Ryder Cup Legend Criticizes US Dominance and Calls for a Truly Global Calendar

Sir Nick Faldo, Britain’s greatest golfer of the modern era, expressed disappointment over the PGA Tour’s reluctance to adopt a global schedule, maintaining that the top men’s professional golf remains dominated by the United States. Faldo’s comments came as the PGA Tour announced a new Signature Event at Donald Trump’s Doral course in Miami, marking the ninth such event on the circuit, all staged in the US.

Faldo, a six-time major champion, has long advocated for a global calendar, allowing the best players to compete across the world, rather than being confined to the US. He believes this would not only enhance the game’s global appeal but also provide a more competitive and dynamic schedule. “The goal is not incremental change. The goal is significant change,” said Brian Rolapp, the PGA Tour’s new chief executive, unveiling a new competition committee, chaired by Tiger Woods. However, Faldo remains unconvinced, pointing out that the committee lacks European representation, despite the PGA Tour’s strategic alliance with the DP World Tour.

The 68-year-old Englishman is hosting this week’s Betfred British Masters at the Belfry, the last qualifying event for Europe’s Ryder Cup team. He is involved in talks with new backers to secure the tournament’s future, which is crucial for the DP World Tour, where the leading 10 players secure cards to play in the US the following year. Critics argue that this creates a talent drain, rendering the European circuit a “feeder” tour. Faldo disagrees, suggesting that leading venues in the UK, Europe, and other regions should host the biggest tournaments outside the majors, attracting the best players and enhancing the game’s global appeal.

Faldo’s vision for a truly global tour, where the top 100 players compete across the world, is shared by Rory McIlroy, who called for a world tour to reunite the men’s game after the split caused by the arrival of the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV circuit in 2022. McIlroy believes that such a tour would not only be more competitive but also more appealing to sponsors, who currently face uncertainty over the quality of players participating in events. “If the public knew and television knew you had the best 100 players coming to your town or your country, my goodness, how good would that be,” Faldo said. “Rather than saying, ‘well, I’m going to have a tournament and I don’t really know what I’m going to get’. It’s harsh on the sponsors. It really is.”

Faldo’s comments come at a time when the PGA Tour is facing increasing pressure to reform its schedule and format in response to the rise of the LIV circuit and other rival tours. The LIV circuit, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has attracted some of the world’s top players, including Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, and has been criticized for its lack of transparency and its ties to the Saudi government.

Meanwhile, the PGA Tour has announced a new competition committee, which will be chaired by Tiger Woods and will have the task of overhauling the tour’s schedule and format. However, Faldo remains skeptical about the committee’s ability to effect meaningful change. “I really did think when we started with the ‘global’ word a long time ago, probably at least 10 years ago, I thought we were going to lean towards that,” he said.

Faldo’s vision for a global tour is not just about competing across the world, but also about creating a more competitive and dynamic schedule. He believes that by having the best players compete in a global tour, the game will become more exciting and unpredictable, with players facing new challenges and opportunities. “I’d love them to be actually playing as a top, whatever, 100, 120 players, going around the world, no appearance fees. You’re playing for massive prize money, but that is the world tour,” he said.

Faldo’s comments have sparked a renewed debate about the future of professional golf and the need for a more global and competitive schedule. As the PGA Tour continues to grapple with the challenges posed by the LIV circuit and other rival tours, Faldo’s vision for a global tour is one that is gaining increasing attention and support.