THE Race To Dubai has transformed the fortunes of golf’s European Tour.
I have been around the tour for several years because of my friendship with New Zealand professional Michael Campbell.
At that level of the game, it is all about the major prizes.
Money talks and the race has definitely added another level of intensity to the tour.
It used to be that success on the European Tour would be used a springboard for a player to then go on to compete on the PGA Tour in America.
That is no longer the case.
Now the opportunities are growing on the European Tour, despite the impact of the worldwide recession which has taken a toll on the game of golf.
Even Tiger Woods has been bitten by the bug, travelling to Australia for the first time in many years to play in a co-sanctioned European Tour event – and winning. The response from the Melbourne crowd was simply staggering, grown men crying in the streets because they had seen him play.
That is the star quality of Tiger Woods.
Now we have a generation of young players coming through who have been created by Tiger. The likes of Rory McIlroy have shown that tender years should be no barrier to success.
At the other end of the age scale, it is great to see the rules have been changed to allow the likes of Tom Watson and Greg Norman to continue to compete in the Open championship.
These players are sporting icons who still have the ability and strength to compete against the youngsters.
Tom was one unlucky bounce away from winning the Open at Turnberry this year and I am delighted he will be given the chance to continue to show why he is such a great player.
The likes of Watson and Norman are massive draws for the crowds. People want to say they saw them play and I think the R and A is right to conspire to make sure these guys are still going to be around and in contention.
As much as the younger players will always dominate, it is nice to think that there is still a place for those of a more advanced vintage.