The European Tour Cup is Coming

Checked out a piece linked over at golfobserver.com coming from the Guardian about the European Tour's pending response to the PGA Tour FedEx Cup.

Before we get to the specifics, catch what European Tour head George O'Grady had to say about the FEC:

Any administrator must admire the foresight of the US Tour. Organising such a concept, finding a sponsor, driving the thing through is a huge achievement. They looked good too, played as they were at some outstanding American country clubs. If you were FedEx you'd have to say you were pleased. So were we. Pleased, that is, that our events stacked up pretty well against the four weeks of the FedEx. These tournaments [in Holland, Scotland, Switzerland and Germany] enjoyed record crowds and demonstrated the depth of the European Tour.

O'Grady may have been concerned that the FEC would hurt the European Tour in some fashion because of decreases in field strength and brain drain. But, that turned out not to be the case. Thus, he's pretty happy with the FedEx Cup because it helps the game and it does not hurt him at all.

Though it may not hurt him directly, he definitely sees that the competition has raised the bar and that the European Tour must respond. So, in 2009, it appears they will do just that in an attempt to continue to provide what O'Grady terms "a real alternative...to the American lifestyle."

Here's the quick list on what it will look like:

• The Euro Tour season will actually start in January and end in December, unlike the current schedule that starts the next season in November of the prior year.
• O'Grady plans to capitalize on the PGA Tour's decision to end the season in September by presenting their finale in the months of PGA Tour virtual inactivity. O'Grady mentioned this would be the opportunity for the Euro Tour when the FEC was announced.
• It will likely be concentrated in Asia - the fastest growing golf continent - and particularly in China.
• O'Grady plans to be "involving the biggest names in discussions before the biggest decisions are taken."

For one, I'm rooting for the European Tour's success. As it becomes more successful and covers more of the globe with its schedule - as the PGA Tour becomes more American-centric - the Euro Tour will help the vision of a true global golfing tour. That will help grow the game, and isn't that the whole point?