What will the European Tour look like in five years?

In five years, I see the European Tour being on a level comparable to that of the PGA Tour.  If you go back to the stretch from 2008-2011, the European Tour had finally been able to catch up to its American counterparts.  The last two years, however, have been a struggle due to the economic situation in Europe and the number of European players choosing to split time between the European and PGA Tours.  Definitely the loss of European events has contributed to players choosing to spend more time on the US Tour.  There have been encouraging signs in the Eurozone countries in terms of their economies.  Next year, the Tour will be bringing a new event to Denmark and will be returning to the Czech Republic after a two-year absence.  Unfortunately, the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles will not be taking place next season due to the impending Ryder Cup, but will be back on the schedule in 2015.  

The Tour needs to find ways to have more tournaments in the United Kingdom and Ireland.  Only one tournament (outside of The Open Championship) in both England and Ireland is appalling.  More tournaments in France and Germany would be ideal.  Once Spain's economy recovers, the majority of those six events which were lost will hopefully return to the schedule.  Also, Sweden's passion for golf should enable them to gain another event in addition to the Nordea Masters.  

Within five years, there will hopefully be a snowball effect:

improved European economy = more European events = bigger-name players remaining in Europe = better fields = better prize funds = European Tour becomes #1 Tour in the world 

That's the ideal scenario.  Only time will tell if these predictions will come to fruition.  One thing is for certain: the Tour will emerge from these rough 2-3 years stronger and more equipped if, in fact, the same thing were to happen again.  For now, it's all about riding through the storm and seeing what's on the other side.  Greener pastures lie ahead and I, for one, cannot wait.    

After hosting English Senior Open, Rockliffe Hall looking to host main Tour event

Great news emerged earlier last month following the staging of the English Senior Open at Rockliffe Hall in County Durham.  After only about six weeks of preparation, the course provided a great test to the European Senior Tour's best.  According to Paul Fraser of The Northern Echo, Rockliffe Hall’s chairman Warwick Brindle said, '"We are being told that we have everything to be a future venue for the main European Tour."'  Fraser also said, "If the business contacts of Rockliffe Hall’s managing director Nick Holmes and Brindle can secure a notable sponsor for the English Senior Open next August, all eyes will be on repeating the trick to bring the main Tour back to the region.  Laying on a European Tour event would mean a financial package well in excess of £1 million would have to be put together, which is why raising the money to support the second English Senior Open at Rockliffe Hall next August will be crucial going forward."

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/10722126.Tuesday_topic__Rockliffe_Hall_must_seize_the_moment_to_shine/

Why I think six Scots can make the Ryder Cup team

There were four Scottish players competing for Great Britain & Ireland in the Seve Trophy, the most Scotland has ever produced in an edition of the event.  Stephen Gallacher, Paul Lawrie, Marc Warren, and Scott Jamieson took part in the event this time around.  While Lawrie has played in two Ryder Cups (1999 and 2012), neither of the other three Scots mentioned above have played in the biennial Europe vs. United States competition.  Throw in Richie Ramsay, who didn't qualify for the Seve Trophy, and Martin Laird, who is not currently a European Tour member (will become a member in 2014), and there are six Scottish players who will have a legitimate chance to play in their home country in golf's greatest event next year at Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland.

Currently, Laird is Scotland's highest-ranked golfer at 57th in the Official World Golf Rankings.  He is followed by Gallacher at 65th, Lawrie at 74th, Warren at 109th, Jamieson at 110th, and Ramsay at 125th.  The latter five are handily-placed on the Race to Dubai, meaning they should be eligible to compete in at least three of the four no-cut European Tour "Final Series" events, which have prize funds ranging from $7,000,000 to $8,500,000.  The final event is the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai where the top-60 on the Race to Dubai will compete.  It is essential that these Scots, excluding Laird, qualify for that event.  Valuable world ranking points will also be on offer, on top of everything else.

Laird, meanwhile, cannot begin the Ryder Cup qualification process until January, when he becomes a member of the Tour.  Therefore, he will be playing catch-up as he will have missed out on the first four months of qualifying.  With Laird playing the majority of his golf on the US PGA Tour, his best chance to qualify will be through the World Points List.    

The 2014 Ryder Cup qualification process began on August 26, 2013 and runs through August 31, 2014.  The European Ryder Cup rankings are divided into two lists: the European Points List and the World Points List.  All Euros earned by European Tour members during the qualification period will count towards the European Points List, while all Official World Golf Ranking Points earned by European Tour members during the qualification period will count towards the World Points List.  The leading four members on the European Points List will qualify for the team.  The leading five members on the World Points List, not otherwise qualified, will make the team.  Captain Paul McGinley will have three Wild Card picks.      

Getting inside the top-50 in the world rankings by the end of this calendar year is essential for potential Ryder Cup players.  By doing so, you become eligible for all four majors and have a better chance of qualifying for the four World Golf Championships.  In addition, doors to limited-field events, such as the Volvo World Match Play Championship become opened.

I firmly believe that these six Scottish players have the ability to qualify for Gleneagles.  The chances of all six actually qualifying are slim, but it will be a goal at the top of their lists.  There are a little less than 11 months of qualification left, but what a thrilling time it will be.