Americans shut out from majors
Source: Agencies |
April 12, 2011, Tuesday
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IT was only fitting that on the 50th anniversary of Gary Player becoming the first non-American player to win the Masters, he watched another South African, Charl Schwartzel, become the first champion at Augusta National.
Player wasted no time sending his congratulations - on Twitter, of course, in a sign of the times. In the hours after Schwartzel won against a leaderboard that featured players from every continent on which golf is played, the 26-year-old champion sent Player a reply. "Proud to follow your tradition!"
Player was an anomaly at the time he won, the first global player in a game that is more international than ever before. Schwartzel's victory on Sunday was only the latest example of worldwide parity in golf.
For the first time since 1994 - and only the second since the Masters began in 1934 - non-American players hold the four major championships.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland won the US Open last summer at Pebble Beach, followed by Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa at the British Open and Martin Kaymer of Germany at the PGA Championship.
"The world is big," Schwartzel said. "America is big, but the world is bigger. There's more people. It might change again. There's just a bunch of good players out there from the European Tour and even Asia."
The final round, however, also was reminiscent of 25 years ago, when Jack Nicklaus stormed through a leaderboard that featured Tom Kite, Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros to win a sixth green jacket at age 46.
This one was compelling because of the sheer number of players who had a chance. It was in 1986 when the Official World Golf Ranking was introduced, with Europeans at Nos. 1-2-3 in the world. The Masters, along with the other two American-based majors, had a distinctive Stars & Stripes feel to it.
There were only 13 players outside North America in the 88-man field at Augusta in 1986. This year, there were 55 players from outside North American in the 99-man field.
"It just shows how strong golf is worldwide," Jason Day said. "It used to be pretty strong on the American circuit. Just shows how tough it is getting and how tough it is to get onto these tours."
Player wasted no time sending his congratulations - on Twitter, of course, in a sign of the times. In the hours after Schwartzel won against a leaderboard that featured players from every continent on which golf is played, the 26-year-old champion sent Player a reply. "Proud to follow your tradition!"
Player was an anomaly at the time he won, the first global player in a game that is more international than ever before. Schwartzel's victory on Sunday was only the latest example of worldwide parity in golf.
For the first time since 1994 - and only the second since the Masters began in 1934 - non-American players hold the four major championships.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland won the US Open last summer at Pebble Beach, followed by Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa at the British Open and Martin Kaymer of Germany at the PGA Championship.
"The world is big," Schwartzel said. "America is big, but the world is bigger. There's more people. It might change again. There's just a bunch of good players out there from the European Tour and even Asia."
The final round, however, also was reminiscent of 25 years ago, when Jack Nicklaus stormed through a leaderboard that featured Tom Kite, Greg Norman and Seve Ballesteros to win a sixth green jacket at age 46.
This one was compelling because of the sheer number of players who had a chance. It was in 1986 when the Official World Golf Ranking was introduced, with Europeans at Nos. 1-2-3 in the world. The Masters, along with the other two American-based majors, had a distinctive Stars & Stripes feel to it.
There were only 13 players outside North America in the 88-man field at Augusta in 1986. This year, there were 55 players from outside North American in the 99-man field.
"It just shows how strong golf is worldwide," Jason Day said. "It used to be pretty strong on the American circuit. Just shows how tough it is getting and how tough it is to get onto these tours."
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