Why are players like Davis Love and Goosen still bothering with the tour?

[RobertBaron]

I don’t see Tiger playing competitive golf after he thinks he no longer can win on the PGA Tour.

 

Phil, though, I feel loves the juice of competition and probably won’t get that same juice from off course endeavors or missed cuts so Champions Tour might be his only outlet in his mid 50s to 60s

[golfandfishing]

Wasnt Davis Love financially cleaned out by his brother on law or somebody, in a hotel scam?

 

I think it was a comparatively small amount - million bucks or so. Guy killed himself in Davis’ hunting cabin I think.

[Solidstrike]

They still have a realistic chance to win. Any of the guys on tour do. DL III finished T28 in the CIMB.

[sonnygolf]

The true elites such as Phil or Tiger will never play on the Champions tour either when they reach 50.

 

I would be surprised to see Tiger playing on the geriatric tour. I don't think he will. But there is no doubt in my mind that Phil will eventually.

 

Why Phil?

 

I don't think we'll see either of them there.

 

As others have said, after decades at the top of the best tour in the world, how exciting would it be to be at the top of some lesser tour?

 

Neither one needs a nickel of the money. I know I'd be looking for more fulfilling things to do with all that money and time.

 

I think the Champions Tour's main function is to pad the retirement of lesser players while providing a modest entertainment. Cheaper tickets, easier to get, smaller crowds - it fills a niche.

 

 

Tom Watson is still playing, And lets not forget Jack played too! So your point is moot

[Lefthook]

Some of the top achievers have an intrinsic motivation that simply goes beyond beating the next guy. This type of motivation can inspire top athletes to seek further improvement even after they have become world leaders. And it can even be active when the same athletes are on their way down the ranks again.

 

Don't you love it when former greats hang in there because they simply love to compete and to work on their game? I do.

[MattyO1984]

I have an image in my head of Goosen getting turned away with a fake ID as he tries to get into a Champions Tour event...come back next year son!

 

1) I am not a davis fan

 

 

Any particular reason that you would expand on?

[crazy8golfer]

I have an image in my head of Goosen getting turned away with a fake ID as he tries to get into a Champions Tour event...come back next year son!

 

1) I am not a davis fan

 

 

Any particular reason that you would expand on?

Probably the same reason that I am not a Tiger fan, no need to expand, just not a fan.

[lowheel]

They rarely make cuts. They would be better off playing on the Champions Tour and making a load of more money and playing with old buddies such as Lehman, Mediate, Daly, Monty, Parnevik, O'Meara...etc.

 

Goosen just turned 49 last month, do you want him to take a year off to appease you? Hes earned his right to play on tour at his age and so has Davis.Davis has a lifetime exemption with his 20+ wins You do realize Davis won like 2-3 years ago right?

[MadGolfer76]

Doesn't the PGA Tour have a sick retirement program for pros based on number of years in?

[rangersgoalie]

I have an image in my head of Goosen getting turned away with a fake ID as he tries to get into a Champions Tour event...come back next year son!

 

1) I am not a davis fan

 

 

Any particular reason that you would expand on?

 

Nah but my points are no fanboy posts regarding why I believe a player like him would still pursue the regular tour. Mostly, he has earned it

[iBanesto]

Goosen finished tied 2nd in the Puerto Rico Open last year, so he still has game to compete.

 

Still love his swing though.

 

http://youtu.be/Da3Sa7wZVco

[lowheel]

also had fusion surgery

[lowheel]

I have an image in my head of Goosen getting turned away with a fake ID as he tries to get into a Champions Tour event...come back next year son!

 

1) I am not a davis fan

 

 

Any particular reason that you would expand on?

 

Nah but my points are no fanboy posts regarding why I believe a player like him would still pursue the regular tour. Mostly, he has earned it

 

See thats reasonable. i marveled at his length in the early-mid 90s. Watching him majestic 1 irons on the range was very impressive. Like you, not a fan but hes earned it. 21 wins and a major is nothing to sneeze at

[BMC]

Bob Estes and Steve Stricker, both over 50, are top 25 this week...while McIlroy and Spieth missed the cut.

[lumberman2462]

Eventually I think both Phil and Tiger will play some on the Champions Tour.

 

Anyone who loves the game and competition will miss it.

 

Maybe a major here and there...Their kids will eventually be out of the house and boredom will set in.

 

Tiger will want to stay somewhat sharp to continue playing in his own tournaments. TW Foundation is running quite a few events now and those tournaments are pumping dollars into his programs.

 

Norman and Faldo are surprising to me that they never made much of a Champions career. Faldo with his tv career and Norman....heart never recovered Fromm Augusta? Or maybe he just had enough.

[Petunia Sprinkle]

Goosen finished tied 2nd in the Puerto Rico Open last year, so he still has game to compete.

 

Still love his swing though.

 

http://youtu.be/Da3Sa7wZVco

 

Gotta love a pre-shot routine that includes scratching (nothing robs a motion of its fluidity like an annoying itch). One of my favorite golfers.

[Ignatius Reilly]

Eventually I think both Phil and Tiger will play some on the Champions Tour.

 

Anyone who loves the game and competition will miss it.

 

Maybe a major here and there...Their kids will eventually be out of the house and boredom will set in.

 

Tiger will want to stay somewhat sharp to continue playing in his own tournaments. TW Foundation is running quite a few events now and those tournaments are pumping dollars into his programs.

 

Norman and Faldo are surprising to me that they never made much of a Champions career. Faldo with his tv career and Norman....heart never recovered Fromm Augusta? Or maybe he just had enough.

 

I wonder if Norman gets his competitive thrills from his business adventures now.

 

While I love golf and obsess over it, I don't think I could do it all day every day until I turned 50, and then do it again for the next 15 years. Not if I was already set for life. I'd want to branch out and do some new things.

 

When I look at retirement options, I look at some golf course communities and wonder if that would really be too narrow a community to live in.

[marmooskapaul]

They both can make cuts and be competitive....can they win??? Don't know if you aren't out there.

 

On another note...Tiger and Phil could play a match play event...made for tv and both get paid more than ???10 million apiece. I would watch....lol.

 

Edit:...when they are over 50

[andrieddle]

I think when Tiger and Phil can no longer compete with the top guys, they will retire. Tiger has his foundation, kids and his course design company he can focus on. And Phil might also start a course design company, who knows, he's a smart guy.

 

Or maybe they go to the Champions tour to set records and then retire.....that could be another goal as well....

[Petunia Sprinkle]

Phil designing courses could get like Dali with a head injury.

[tgreenwood11]

They still make a boatload of money whether they make the cut or not.

[Valtiel]

And Phil might also start a course design company, who knows, he's a smart guy

 

"This layout and location is beautiful Mr. Mickelson, but why is every hole 285y and a hard dogleg left?"

[howellhandmade]

also had fusion surgery

 

Disc replacement I think, based on articles and what Tiger said in Valspar interview. Still . . .

[SkiSchoolPro]

Those players on the champions tour do not make a load more money. The purse for their current tournament is $1.8mil. Valspar is $6.5mil. John Daly has made $80k this year. Goosen has made over $200k.

 

Look at you with all the actual facts and stuff. The Champions tour is a total farce.

 

I think it depends on the player (and a better comparison is players who split time between both tours). In 2017 & 18, Vijay, Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly have made more per start on the Champions Tour (110 K, 115 K & 79 K) than the PGA Tour (16 K, 76 K & 19 K)

 

Edit- Bob Estes also, ~34 K per Sr start vs 5+ K per PGA start.

 

Do you think Daly would be better off playing more on the regular tour?? In 22 Champions starts in 2017-18 he has made over 870 K while he has only made 12 K in 6 regular Tour starts...facts, funny how they can be presented...

[cwglum]

DLIII has career exemption for 20 wins, Goosen is a past champion at Innisbrook.

 

If you compare top-20 finishes on both sides ... good golf on PGA tour pays a lot more than Champions Tour.

 

T-16th at PGA Valspar = $77,295.00

T-18th at Champions Toshiba = $24,615.00

[9400]

Last few times I've turned on the tv goosen has been up near the lead ?

 

When's the last time you turned on your tv? 2013?

 

Retief Goosen was T2 at the 2017 Puerto Rico Open and T12 at Torrey just weeks ago...

 

Granted he's certainly not playing to his previous form but he isn't exactly a ghost either.

[SkiSchoolPro]

DLIII has career exemption for 20 wins, Goosen is a past champion at Innisbrook.

 

If you compare top-20 finishes on both sides ... good golf on PGA tour pays a lot more than Champions Tour.

 

T-16th at PGA Valspar = $77,295.00

T-18th at Champions Toshiba = $24,615.00

 

Yes, but is it easier or harder to to finish t16 on PGA Tour or t18 on the Champions tour? My guess is it takes better golf for the t16 so you are really comparing apples and kumquats.

 

I'd love to ask Stricker if he thought he played better or worse at Valspar (when he finished t12 and won 131 K beating the likes of Adam Scott, Snedeker, Kuchar, Spieth, McIlroy, Stenson, etc.or the week before at the Cologard Classic (when he was 1st winning 255 K beating the likes of Jerry Kelly, Gene Sauers, Scott Dunlap, etc.) Bob Estes also played in both events, finishing 6 back of Stricker at Valspar and 4 behind at Cologard. Both Stricker and Estes won more $ on the Champions Tour, but I'm not convinced they played better.

[grm24]

And Phil might also start a course design company, who knows, he's a smart guy.

He already has a golf course design company. He was in the running to redesign Torrey Pines North a few years back.

 

https://philmickelson.com/design-overview/

[grm24]

DLIII has career exemption for 20 wins, Goosen is a past champion at Innisbrook.

 

If you compare top-20 finishes on both sides ... good golf on PGA tour pays a lot more than Champions Tour.

 

T-16th at PGA Valspar = $77,295.00

T-18th at Champions Toshiba = $24,615.00

Goosen is playing this season on a PGA Tour Top 50 Career Earnings exemption.

[eagle1997]

surprised no one has mentioned sponsor money yet. visibility on the pgatour is likely 10x that of the champions tour. more visibility = more money.

 

anyway, based on my own advancing years, i certainly enjoy it when the old fogies are hanging in there with the young'uns, that's for sure.