1801yearpre

2018 SEASON PREVIEW

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Tiger Woods, reportedly pain-free for the first time in almost a decade, finishes tied for 9th on eight-under-par at the Hero World Challenge

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2018 - It’s a

Dog's Life Whilst the PGA TOUR and the European Tour commence their seasons in October and December respectively and not necessarily in their native territory, the Asian Tour and the LPGA schedules follow the calendar year, both starting on home soil. But, as Mike Wilson writes, irrespective of who starts where, and when it will be interesting to see who barks and who bites during the Chinese Year of the Dog.

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t’s never good to commence the year with an obituary, but when it comes to professional golf, where tournaments come and go, blending one into the other and in a seemingly perpetual state of churn. The apparent passing-away of an entire circuit is worthy of note, no, not as many might have predicted, a Ladies European Tour (LET) still - at the latest time of asking - in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). But, unlike OneAsia it would seem, still alive and kicking.

Of course, such is the unpredictability of the political and commercial aspects of professional golf, that news of OneAsia’s demise might be, like the reported death of Mark Twain in 1897 - ‘Greatly exaggerated’. But, for an ill-conceived concept that managed no more than 10 events in a single season, in 2010, 2011 and 2012, reducing to seven in 2015, four in 2016 and three last term, it would not be unreasonable to surmise that, unlike Monty Python’s famous dead parrot, OneAsia is not simply sleeping.

OneAsia had muscled-in on the 2009 Volvo China Open on the very eve of the event, the ‘Resident’ circuit. The Asian Tour having fallen foul of the game of musical chairs practiced back then by the China Golf Association (CGA). A brave new world of pan-Australasian golf beckoned, seemingly subscribed to by the Australasian, Japanese and Korean PGA Tours, plus the once-mighty CGA

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with the European Tour dipping in and out when commercially expedient, the Asian Tour left highand-dry to plough its lonely furrow.

Except for that OneAsia, a limited company relying 100% on its commercial acumen lacked two key ingredients. Firstly, that commercial acumen, secondly, the control over and support of the players, the typical Membership-based business model adopted by the PGA TOUR downwards seemingly the only show in town.

Few will mourn the passing - if indeed it has breathed its last - of OneAsia, which begged, borrowed and even on occasions stole events from other circuits around the region, creating little that was new, almost taking the Asian Tour down with it, arguably setting the members-owned regional circuit back as much as a decade.

The OneAsia website remains online. Its last news item dated 4th June 2017, reporting Chang Yikeun winning the Kolon Korea Open, its previous apparent vestiges of tournament golf. And, if indeed the last rights have been read to an organisation that never engaged with the media, proved unable to capture the imagination of the financial backers its very future relied upon and, crucially, failed to improve a lot of Asia’s increasingly frustrated players.

Meanwhile, if OneAsia is indeed in the throes of rigour mortis, then the Ladies European Tour, which

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AFP/Paul Lakatos/OneAsia

Zhang XinJun of China tees off during the second round of the 2015 Thailand Open golf championship

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is believed to have defied death by less than 24 hours last year, remains on life support.

It made for uncomfortable listening at the 2017 Ricoh Women’s British Open to hear 2019 Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew break ranks and tell it as it concerned the financial health of her ‘Home’ circuit.

‘Obviously, I don't really play much in Europe, but you know, they have obviously been having their issues with the Commissioner,” said the normally mild-mannered Scotswoman, adding, “I think we need to try and get that sorted and see what direction they are going to go in there.”

36 hours later, the said Commissioner Ivan Khodabakhsh was emptying his desk back at Tour HQ in leafy Buckinghamshire, north of London. His interim successor, LET Chairman Mark Lichtenhein, former European Tour Head of TV, Digital & IT found the LET coffers as empty as his predecessor’s desk.

Official accounts filed with the UK regulator Companies House revealed how LET had lost £610,000 on a turnover of just £12.2m in 2015, almost double the deficit incurred the previous year on £10.9m turnover. Its reserves ravaged by plugging the holes here, there and everywhere it seemed.

And, with 2016 accounts already threemonths overdue and the resignation of the Tour’s auditors, LET could only muster 15 tournaments in 2017, of which just five were in Europe, and two of those LPGA ‘Majors’.

Financial support from the golf, ‘Family’ enabled LET to limp towards a season-ending not-so-grand finale in Dubai. But, with only eight players earning over US$100,000 last term, headed by England’s Georgia Hall, the only player earning over US$200,000 from the beleaguered circuit with over 40% of her 2017 winnings (US$437,000) coming from a single event, a tie for third place in the Ricoh British Open. It’s difficult to argue with Catriona Matthew’s blunt analysis of players’ prospects away from the LPGA Tour.

“If you were an emerging player playing in Europe, you just about need to have a parttime job, I’d say, to keep you going,” was Ms Matthew’s judgment, hardly a resounding vote of confidence as she prepares to lead Europe into Solheim Cup action in Scotland next year.

Rumours, some less outlandish than others as to a financial lifeboat to keep LET afloat, having included an infusion of working capital from the R&A, an underwriting agreement with the LPGA. There are even suggestions of

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Meanwhile, softly-softly, as is its wont, the R&A has been and will continue to support the Ladies European Tour - to have the circuit fail within shouting distance of St. Andrews and embracing much of the R&A’s worldwide footprint would be a step too far. Especially since the Ladies Golf Union (LGU) was recently brought under the R&A umbrella, participation in women’s golf one of the few growth areas presently in the royal and ancient game.

Halfway through a 2018 season preview, yet not a single blow struck from the first tee. With an apparent resurgence from the Renaissance Man, Tiger Woods, a Ryder Cup to look forward to in Paris, the so-called, ‘City of Love,’ and an Asian Tour heading into a new year with unprecedented and just-about-justified confidence, there is much to look forward to inside the ropes as out of them.

Following his highly-creditable - and credible - return to tournament golf at the Hero World Challenge he hosts on behalf of his charitable foundation, Tiger Woods, reportedly pain-free for the first time in almost a decade undoubtedly hushed - if not entirely silenced - his many critics, with a T9 finish on eight-under-par. Only a clumsy, careless three-over-par 75 third round taking the shine off what was, albeit in an end-

2019 Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew breaks ranks and voices out her concern towards the financial health of European Ladies Tour

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a take-over by the European Tour have been for three-to-four years and it will take more, much more than a short-term change of CEO to guide the underperforming circuit through to the end of this year. Let alone fielding a team to attempt to claim back the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in 2019.

Quite why an admittedly eccentric CEO such as Keith Pelley at the European Tour might seek to lumber himself and the company he leads with a beleaguered ladies circuit when he has two - the European Seniors and Challenge Tours – of his own is unclear. And, one suspects that if such a proposal were ever to reach his Players Committee, it would receive short shrift from European Tour players recently described by one insider as, “Restive.”

Much more credible are suggestions that the LPGA could, in effect, swallow-up its smaller European cousin, even though in what is already an authentically global tour with 16 of its 33 events in 2017 staged outside the USA. The LPGA already had all-but-unfettered access to the three jewels in the LET crown, the Evian Championship and the Ricoh Women’s British Open - both ‘Majors,’ and the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA.

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Masters champion Sergio García has an epic playoff victory over England’s Justin Rose at Augusta National in 2017

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of-term 18-man field quasi-competitive event, the first signs of light at the end of his long, dark, personal and professional tunnel.

As the saying goes, ‘You can only beat what’s put in front of you.’ Woods finished behind Europe, Asia and some might say, America’s finest - Rickie Fowler’s course record final round 61 put victory out of reach, Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood, 2017 Open Championship winner Jordan Spieth and Asian number-one Hideki Matsuyama, alongside reigning Olympic champion Justin Rose amongst the few ahead of their host, world number 1 and 2, Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas behind a seemingly-resurgent Woods.

But, as the old adage goes, ‘One swallow doesn’t make a summer.”

Those of us who witnessed Woods hobbling out of a Dubai bunker almost a year ago, and the millions more who saw those alarming DUI ‘mugshots’ from last May must hope, if only as a fellow human being as opposed to a golf fan, that Tiger has turned the corner, taken charge of and responsibility for himself and his actions and can mount the kind of comeback he and his medical team, Jay Monaghan and his PGA TOUR executive group and a global golfing press searching desperately for a compelling

narrative could, just a few months ago, only dream of.

Woods is back in the world’s Top-1,000 and rising, and, with a sensible schedule built around the ‘Majors,’ and the WGC events, eschewing the millions of dollars dangled in front of him to appear here, there and everywhere. Providing he remains physically and emotionally fit and well, having just turned 42, he could conceivably win a 15th ‘Major,’ and/ or a 19th WGC title, 10 and five years respectively on from his last.

Meanwhile, if Tiger’s progress will inevitably be the theme running through world golf in general and the PGA TOUR in particular, the battle between golf’s top brass for the big titles always makes for compelling viewing, whether on course, on TV and, increasingly-so, online.

Having got the ‘Major’ monkey off his back at the 74th time of asking, with an epic playoff victory over England’s Justin Rose at Augusta national, Masters champion Sergio García will reveal the depth of his ambition and hunger, starting with a quest for a second, back-to-back Green Jacket since Tiger Woods successfully defended his crown in 2002. Whilst Justin Rose, who took some criticism for the, ‘Old pal’s act,’ he performed with his friend and Ryder Cup teammate on the final day at Augusta will

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say, most challenging - of links on the roster; Carnoustie, or, ‘Carnasty’ as many of its victims like to call it is. At the best of times, a truly authentic and tough test of golf, but when the wind blows - as it often does in Carnoustie Country - it is arguably the ultimate challenge the ‘Majors,’ has to offer.

Few will forget the 13th hole on the final day of last year’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale - no soft touch, especially as the wind picked-up. Jordan Spieth taking 20 minutes to place his penalty drop on the driving range, but, as many a player will testify, Carnoustie would not be nearly so forgiving.

Justin Thomas finally came good when winning the USPGA Championship at an entirely re-modelled Quail Hollow. And such is the consistency of the man who has cemented his place in golf’s ‘Holy Trinity,’ the top-three of the OWGR, few would discount his potential for a successful defence at Bellerive CC, St. Louis, Missouri and what would be the first back-to-back Wanamaker Trophy wins since Tiger Woods in 2006 and 2007.

Perhaps the most understated and underrated performance on the PGA TOUR last year was Korean Si Hoo Kim’s victory in the Players Championship, the so-called, ‘Fifth Major’.

Justin Thomas finally came good when winning the USPGA Championship and cemented his place in the top-three of the world ranking

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PGA of America

be looking to turn the tables a clinch a Green Jacket of his own.

Meanwhile, the 2018 U.S. Open, which heads north to Shinnecock Hills GC in New York State. Brooks Koepka the first of three allAmerican ‘Major’ title defences in succession, but it will be a fourth Stars and Stripes player who may well be attracting the most significant attention that week.

One Eldrick Tont ‘Tiger’ Woods enjoys automatic eligibility following his legendary victory - to all intents and purposes on one leg - 10-years-ago, edging-out Rocco Mediate over an 18-hole Monday playoff. Tiger’s final U.S. Open exemption, unless he can weave his magic and defy the odds in what will be his 20th appearance in his ‘Home,’ Open Championship.

Three wins may feel - to Woods and his army of foot-soldiers - like a poor return, considering he was runner-up twice and only out of the top-20 once between and 1997 and 2010. And one can only speculate as to the brouhaha there would be the 42-year-old to be in contention come late afternoon Eastern Time on Sunday 17th June this year.

The British Open - or what the R&A like to call, ‘The Open Championship,’ will be staged at its most northerly - and many would

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Mike Whan and the LPGA suffered its worst year in a decade - a series of high-profile rules fiascos and misjudgments at the Majors

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Whilst such is the predictability of the WGC events that it would be a turn-up-for-the-book were Dustin Johnson not to add to his full set of WGC titles, having on in both Mexico and the Match Play last term.

Meanwhile, the European Tour has never fully recovered from blue-chip brands such as Volvo, Barclays, Ballantines and BMW either entirely - or partially - withdrawing from the circuit, the 2018 International Schedule looking decidedly threadbare compared to the halcyon era.

Whilst saluting Keith Pelley’s thirst for innovation and creativity, the inaugural Golf Sixes last term was a qualified success and does not have a venue so far. this year, whilst the Belgian Knockout and the Shot Clock Masters carry a sense of novelty and a lack of authenticity about them.

Furthermore, the European Tour has failed to persuade any of its existing sponsors – or indeed new partners - to buy into the recently elevated exclusivity of the Rolex Series, presuming that both Omega-sponsored events in Dubai and Switzerland would be off-limits. Whilst events such as the Philippines Golf Championship, the NBO Oman Golf Classic and the Czech Masters are puffed-up Challenge Tour events,

makeweights at best.

Indeed, 20 of the European Tour’s 51 events announced to date fail to pass the US$2m prize money threshold. One of those, the much-publicised European Championships at Gleneagles which will see men and women play in the same tournament for the first time takes place slap-bang in the middle of the WGC Bridgestone and USPGA Championship, meaning that the men’s side will be deprived of its top talent.

Of the leading professional tours going into 2018 with a spring in their step, it is the Asian Tour, for so long the bridesmaid and often jilted at the later when promising to be the bride that has that feel-good-factor about it.

With almost US$8m on offer between the EurAsia Cup and the Maybank Championship in the first two months of the year, and the CIMB Classic confirmed again for October 2018, Malaysia is enjoying a prominent position on the world stage. Especially, at long last with a player, 2017 Order of Merit winner Galvin Green to match the country’s events portfolio, its investment and its undoubted ambition.

If CEO Josh Burack can leverage the Asian Tour’s new-found status, back at the heart of golf in China, with a springtime and autumnal

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been published, giving rise to fears that all may not be well at the top of the women’s game.

However, if season 2018 played mostly in the Year of the Dog may, on the surface be resembling something of a canine’s dinner, there is always the hair of the dog. The Ryder Cup, to be staged near Paris for the first time, the biennial hostilities between the best of Europe and the finest the USA can assemble is an event whose bite is invariably stronger than its bark.

Two cranky old-stagers, Dane Thomas Bjørn and American Jim Furyk leading their 12 good men and true into battle, following the USA’s 17-11 humiliation of Darren Clarke’s Team Europe. Bjørn, whose trial run as captain is at the EurAsia Cup in KL this month will be eager - indeed desperate - to extending Europe’s record to seven straight home wins and that is one not to be missed.

Whether it is a case of cabin fever, a symptom perhaps arising out of being force-fed too much golf that is good for the soul - and the game is unclear. But, just when one thinks about the end of the line, up pops a Ryder Cup, backedup by the four ‘Majors,’ and a strong men’s and women’s schedule in Asia and life, it seems may not be that bad after all, like teaching an old dog to do new tricks.

Dane Thomas Bjørn is leading his 12 good men and true into battle, following the USA’s 1711 humiliation of Darren Clarke’s Team Europe

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event in the PRC in the US$1-2m bracket, then a vital step towards fulfilling its undoubted potential will have been taken.

Under the stewardship of Commissioner Mike Whan, the LPGA had plotted its way around the golfing world with great care, avoiding the pitfalls of many who had preceded what is, in all-but-name, a global ladies professional circuit, until last year.

But, as if a fox had found its way into the LPGA corral around the Year of the Rooster, Whan and his female phenomenon suffered its worst year in a decade - a series of highprofile rules fiascos, misjudgments at the ANA Inspiration and the Evian Championship cost high profile players Lexi Thompson and Korean Ryu So-yeon respectively not only a ‘Major’ title but also a shed-load of cash cost the LPGA even more, its credibility and its hard-earned reputation.

Four events lost. The Alisports LPGA China cancelled less than a month before teeoff, as well as ex-LPGA star Lorena Ochoa’s eponymous event in her native Mexico, the Manulife in Canada and the MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open. Whan insists there will be three new events in 2018, yet, at the time of going to press, no LPGA 2018 schedule has

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