Dubai (United Arab Emirates): Former PGA European Tour chief Ken Schofield CBE called for golf to maintain an international outlook and continue moving forward as he addressed industry heavyweights on the opening of GolfEx Dubai.
The man largely responsible for the current strength of the sport in Europe was the first keynote speaker at the inaugural golf summit and exhibition being staged at the Jumeirah Conference Centre in Dubai. And he wasted no time in laying out his philosophy for golf to go from strength to strength in the 21st century.
In a speech entitled ‘Stand Up The Rest Of The World’, Schofield said: "Golf is an international game. It always has been – and always must be."
Schofield touched on the "wonderful advances" seen in the Middle East with the PGA European Tour now featuring events in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and the Dubai Desert Classic, due to take place at the Emirates Golf Club later this week.
He then moved on to the Presidents Cup – the biannual challenge between the United States and an international team – which needs to be nurtured if it is to ever compare to the soaring success of the Ryder Cup.
"If the bulk of the international team play nearly all their golf only on the PGA Tour and live in the US, the matches will not have the fervour that one associates with the Ryder Cup," added Schofield. "For the Ryder Cup to continue to flourish, European audiences need to see on a regular basis the players who will make up the team.
"If they play only in the US and live there, the passion and fervour that have been such positives for the Ryder Cup over the past 20 years would be in danger."
Schofield believes that a clutch of leading players have set an example for everyone else to follow. He said: "Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Michael Campbell and Vijay (Singh) have demonstrated that it’s no disadvantage to international players to play an international schedule.
"Ernie and Retief have each won two US Open titles â?¦ and they don’t play full time in the US. They are at the forefront of obligations to their home tours and the international game."
Schofield also called for younger players who have been enticed away to the US college system to remember their roots. "American colleges are trawling the world for talent. It is vital that we take the game forward internationally, to encourage them to come back and play."
Schofield used the example of Luke Donald, who was schooled in the US and enjoyed success at college level and then on the US PGA Tour before playing enough events in Europe to qualify for the Ryder Cup team. "That’s another way forward," said Schofield who concluded with a rallying call. "We need to build on the hurdles that we have crossed and the bridges that we have built.
"Additionally, we need international players to do one thing â?¦ please add one international event to your schedule. Please do not subtract one."
GolfEx Dubai concludes today (Monday) when key speakers will include five-time Open champion Peter Thomson CBE, IMG golf supremo and Tiger Woods’ manager Mark Steinberg plus representatives of some of the biggest commercial names in the industry.
Contact:
Alan Ewens
Media Manager
Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai.
Tel: (+97150) 4514188
alan2804@emirates.net.ae
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