Americans urged to play more for country
Source: Agencies |
December 1, 2009, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AMERICAN golfers need to think more about the honor of representing their country at the World Cup and less about appearance fees, according to Mission Hills Golf Club director Tenniel Chu.
The vast US$1.5 billion 12-course club was the venue for the 55th World Cup last week. The field contained three top 10 players and Ireland's Rory McIlroy was one of several players who said they hoped for a return to the days when the very best golfers, such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, competed.
One of the main obstacles preventing the highest level field from competing in recent years has been the quality of the United States team, despite the lure of a US$5.5 million prize fund.
This year, world No. 31 Nick Watney and 134th-ranked John Merrick were the American duo prepared to forego their Thanksgiving holiday. They finished seventh as Italy won the title.
Chu, whose father David built Mission Hills, believes the return of golf to the Olympics for 2016 might help, but the American players needed to think about their priorities.
"More and more players are discovering the concept of playing for the honor of your country," he said. "If the President's Cup or the Ryder Cup was played in Thanksgiving week, the players would still show up. With other countries there was never an issue with sending their top players, and none of these players are receiving appearance money."
"Year after year you invite the same target list and they have a million and one reasons (not to come)," he added. "You want to look at them in the eye and say: 'Is there not more to life than money? Will you really live differently if you have US$100 million or US$50 million?'
"But if they think they are doing the right thing for themselves and their countries - if they do think about their countries - then, okay, we just go our own separate ways."
The vast US$1.5 billion 12-course club was the venue for the 55th World Cup last week. The field contained three top 10 players and Ireland's Rory McIlroy was one of several players who said they hoped for a return to the days when the very best golfers, such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, competed.
One of the main obstacles preventing the highest level field from competing in recent years has been the quality of the United States team, despite the lure of a US$5.5 million prize fund.
This year, world No. 31 Nick Watney and 134th-ranked John Merrick were the American duo prepared to forego their Thanksgiving holiday. They finished seventh as Italy won the title.
Chu, whose father David built Mission Hills, believes the return of golf to the Olympics for 2016 might help, but the American players needed to think about their priorities.
"More and more players are discovering the concept of playing for the honor of your country," he said. "If the President's Cup or the Ryder Cup was played in Thanksgiving week, the players would still show up. With other countries there was never an issue with sending their top players, and none of these players are receiving appearance money."
"Year after year you invite the same target list and they have a million and one reasons (not to come)," he added. "You want to look at them in the eye and say: 'Is there not more to life than money? Will you really live differently if you have US$100 million or US$50 million?'
"But if they think they are doing the right thing for themselves and their countries - if they do think about their countries - then, okay, we just go our own separate ways."
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