European PGA Tour 4 Majors

[spider]

I was thinking why the European PGA Tour doesn't establish its own 4 major tournaments. I know the European players believe that they are as good as the American players, but because more money is paid in the USA, this is were the players all over the world are trying to get to. I understand the money in the USA majors will always be greater, but I believe that if the European tour wants to stop playing little brother to the PGA, it should establish its own majors with benefits.  Europe can add three more tournaments to The Open as majors, played at non-conflicting times with the USA PGA majors and see how it goes.  Television contracts will improve for these tournaments because they are majors, and more players will choose to play in them. Looking at the OWGR as of this writing 4 of top 10 players, 7 of the top 20, 24 of the top 50 and 45 of the top 100 are American. American players do not dominate the top 100 players in the world. 6 of top 10, 13 of top 20, 26 of top 50 and 55 of top 100 are non-American players. Something for Europe to think about for their future, otherwise I think the European tour will sink further below the USA PGA.     

[iacas]

Because the majors are the majors.

European Tour players are obviously more than welcome to compete in and win any of the four majors that we have right now.

The majors aren't "owned" by the PGA Tour. They own exactly none of them. The European Tour owns none of the majors either.

The Masters owns one. The PGA owns one. The USGA and the R&A each own one.

[sirsteveo55]

That would make 7 majors a year? It would take away from the term major and make the wins not as significant as they should be. Sorry the PGA tour pays better tell Europe to pay more and more players might want to play there.

Edited September 11, 2017 by sirsteveo55

[Wally Fairway]

The PGA tour has The Players Championship and the FED Ex cup/Tour Championship; the European tour has Rolex Series/Race to Dubai.

Although the European tour doesn't have a tournament comparable to The Players, but the Rolex Series is much more of a season long group of 7 events that stand out above the regular tour stops and lead up to the DP World Tour Championship culmination of the Race to Dubai.

Both tours recognize the majors and the WGC events. IMO the European Tour does a great job of playing multinational sites and keeping the tour relevant, the overall prize money that the PGA tour has to offer will continue to make players want to try to jump across the pond - but I think many, if not most, players who come from the European tour try to keep a presence on both.

[skydog]

On ‎9‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 10:34 PM, spider said:

Something for Europe to think about for their future, otherwise I think the European tour will sink further below the USA PGA.     

Not to delve into politics here, but another issue to keep in mind is the tax environment in different countries...European players want to live and play in the states because not only do they make more money, but they get to keep more of that money. They can live in Florida and Texas and pay a 39% federal tax rate and 0% state income taxes. Compare that to well over 50% tax rates for high earners in most Euro countries. Money is going to go where it's treated best and taxed least.

[NM Golf]

On 9/11/2017 at 2:28 PM, Wally Fairway said:

Although the European tour doesn't have a tournament comparable to The Players,

The BMW PGA Championship is comparable to the Players I would think. Has the biggest single tournament purse and the strongest field on the European Tour.

I would have to think that the weather has to be somewhat of a factor in the PGA Tour's dominance, as well as the fact 3 of the 4 Majors being in the US.  I know several big time Europeans have publicly expressed their discontent with the weather on the other side of the pond. I mean these guys literally play on perfect golf courses in near perfect weather 95% of the time. You turn on the European Tour in the mornings and those guys are bundled up head to toe with stocking caps playing in 30mph wind in the middle of July. No Thanks! 

Edited September 15, 2017 by NM Golf