Adam Scott's turn to play HAB
Leading into the season-opening Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, there’s been more talk about who’s not in the field rather than who is. Which has led to concern and chatter about changing things up or even moving the tournament to a different locale. Look, a few tweaks wouldn’t hurt — like making it so that winners are granted invites for two years instead of just the previous season. But I’m pretty sure moving the event away from Kapalua to a more “convenient” location on the U.S. mainland isn’t going to make a difference in who shows up and who doesn’t.
“I don’t know if it would help it,” said Bill Haas during his presser at Kapalua on Thursday. “How cool is it that you are here? Would you want to go to Houston and play right now, or wherever?”
The answer is “no.” Especially since most of the no-shows are European and traveling long ways is just another week for them.
Just look at the field list — the only American no-shows are Phil Mickelson, who hasn’t played here since 2001 because he doesn’t like the wind and super grainy greens (he’s actually playing in Gary McCord’s event in Scottsdale this week). Then there’s Brandt Snedeker and Dustin Johnson, who are both recovering from injuries so they get a pass. Lucas Glover is here, but questionable after spraining his MCL (knee) while paddle-boarding last week. Meanwhile, Fredrik Jacobson is also on the mend. Justin Rose’s wife had a baby a few days ago. .
Who is here? The more well-known names include Steve Stricker, PGA champion Keegan Bradley, WGC winner Nick Watney, Tour Championship/FEC champ Bill Haas, Gary Woodland, David Toms, Bubba Watson and K.J. Choi. The young 2011 Tour winners, like Scott Stallings, Brendan Steele, Jhonattan Vegas, Chris Kirk and Webb Simpson are surely thrilled to be kicking off their seasons in Maui, where they play some golf in between whale-watching, fishing and cliff-diving and walk away with a guaranteed check — with last-place receiving more than $50,000. Actually, I’d bet all the players feel that way. (Take it from me — how could you NOT love this place and I might be losing money to cover it!)
“I know I would never miss it,” said Haas. “But then again, I’ve won three times in my career and maybe some of those guys have won a lot more than that. For me, this is not a tournament I would want to pass up. Mainly it’s a vacation spot. It’s beautiful here. We have had a lot of fun. I came here for New Year’s and had a little fun prior to this week. I would never miss it…unless I’m injured.”
Me neither.
Here’s why the field this year isn’t perhaps as “strong” as it has been in recent years (not that it has been since Tiger and Phil stopped showing up, anyway): Golf has become a world sport, where there really isn’t much of an off-season. Now, in the winter players are chasing seven-figure appearance fees all over the world. Or they’re European Tour members and their season doesn’t end until the first week of December (at least in 2011). I can’t fault those players for taking a break to spend time with their families and waiting until the events in the Middle East, where they’re also guaranteed a large payday, along with the generous purses. (I mean, if you told me I’d earn seven figures to go cover Abu Dhabi, I’d go and cover the crap out of it.) Contrary to popular belief, golfers actually need a break/off-season, just like the rest of us.
Did anyone really expect Darren Clarke, Martin Kaymer, Charl Schwartzel, Luke Donald and even Rory McIlroy to play this week? Uhh, no, and I can’t blame ‘em. Especially if they’re not PGA Tour members, which Clarke and Kaymer aren’t. In Luke’s case the world No. 1 had an extremely busy year, particularly near the end where he was all over the world playing (he also had to add Disney during his time off to clinch the money title). Plus, his wife had their second child recently.
The only player who caused some raised eyebrows was Adam Scott since he loves coming to Maui to surf and enjoys the event, but he’s playing the part of a dutiful boyfriend and cheering on his tennis star girlfriend Ana Ivanovic in Australia. I really respect that, actually. Too often it’s the woman following around the guy, so it’s nice to see that he’s making sacrifices for her, too. (Plus, have you seen her?? She’s pretty hot.)
It’s unfortunate that the “elite” and three of four major winners aren’t playing this week, but I don’t think it gives rise to make any major shake-ups, like changing venues, or even being upset with them. Look, it’s January. How many people are watching golf? Uh, even diehard golf fans are focused on the NFL. Good news for the tourney is that the ratings should be decent, with Johnny Miller and Nick Faldo agreeing to share the booth, so that’s enough reason to tune in.
I sympathize for the sponsor, who is dishing out $10 million to back the event — Hyundai probably wasn’t thrilled to hear most of the big stars, who would draw a lot more attention to the tournament, decided not to play. Sorry, but unless they start offering seven-figure appearance fees, it’s going to be tough. Which shouldn’t have to be the case. Limited-field event in Hawaii in January with great accommodations and an unmatchable atmosphere — it doesn’t get much better, but the best golf doesn’t revolve just around the PGA Tour anymore.
Good news is there are 28 players in Maui this week, along with a healthy crop of 20-something Americans who sound like they’re lifers for as long as they earn the honor to be here.
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Nice write, who cares the girls are back in town…$50K for last place? Nice that’s top 10 money.. Sad isn’t it.. Hope to meet you at the Sony… Welcome back to the 808! Aloha
I look forward to a point in time when the media and/or fans realize that you cannot make every player play in every tournament. Complaining about it is stupid, and expecting it is even lamer. This isn’t the Masters, so what do you expect? What is the point of this article?
I will tune in- because I like seeing Hawaii and this course and the Miller/Faldo combo sounds intriguing. Rory and Luke and Phil won’t be missed at all, and those are some of my current favorite players.
And I think Phil’s made it very clear why he doesn’t play (family), not “some weird reason.”
If they would just give major winners a lifetime exemption to the event they’d have a much more interesting field.
maxfisher is right on. There are 37 events on the regular schedule, most players hit somewhere from 20-25, including the playoffs. All of them are great events in one way shape or form, either based on history, course, setting, ect. Lets enjoy it, and not focus on the few missing guys. If you want them all there every week, cancel 15 tourneys and have an LPGA schedule – they get all the players to play each event.
The young guys will change their minds and attitude as they get older.
Here is an idea for you. Start the season in Hawaii with a WGC event. Big $$$ Big OWGR points.
Like Adam, Rory’s girlfriend is a tennis player as well and she is also in Australia. Where is Rory??
Turn it into a WGC event, invite the winners from both the PGA Tour and the Euro Tour and move it to early March. Get rid of the event at Doral to make the room for it.
At that point, people have digested their turkey, conflicts with other televised sports are minimized, it is still high season for Hawaiian tourism, and the Euro tour hits a lull period.
As it stands for most players it’s not one of the top 10 events on tour (4 majors, 4 WGC’s, Jack’s, Arnie’s, home town events etc), and hence not a must play.
For American new guys in their 20′s it’s a lot of fun. For the consistent winners (i.e. the big names), eventually they get a little older, the novelty wears off, and the prospect of a real off-season becomes more enticing.
BTW most of the Americans there played just as late into the year as most of the non-Americans.
Some die hard fans will be there. I am a die hard Packers fan rom Wisconsin, but my wife and I will be at Kapalua tomorrow and Sunday to cheer on our favorite Cheesehead golfer, Steve Stricker. Maybe we will run into you as well, Steph.
I agree the problem is that the break in between seasons is way too short. For the Australian players they have only just played the Australian tour events in December.
I think the issue is a scheduling one and not so much the location. If there was some way and moving it back a couple of weeks more players might show up.
If Tiger were eligible would he get the benefit of, “Sorry, but unless they start offering seven-figure appearance fees, it’s going to be tough.” Or would he be cast as the villain?
The problem has the same source as many of the other conflicts on Tour. The average players want as many tourney as possible, to give themselves chances to make money. (and don’t think they don’t realize that if the stars bail on those events, it give more $$ for them). So they will never be in favor of shrinking the schedule. For the stars, its about ramping up for the big events, and as they get older, spending time off (since money is not as big an issue). There are exceptions, but that is the fundamental conflict.
@Brian S, you forgot more tournaments also makes the tour more money. It has a 10.5 month season now (through WGC-China or Pres Cup).
It’s only a fundamental conflict though if we scream and cry that the big stars owe something when they don’t show up at our favorite event. Rather than accepting that it’s their job to position themselves best for the big events.
I think the conflict is a fan/media thing, and has nothing to do with the tour/players.
The media leads on this though–who gives a crap about, say, the Bob Hope event? OMG amirite? So they write more about Anthony Kim being in Palm Desert last year, but not playing in it, then probably the actually golf that went down. Very rarely is a missing player the story of a golf tournament. It’s even more rarely even worth mentioning. I think it’s the EASY thing to point out, but I’ve come to expect the EASY out of the golf media.
Why don’t we jump in here, take a hardcore look at the 25 golfers playing this week, and find some good stories? It’s not that hard: hell I can find a bunch of good stories in the Africa Open leaderboard (and there were only like 6 guys in the top-150 of the OWGR teeing it up there!).
Anyway glad to have the season back.