Scottish golf legend Colin Montgomerie has voiced his disappointment at the DP World Tour’s decision to allow some of Europe’s top golfers to play in other leagues, admitting it leaves him “quite depressed”. With 31 European Tour victories under his belt, including a hat-trick of Volvo PGA Championships, Montgomerie has watched as many of the tour’s leading players have decamped to competitions across the pond and the LIV Golf League.
This exodus has significantly diluted the pool of talent on the European circuit, which now pales in comparison to global rivals. Despite a partnership struck in 2020 between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour bringing substantial sponsorship and investment, Montgomerie is not impressed by the Race to Dubai scheme that grants the top ten players a season with the PGA.
In a candid interview with Golf Magic, Montgomerie lamented: “Yeah, I’m getting quite depressed now, as I speak on behalf of my old tour, the European Tour. Yes, it’s weakened; there’s no denying it. You can paint it up as much as you want. You could paint it rose-tinted, whatever you want to do, but come on. [In] any business [if] you give away your top 10?
“Top 10 in your business every year is going to be weaker, isn’t it? So [it’s] great for the PGA Tour; I can’t believe they accepted it, to be honest, because they’re taking spots away from Americans, but good on them to get them. Unfortunately, Europe, Europe has suffered, and the European Tour will suffer because of it,” reports the Mirror.
Monty highlighted the stark contrast between the current golfing landscape and his prime, stating: “I was competing against Faldo, Langer, Seve, Olazabal, Woosnam, Lyle, you know, these people; now you get one in the top 50 If you’re lucky entering the tournament, and one in the top 75 normally. It’s not the same, and it has weakened,” reports the Express.
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LIV Golf, with its attractive payouts, has managed to draw some of Europe’s top golfers like Garcia, Poulter, Jon Rahm, and Lee Westwood, who team up with stars such as Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka. Meanwhile, the PGA Tour features European heavyweights Tommy Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy going head-to-head with Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, and Tony Finau, leaving the DP World Tour at a competitive disadvantage.
Montgomerie suggested that the DP World Tour could lure big-name players back by capitalizing on Britain’s top links courses, asserting that “the course is a big advert” for attracting talent. He stressed: “What we have, in Britain, we should be showcasing more.”
“We’re fortunate that the Senior Open is heading to Carnoustie, which is fantastic for us. The ladies are at St Andrews, which is brilliant for them this year. You know we’ve got Trump Aberdeen, which is an excellent facility. We need more of that. We need more of the courses. The courses are going to really establish the field.”
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