Sunday, December 22, 2024

McGinley: Europe should be at forefront of golf peace deal – Irish Golfer Magazine

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As negotiations over a peace deal to unify men’s professional golf rumble on Paul McGinley believes the DP World Tour deservers to have its own spotlight in the calendar with some of the world’s best players playing.

The DP World Tour was front and centre after the conclusion of the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour as Rory McIlroy and co ventured back across the Atlantic for a string of big events in Europe.

The Amgen Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship produced classics to kick off a very enjoyable autumn swing before the Spanish and French Opens were played out to dramatic conclusions ahead of the two playoff events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai as McIlroy lifted his sixth Race to Dubai title after a cracking final day tussle with Rasmus Hojgaard.

The 2025 landscape could be a lot different if a peace deal is struck over the winter and McGinley believes that none of the DP World Tour, PGA Tour or LIV Golf can survive as long as golf remains divisive.

“As another successful season wraps the DP World Tour it’s clear pro golf needs a new landscape to develop. As the little guy in the middle of 2 huge financial powerhouses the DPWT has survived & thrived in a very difficult business environment, against huge odds,” McGinley said on X (formerly Twitter).

“However this current state ensures that no Tour wins as players benefit disproportionately and all 3 Tours struggle to be financially sustainable and invest in improving their product for fans.

“Europe has proved again that it has lots to offer in terms of its talent, history & culture. Any deal should continue to have Europe at the forefront of the golfing calendar at certain times of the year, hopefully with more of the worlds best players playing too.”

The DP World Tour included McIlroy, Hojgaard, Billy Horschel and Tyrrell Hatton amongst its list of winners since September.

Rory McIlroy has previously stated his preference for a world tour that was linked around some of the big national opens played in Europe.

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