Nicolas Colsaerts Explains Why He Left the PGA Tour

[RichieHunt]

I'm sure, but my point is many people I meet seem to think the life long ambition of everyone not living in America is to come live here.

 

While I agree with you stance on things, the reality is that pretty much every European star that can legitimately play over here ends up doing so. And they can still be a full-time European Tour player.

 

The purses are way bigger in the US than they are on the European Tour and there is a giant discrepancy in the purse sizes for the top Euro Tour players versus the non-top Euro Tour players. Essentially, if you're one of the top Euro tour players, you can play like crap and be almost guaranteed to keep you spot on the Euro Tour because you're playing in events where the purse size is roughly $3-4 million more than purse sizes in the 'normal' events.

 

It's one of things I see a lot in sports, particularly in pro golf...does the athlete really love the game or are they more into being successful at the game and the rewards that being successful brings them.

 

I suspect Colsaerts is the latter. It wasn't always easy going for Westwood, Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell and others and they could have stuck with just the Euro Tour and keep their top spot there. Instead, they truly loved golf and competing and had the faith in themselves that they could play here. I think if Colsaets had success here he would be over here and you would never hear a peep about it.

 

 

 

 

RH

[iBanesto]

Colsaerts had a solid 2016 ET season, it is great to see him playing decent golf again.

[PowderedToastMan]

It's a definite culture shock for sure, and not everyone can handle it. It's unfair to judge those that don't adjust; we are all built different and have different motivations.

 

I wish him all the best.

 

 

[Psyber]

I'm sure, but my point is many people I meet seem to think the life long ambition of everyone not living in America is to come live here.

 

While I agree with you stance on things, the reality is that pretty much every European star that can legitimately play over here ends up doing so. And they can still be a full-time European Tour player.

 

The purses are way bigger in the US than they are on the European Tour and there is a giant discrepancy in the purse sizes for the top Euro Tour players versus the non-top Euro Tour players. Essentially, if you're one of the top Euro tour players, you can play like crap and be almost guaranteed to keep you spot on the Euro Tour because you're playing in events where the purse size is roughly $3-4 million more than purse sizes in the 'normal' events.

 

It's one of things I see a lot in sports, particularly in pro golf...does the athlete really love the game or are they more into being successful at the game and the rewards that being successful brings them.

 

I suspect Colsaerts is the latter. It wasn't always easy going for Westwood, Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Graeme McDowell and others and they could have stuck with just the Euro Tour and keep their top spot there. Instead, they truly loved golf and competing and had the faith in themselves that they could play here. I think if Colsaets had success here he would be over here and you would never hear a peep about it.

 

 

 

 

RH

 

I agree. I think he would've stayed had he been more successful but since it was not working out there was no reason to keep grinding somewhere that you don't enjoy living and is contributing to your lack of success.

[bogeyk]

He just didn't like the lifestyle and attention of the PGA Tour. Being a Red Sox fan I've seen players sign for the money and can't handle the fan and media(the media are pretty much lapdogs now compared to even 5 to10 years ago) scrutiny once the season rolls around. This hinders their performance big time, with many of the players being traded away with the team getting pennies on the dollar or paying a portion of the contract. I can easily see how Colsartes' game would suffer from not being happy in his environment. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with him not having enough "game" to compete on the Tour.

[iBanesto]

Didn't Bubba have a "culture shock" when he played in France a few years ago?

 

Happens to everyone but some deal with it better and more gracefully than others :lol:

[CStephenson17]

I get it. For some guys it's not about the money or fame, they just love playing golf and traveling. Peter Uihlein is a prime example. He has played Euro since turning pro. It's not that he's not good enough to come play on the Tour, he just likes the Euro tour! Nothing wrong with that!

 

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/rex-hoggard/uihlein-no-extra-motivation-play-us-tour/