over.

Mushy · 04-02-2021 10:32pm

Bill Ponderosa wrote: »

Saudi Prince must have handed out some bucks to get the Americans over.

Wonder how long till its a Rolex event

04-02-2021 10:46pm

Mushy wrote: »

Wonder how long till its a Rolex event

At a guess I wouldn't think Rolex want to be associated with it or it already would be a Rolex event.

Deeper Blue · 04-02-2021 11:26pm

I see Paul Casey is playing this week, didn't he say last year that he wasn't going to play in it due to Saudi's human rights record? I wonder what could've possibly changed his mind?

Mushy · 05-02-2021 7:42am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

At a guess I wouldn't think Rolex want to be associated with it or it already would be a Rolex event.

Yeah maybe so, but I doubt even the European Tour would try have a new event listed as Rolex event immediately. Do think it'll happen in time

Bill Ponderosa · 05-02-2021 8:44am

El Sueño wrote: »

I see Paul Casey is playing this week, didn't he say last year that he wasn't going to play in it due to Saudi's human rights record? I wonder what could've possibly changed his mind?

Morals go out the window when you're getting 1 million just for showing up!!

Potential Underachiever · 05-02-2021 1:45pm

Bill Ponderosa wrote: »

Morals go out the window when you're getting 1 million just for showing up!!

What's a million dollars to someone like Casey though? Not too much I would have thought, It's a bad look to come out with statements about it one year then the following year it appears like his moral compass has been bought.

FixdePitchmark · 05-02-2021 3:21pm

Potential Underachiever wrote: »

What's a million dollars to someone like Casey though? Not too much I would have thought, It's a bad look to come out with statements about it one year then the following year it appears like his moral compass has been bought.

In fairness a million would get most out of bed, all expenses paid etc.

At least he did something last year - I'd love Rory to say something - because he tends to actually be a little controversial (and interesting he isn't there, because I'd say a big offer was made)

Thing that does my head in - is how they have such strong views on certain things - then when it comes to killing journalists , women's rights, human rights - they are all using words like - "things are changing" - " spread of the game".

I'd be fairly disappointed with the Irish lads over there too. You'd expect daft stuff from the like of Poulter (and his daft flashiness) etc. But the Irish lads offer fairly strong opinions on right and wrong on certain other things. Likes of Paddy in particular. Offers an opinion on anything. Golfers in general - seem a bit brainless to be honest. Harsh - lacking moral conviction is a better way to put it (a Dunphyisim).

At the end of the day - none of them should be in this position. It is from the top. The tour have gone a route that is unacceptable. And the game is not spreading with this rubbish, they have damaged the tour in Europe. This is very damaging for the image of the game - and the CEO has a very serious responsibility in that regard , particularly when the game is trying to improve image.

Yes they are following quick money - but at what long term impact for the tour (IN EUROPE).

I'd rather a European Tour that actually stands for something as opposed to this head in the desert stuff.

A GAA friend of mine - said "what would you expect from golf". "It has zero morals and they are all Trump supporters in US." "Their track record in human rights is terrible" "golf is just about segregation world wide"

Roger_007 · 05-02-2021 4:21pm

Potential Underachiever wrote: »

What's a million dollars to someone like Casey though? Not too much I would have thought, It's a bad look to come out with statements about it one year then the following year it appears like his moral compass has been bought.

The appearance money for the big names from he PGA tour must be eyewatering. The official prize fund for the Saudi tournament is only $3.5m. The prize fund for the PGA Phoenix tournament this week is $7.3m.

Miley Byrne · 05-02-2021 4:30pm

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I'd be fairly disappointed with the Irish lads over there too. You'd expect daft stuff from the like of Poulter (and his daft flashiness) etc. But the Irish lads offer fairly strong opinions on right and wrong on certain other things. Likes of Paddy in particular. Offers an opinion on anything. Golfers in general - seem a bit brainless to be honest. Harsh - lacking moral conviction is a better way to put it (a Dunphyisim).

It's a bit unfair to mention Paddy in this context when he is in Phoenix this week

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