It's back to reality in Europe this week with modest purses and not the mega rewards that have been on offer in the US over the past month. Bernhard Langer, probably at the twilight of an outstanding career, managed to pull over $750,000 from the kitty for a third, sixth and third place finish respectively in the TPC, the Masters and Hilton Head.
If the German was contemplating retirement then the last month in America would set him up nicely with a rather comfortable nest egg. It's ironic then that the talk of the tour should have been about the Retirement Fund that has been put into place for the US Tour golfers. With the amount that most of them earn these days you would imagine that even with a very cautious financial adviser their futures would be without financial concerns, retirement plan or not.
This is what makes the US Tour the best, most desirable, biggest carrot for any aspiring golfer. Its mandate is not only to improve the players arena but also to greatly improve the players lot.
It has not always been a cushy number for Tour players. I spotted Doug Sanders, of the fabled missed putt in the 1970 Open at St Andrews, in Augusta recently. Doug of the striking if somewhat tasteless loud high waistband, acrylic trousers and matching argyle sweaters. Doug's dress sense hasn't tamed with age. He was sporting a crushed pink pair of pants with a matching band through his sweater. His hair was a silver shade of grey with yellow smoke stains on the ample fringe.
Doug was paying his yearly pilgrimage to the Masters. His purpose, I was reliably informed by some of the caddies that remember him from the old days, is to get autographs on flags, gloves, balls and photos, just like the rest of the autograph obsessed mob in America. The large plastic bag bulging with merchandise and the `sharpie' pen close at hand suggested that that is exactly what Doug was up to.
I doubt if Jean Van de Velde, who could probably be put in the same `catastrophic Open bin' as Sanders, will be seen in 30 years time lurking around tournaments looking for autographs. The aim, of course to sell them on in order to supplement his retirement.
If the US Tour retirement package serves the Frenchman as the plan appears it should do, he can look forward to an early and comfortable retirement. Whether he chooses or his clubs make the decision for him.
Without delving too deeply into the workings of the retirement plan, according to Tour projections, a 26-year-old player who begins on Tour in 2001 and sustains a long career (about 17 years) could stash an individual retirement account of $42 million, and maybe more. This could be done without ever winning a tournament. Justin Leonard, by his own estimate, calculates that his retirement account will be worth $60 to $100 million.
So what is going on in this department in Europe? Nothing is the answer. "We are not against the idea of establishing a player pension fund, but at present we are not best suited to bring in a pension plan," according to Ken Schofield, the executive director of the European Tour. Of course the Tour executive and staff would not consider it reasonable to work themselves without a pension scheme in operation, and who could blame them. So why should they expect the players to do so?
The feeling seems to be lets just hope you make enough money when you play and have a good financial adviser to back you up. Because when you loose your playing rights you definitely will loose your earning power. Unless you manage to get a position as a tour official as so many ex-players have done in the past in Europe, you can forget about any post-tour assistance.
Developing a Seniors Tour in Europe on top of an already unpredictable main tour is probably unrealistic if not somewhat indulgent on the part of the older planners involved in the decision making for the Seniors Tour. Why waste vital resources on a tour that effectively saps funds out of the formative Challenge Tour. Unlike in the States, where the Seniors Tour is self sufficient and in no way compromising the main or developing tours. The same cannot be said of Europe.
When Des Smyth raised the Madeira Island Trophy last month at 48 years of age, he was naturally very satisfied. Not alone for showing his worth against an increasingly youthful power dominated game. But more importantly he earned a good cheque and a guarantee to earn his living with his clubs at least until the end of next year.
If Des has any thoughts about playing seniors golf, I have no doubt he is considering doing so in America, where he could actually earn a living out of it. Just as most of the good ex-European Tour players have done before him.
The US Tour is both physically and fiscally attractive. There are no realistic challengers to the supremacy of their tour, least of all the already dwindling World Tour. They really do not need to look after their players as well as they do. It's time that the European Tour followed suit, created a sense of belonging and allegiance to the main tour whether its in the form of a pension scheme or some other lure to make their members feel that they belong.
