Montgomerie depressed about Golf Players

Veteran European Tour golfer Colin Montgomerie has expressed deep concern over the trend of DP World Tour players leaving to compete in PGA Tour or LIV Golf events. The Saudi-backed LIV Golf has successfully drawn numerous European Tour stars, including Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood, among others.

Adding to the exodus, the PGA Tour recently signed an agreement with the DP World Tour, which allows players finishing in the top 10 in the Race to Dubai standings to join the American circuit. In a recent interview with Golf Magic, Montgomerie candidly shared his dismay over these developments. The Scottish golfer 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.”

Montgomerie also criticized the PGA Tour’s policy of allowing the top 10 players in the Race to Dubai standings to compete on their circuit, stating:

“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 has suffered, and the European Tour will suffer because of it.”

Montgomerie, a highly successful figure on the DP World Tour, currently competes on the Senior European Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. With 31 European Tour victories to his name and a peak ranking of number two in the world, he enjoyed a remarkable career. Although he never clinched a major title, he came close, finishing as the runner-up multiple times in the US Open, PGA Championship, and The Open Championship.

In his interview with Golf Magic, Montgomerie proposed a solution to the issue. He suggested that Britain should leverage its rich collection of top-tier golf courses to attract players to the European Tour. He emphasized:

“What we have, in Britain, we should be showcasing more. We’re lucky that the Senior Open is going to Carnoustie, which is great for us. The ladies are at St Andrews, which is great for them this year. You know we’ve got Trump Aberdeen, which is a superb facility. We need more of that. We need more of the courses. The courses are going to really establish the field.

“In Britain, we have, my God, there are some superb places that are still so-called hidden gems. It’s unfortunate we’re playing on courses where the sponsorship is there. You have to think of the money, but the course, the course, brings the best people definitely.”

It’s important to note that some of the world’s most prestigious golf events still take place in Europe. The Ryder Cup was last held in Rome, and the upcoming Open Championship is scheduled from June 18 to 21 at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. These major tournaments attract golfers from LIV Golf, the PGA Tour, and the DP World Tour, along with other qualifiers. However, regular DP World Tour events often miss out on top-ranked players, highlighting the challenge Montgomerie is concerned about.