PARIS, France: Golf’s European Tour could be facing the biggest challenge in its history, with rumours swirling on the circuit about a possible US PGA Tour buy-out of the Wentworth-based body.
The PGA Tour, which organises men’s pro-golf in the United States and north America, has already purchased the flagging Canadian Tour and renamed it the PGA Tour of Canada.
It also has a strong foothold in Latin America and Asia, where the European Tour first moved successfully in the late 1990s, with a yearly $5m event in Malaysia.
Just recently the PGA Tour appointed an experienced executive to a newly created role to help the Tour “increase its efforts in China”.
It is understood that PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has already been in discussion with his European Tour counterpart, George O’Grady.
The PGA European Tour organises men’s pro-golf tours in Europe but is under increasing pressure to find European-based sponsors given the current economic climate.
Greater prize money is also on offer in the United States, attracting top players from Europe. Of the 40 or so events this season, only three carry a prize purse of less than $5m.
In Europe, however, there are 44 events but the prize purse is €2m ($2.7m) or less in exactly half. AFP
