European Tour will be ‘radically different’ when golf resumes as UK takes top priority
European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has told players to expect significant changes when tournament golf resumes following the coronavirus pandemic.
In emails obtained by the Telegraph and confirmed to NCG by an anonymous source, Pelley wrote: “Our tour has enjoyed a significant period of growth in recent years, in terms of prize funds, playing opportunities, and the overall standard of our events, as well as our broadcast product.
“The impact of coronavirus has stopped this rapid momentum in its tracks and it will, in fact, require us to reassess many elements.
“You should therefore be prepared that when we do resume playing, the schedule and infrastructure of tournaments could look radically different from what you have been used to.
“Many of the things you have become accustomed to, such as top class players’ lounges or courtesy car services will most likely assume a different appearance, if indeed they are present at all.
“Prize funds will also most likely be different. The reality is, the pandemic is going to have a profound impact on the Tour financially, as well as many of our partners, both in the sponsorship and broadcast areas.”
So far, 11 regular European Tour events have been postponed or cancelled, while the majors and Olympic Games have all been rearranged either for later in the year or 2021.
Pelley also noted in the email that the European Tour intends “to play as many tournaments as we can to provide you with an income and playing opportunities while, at the same time, meeting as many of our broadcast requirements as possible”.
More speculatively, he adds: “Let us say we are given the go-ahead by Governments and health authorities to resume play in the first week of September. That gives us 16 weeks between then and Christmas to try and play as many tournaments as possible.”
But, he explains, it doesn’t simply mean 16 tournaments and pinpoints the UK and Rolex Series events as top priority – with British Masters host venue Close House raring to go.
“We are looking at options such as a) multiple tournaments in the same location; b) two tournaments in the same week or three in a fortnight; or c) three or four tournaments back-to-back in the UK with a 14-day ‘quarantine’ period ahead of that to allow players not from the UK to come over and self-isolate in advance, if that health requirement is still in place then.
“The financial reality is that our UK events, in addition to our Rolex Series tournaments, are the most critical ones to try and stage to meet demands of our broadcast contracts, particularly from our primary broadcaster, Sky Sports. We will also play behind closed doors if necessary.”
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Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
