JOHN HUGGAN
THE LACK OF HIGH-PROFILE PLAYERS PARTICIPATING IN THE SEVE TROPHY SPEAKS TO THE NEED FOR A MORE APPROPRIATE EVENT TO HONOR THE TRAILBLAZING SPANIARD
JOHN HUGGAN Europe’s Gonzalo FernA ndez CastaA[+ or -]o, Nicolas Colsaerts and GrA[c]gory Bourdy
Toward the end of a beautifully warm and sunny October Saturday in Scotlandyes, reallyI had some choices to make. I could a) mow my backyard, b) watch former U.S. Open champion Tony Jacklin competing in “Strictly Come Dancing,” the BBC show that beget “Dancing With the Stars,” or c) devote myself to Day 3 of that biennial mismatch, the Presidents Cup.
So I cut the grass.
Perhaps that’s being a little harsh on the Presidents Cup if not the 69-year-old Jacklin, whosurprisewas first to be eliminated from this spray-tanned and sequin-laden extravaganza. But earlier that day I had taken in an hour or so of the Seve Trophy, a contest between 10-man sides representing Great Britain & Ireland and the Continent of Europe. In other words, “us versus us.” And that had been more than enough meaningless “competition” for even a golf nut like myself.
No doubt the experience was dulled by the conspicuous dearth of big names at St. Nom la BretA[umlaut]che, outside Paris. Missing from the GB&I side were its highest-ranked players: Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy. The European side was without Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer.
The reluctance of the above (save McDowell, who gets a pass following his recent wedding) to support a tribute to the man who, more than any other player, created the European Tour on which they all began their careers, was close to hypocritical. Only a year ago at Medinah, every member of the European Ryder Cup side made much of the fact that they were “playing for Seve.” There were meaningful points skyward, almost teary eulogies and, on the final day, the team dressed in the great man’s favored colors. Even laying it on thick, it was inspirational stuff.
Now, 12 months later, only three from that teamNicolas Colsaerts, Paul Lawrie and Francesco Molinaricould be bothered to show up for the event named after Ballesteros. Inspiration was replaced by indifference.
Tim Finchem’s Ryder Cup
Only Lawrie among the players saw fit to call out his missing peers. “I think it’s important, representing Seve and what he stood for,” said the 44-year-old during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which also suffered from a shortage of stars. “Most of us are out here playing because of what he did for us. Missing the Dunhill is understandable because the FedEx Cup [Playoffs] just finished. But I don’t understand missing the Seve Trophy. With Seve’s name attached to it, it’s the equivalent of the Presidents Cup for the American boys.”
Though well meaning, that reference could be taken as ominous. After yet another pasting of the International side at Muirfield Village, Tim Finchem’s Ryder Cup spinoff might be losing traction with PGA Tour multi-millionaires (none of whom have missed the event since 1994 after qualifying or being chosen). Still, the larger point needed to be made. The opulent lifestyles and almost unfettered access to the dollar-laden PGA Tour enjoyed by many of Europe’s finest mirrors exactly what Ballesteros fought for (unsuccessfully for himself but prosperously for those who followed) in the 1980s.
On the other hand, a touchy-feely match between amigos is perhaps not the best or most appropriate way to honor the passionate and ultra-competitive Ballesteros. To be honest, the Seve Trophy has never really resonated with the public or players, even when the great man was taking part and, much to the amusement of many, twice beating a bemused Colin Montgomerie head-to-head despite many wayward shots.
A high-profile alternative is needed. Using the iconic image of Ballesteros holing out to win the 1984 British Open at St. Andrews as the European Tour’s logo would be a good start. So would a proper tournament in his homelanda World Golf Championship perhaps. The kind of event neither golf nuts nor European stars would dare miss.