How Four Days Could Change a Golfer's Life Forever

Read Derek Clements' New View From The Fairway

MUCH has been said and written about the partnership between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, with many critics insisting that Europe is now nothing more than a feeder tour.

But this coming week demonstrates how much of a bonus it is for both European golf fans and players. The field for this week’s Scottish Open is easily the strongest seen on the continent this year, with a host of PGA Tour stars using it to tune up for the forthcoming Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

The field at Renaissance will see eight of the top 10 in the world rankings competing on a wonderful Scottish links golf course, with packed galleries, a tremendous atmosphere and massive prize money on offer. 

It represents a golden opportunity for DP World Tour golfers such as Robert MacIntyre to test themselves against the best the game has to offer - as well as offering a great chance to secure a bucketload of Ryder Cup points. MacIntyre has said loud and often that he wants to make Luke Donald’s team, and this is the week where he can lay down a marker.

A great deal of world ranking points are also on offer. It all means that the Scottish Open could be a life-changing tournament for somebody. Of course, we are most likely to see one of the game’s global stars lifting the trophy on Sunday. But maybe, just maybe, somebody will emerge from the pack, have a life-changing week and then go on to achieve great things at The Open.

Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic, a host of European golfers who haven’t made the field in Scotland get the chance to take part in the Barbasol Championship on the PGA Tour.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Among those in action are Andy Sullivan, Alex Knappe, Jeremy Frieburghaus and James Morrison, who will be joined by Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, and Americans John Catlin and Johannes Veerman.

Catlin enjoyed a purple patch in 2020-21, winning three times on the DP World Tour but he has struggled since and could really do with a big week on home soil. A victory, however unlikely, would see him pocket around £600,000 and give him a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.

It only takes one good week for everything to change - we have seen proof of that on the DP World Tour this season with a host of first-time winners having their lives changed for ever.

So you can say what you want about the partnership but the bottom line is that it really is good news for everybody who loves the sport of golf, no matter what side of the Atlantic they live on.