Phil Mickelson Rumour

[villa]

Playing full time on the European Tour in 2009?

Not sure if this has been mentioned before but it's certainly the first time I've heard it.

Sam Torrance said in the earlier coverage today that there's a rumour that Phil will be playing on the European Tour next year. I know he currently plays a few events (notably in Asia at the start of the year and the Scottish Open last week) but will he become a full time member?

I've heard him say several times that he likes to play around the world. Anyone know anymore about this?

[SJFP]

He will certainly not be playing on the European Tour full time, i believe. They did indeed mention him playing on the European Tour, but i think it's got more to do with stuff like the Scottish Open, the tournaments in Dubai, etc.

I believe Tiger only plays them because he is "invited" even though he doesn't have a European Tour card.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the arabs would be asking more top PGA Tour players to come over and play their tournaments.

[villa]

He will certainly not be playing on the European Tour full time, i believe. They did indeed mention him playing on the European Tour, but i think it's got more to do with stuff like the Scottish Open, the tournaments in Dubai, etc.

I believe Tiger only plays them because he is "invited" even though he doesn't have a European Tour card.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the arabs would be asking more top PGA Tour players to come over and play their tournaments.

That's the thing though mate, he already plays certain events on the European Tour (he won the Shanghai Open at the start of the season) so why would they mention it?

 

I'd have thought his family would be pretty settled in California but I could be wrong.

[JeffreySpicoli]

It's certainly possible that Mickelson could focus on the European Tour at the expense of the US PGA Tour, but it's not very probable.

[MNRehab]

I can't see a scenario where that is possible. Just look at the money difference between the two tours. Plus if he really did, I (not that he cares) would loose all respect for him because that would mean he doesn't want to play the best players in the world.

 

I don't see it happening at all money and competition reasons.

[Johnny]

ahhh.. simply NO

[MMB1500]

I thought the the talk was of Mickleson taking his European Tour card i.e. playing in probably the minimum number of events to qualify as part of the tour. I don't know his exact schedule but this is probably only 3-4 more European tournaments that he plays already.

 

This is quite different to focussing on the European Tour full time.

[villa]

I can't see a scenario where that is possible. Just look at the money difference between the two tours. Plus if he really did, I (not that he cares) would loose all respect for him because that would mean he doesn't want to play the best players in the world.

 

I don't see it happening at all money and competition reasons.

The gap between the U.S and the European Tours is closing every year mate (talent and money).

 

The European Tour covers 4 continents and something like 25 countries all with varying course and weather conditions. If anything, the European Tour is the tougher test of golf.

 

I think Sam's exact words were "there's a rumour that Phil will be playing on the European Tour next year". As SJFP says, that may just mean that he's playing selective events next year but seeing as he already does that, I found the rumour quite interesting.

[SJFP]

I can't see a scenario where that is possible. Just look at the money difference between the two tours. Plus if he really did, I (not that he cares) would loose all respect for him because that would mean he doesn't want to play the best players in the world.

That's a serious statement there ... i'm not gonna start it, but this could turn out nasty.

 

That's the thing though mate, he already plays certain events on the European Tour (he won the Shanghai Open at the start of the season) so why would they mention it?

 

I'd have thought his family would be pretty settled in California but I could be wrong.

I think family is gonna be one of the main reason why he won't do it. It is possible of course, Tiger playing on the Challenge Tour is also possible :man_in_love:

 

The money isn't that big of a problem though. Justin Rose made about 3.000.000€ last year on the European Tour, almost 5 million dollar. And players like Phil and Tiger receive huge amounts of starter fees to play in Euro events, most of the time they earn more that way than by winning the tournament.

[villa]

I thought the the talk was of Mickleson taking his European Tour card i.e. playing in probably the minimum number of events to qualify as part of the tour. I don't know his exact schedule but this is probably only 3-4 more European tournaments that he plays already.

 

This is quite different to focussing on the European Tour full time.

I think this may be more like it (if it's true).

 

I'm not sure what the minimum requirement is (I believe it's something like 15-20 events). If that's the case, he might just be able to play on both tours.

[SJFP]

Maybe it's his cunning plan to get rid of Pelz. :man_in_love:

[villa]

Maybe it's his cunning plan to get rid of Pelz. :man_in_love:

Very true but remember that Pelz has just opened a short game academy in England!

 

It'd be worth a trip if you fancy using a driver (or an 11* 3 wood), 12 wedges and a putter

[krustyburger]

He doesn't get $47 million in endorsements to play full time in another country. Just not going to happen.

[villa]

He doesn't get $47 million in endorsements to play full time in another country. Just not going to happen.

If anything, you could argue that Callaway, KPMG and Barclays (which is an English Bank) may well encourage Phil not to just play in North America.

[SJFP]

KMPG is European also, with Swiss origins. And with starters fees like the ones Tiger gets (2 million $ in dubai for instance) he might fair quite well over here. Europe isn't another country by the way, and the European Tour (as mentioned earlier) spreads across 4 continents.

 

Nevertheless, i think the chances of this all happening are very slim, but you never know.

[krustyburger]

He doesn't get $47 million in endorsements to play full time in another country. Just not going to happen.

If anything, you could argue that Callaway, KPMG and Barclays (which is an English Bank) may well encourage Phil not to just play in North America.

 

And they hired him to be their American presence. It just doesn't make any sense for him to play in Europe full time, unless they've given up on the American market.

 

And yes, I know Europe isn't a country.

[Mizgoodie]

i wish they would have 10 to 15 worldwide events that get you into the a worldwide playoff sort of like the fedex cup,,,,,, not the worldgolf championships those are a joke

[DavidR]

I imagine Phil may want to play more events on the Euro tour but there is no way he would play it full time. He only plays limited events as is due to family obligations, why would he travel twice as far for each event?

 

Not to mention that the courses that are played in the Euro tour don't really fit his game. This would be a huge boost to the Euro tour if it happened though. Even if he didn't win, this would increase viewers.

[MMB1500]

He doesn't get $47 million in endorsements to play full time in another country. Just not going to happen.

If anything, you could argue that Callaway, KPMG and Barclays (which is an English Bank) may well encourage Phil not to just play in North America.

 

And they hired him to be their American presence. It just doesn't make any sense for him to play in Europe full time, unless they've given up on the American market.

 

And yes, I know Europe isn't a country.

 

As above, I think he'll be merely playing the minimum number of tournaments to get his European Tour card. That's very different to playing full time in Europe, which doubt he'd ever do.

[Noopy]

With the weak dollar the European Tour is looking better.

[broth518]

He has to play in 11 events so outside the majors (4) WGC (3) he only needs to play in 4 more...

 

With the HSBC & Barclays he only has to play in two more to be "full time" on the Euro Tour

[SJFP]

Not to mention that the courses that are played in the Euro tour don't really fit his game. This would be a huge boost to the Euro tour if it happened though. Even if he didn't win, this would increase viewers.

 

Most courses on the European Tour are parkland courses. So what exactly wouldn't suit his game about that? I know links golf isn't his favorite, but except for the Dunhill Championship and The Open, no other links courses are played afaik.

[dlygrisse]

He has to play in 11 events so outside the majors (4) WGC (3) he only needs to play in 4 more...

 

With the HSBC & Barclays he only has to play in two more to be "full time" on the Euro Tour

 

 

This is exactly what I was going ot say......Tiger could essentially do the same thing pretty easy, I wonder how many times Tiger would have won the money title on both tours in this scenario? Probably 5 or 6 times now, anyone know?

[SJFP]

Possibly yes. I haven't researched this, but i think he ended in the top 5 or 10 on the European money list a few years ago.

[villa]

Possibly yes. I haven't researched this, but i think he ended in the top 5 or 10 on the European money list a few years ago.

I could be wrong but I think Tiger was technically the leading money winner on the European Tour last year (when you include Majors etc). Justin Rose won the order of merit because Tiger didn't play enough events to qualify as a 'full member' of the tour.

[vwgolfer]

Uh NO. Phil can barely make the cut at THE OPEN each year. Although maybe PELZ is relocating to France.

[KTgolf1]

I'm guessing he may be interested in playing a few more Euro events so that he may qualify for the 'Race To Dubai' season-ending event.

[SJFP]

Won't this interfere with the FedEx Cup playoffs?

The Race To Dubai starts in november 2008, but i don't know when the final event at Jumeirah is played.

[MNRehab]

I can't see a scenario where that is possible. Just look at the money difference between the two tours. Plus if he really did, I (not that he cares) would loose all respect for him because that would mean he doesn't want to play the best players in the world.

 

I don't see it happening at all money and competition reasons.

The gap between the U.S and the European Tours is closing every year mate (talent and money).

 

The European Tour covers 4 continents and something like 25 countries all with varying course and weather conditions. If anything, the European Tour is the tougher test of golf.

 

I think Sam's exact words were "there's a rumour that Phil will be playing on the European Tour next year". As SJFP says, that may just mean that he's playing selective events next year but seeing as he already does that, I found the rumour quite interesting.

 

 

So for clarification are you saying if you played a top 125 player match of the European Tour and PGA Tour (guys that have cards in Europe can play from there, Justin Rose etc) that they European Tour would win?

 

Or is a tougher test because they have to take their private jets longer distances? :man_in_love:

 

I don't want to start a heated discussion, but I bet if you take out the top 20 players in the world golf rankings on each side of the pond, the PGA tour would really handle the Euro Tour. I guess my point is it maybe close at the top, but I believe the depth of field here is far superior.

[AirTime23]

Anybody ever look at the world rankings anymore?

There's only 4 americans in the Top10 right now. Any further questions?

 

But back on topic...I'm sure what Phil might plan is to compete in the required 11 events to get the card to compete in the Race-to-Dubai final for $10m in early November of 2009 (takes the place of the Volvo Masters at Valderrama). As the majors and WGC events do count toward the eleven he basically has to enter 4 regular tournaments.

He regularly plays the Barclay's in Scotland and teed up in China last year. So, two more and he's got it.