Well Should Tiger play more on the European Tour? He Came 3rd this week in Dubai. Played well and the T.V. coverage was exiting to watch. Can he get enough competition in the United States? Yes I am joking, but seriously imagine if he was. Would he win seven in a row on "our " tour. Somehow I don't think that he would. Would he dominate completely. Of course - he is the best that the world has ever seen but I think that our players are not quite in awe of him as the U.S. players.

He only plays over there because he gets paid 3 million to do so. He's already a winner before he shows up. I don't blame the guy for taking the money and a nice trip/place to play.

Tiger on the European Tour almost happened. There was a primetime golf special on tv that was held when it was sweltering hot. So his caddie, Steve Williams, wanted to wear shorts. The PGA said no. Tiger said if Steve doesn't get to wear shorts, he would play in Europe. The PGA gave in.

I believe Tiger at first playing on the European tour wouldn't struggle, but I don't believe he would win week in and week out. The variety of conditions and courses they play force him to play a slioghtly different game. I game thta he has, but doesn't use in the U.S. wit regularity. Of course once he played this style of golf consistently, he would be more dominant than he is on the PGA tour. Simply, there isn't anyone with a better arsenal of shots to go along with Picasso type creativity.

Yes ... and in addition, there's another factor ... jet lag. I watched him in Dubai this past week, after playing in California the previous week, and was awestruck that he could actually come in third. The two are 12 hours apart (i.e., it is as much jet lag as its possible to get on the planet). Doesn't matter if you're in a private jet or not ... your physiology is just all screwed up for several days. And golf is a game that requires such delicate nuances of motor control that it cannot help but be affected.

Whenever Tiger plays in Europe or Asia, he is almost always getting there just a day or two ahead of time, with anything from mild (6-8 hour) to serious (10-12 hour) jet lag to deal with. Its amazing he's even coherent, let alone finishing in the top 10.

I suspect if he actually commited to the European Tour for a couple of months - took up residence in Europe so he was travelling 2 hours instead of 8 hours to tee off, and got accustimed to European grasses and courses, he'd be every bit as dominant (if not more) there as he is in the US.

Exactly. Tiger will be Tiger whether it's in Europe or the US.

You being serious?

If he was an offical member he would win the order of merit every year because of the majors and the WGC series.

Yes. It took a call to the PGA Commissioner to relax the shorts rule.

The issue the PGA had was that Tiger was refusing to play the day of the event when he found out that his caddy would not be allowed to wear shorts. The event manager said if he didn't play the event he would not be allowed to play on the PGA Tour. Tiger said fine, he'd play in Europe. A call later Stevie's wearing shorts.

Haha that's awesome!

Absolutely, the reason was the PGA wouldn't budge and caddies were going down regularly with the heat.

Look at the best players on the European Tour; Stenson, Casey, Els, Goosen, Jimenez, Westwood, Clarke, Harrigton ,etc. These guys can compete ANYWHERE! Also they are experienced players and they don't seem as intimidated playing against Tiger as some of the the U.S. PGA Tour players. I would expect Tiger will play European Tour events as his schedule permits.

I agree with that, if he took up residence so he wouldn't have to deal with jet lag and got used to the different style of play he'd dominate.

Tiger is only playing in the strongest field European tour events. The field had more depth than the FBR open. The only reason people suddenly think the European tour is tougher because Tiger didn't win in one of the strongest fields of the year. That is the equivalent of saying oh Tiger didn't win a WGC event the field must be good.

Yes he should play more on the European Tour if it would keep him from being every other word uttered on the Golf Channel and most TV broadcasts.
Please, go soon!!!!

I remember that. He told them if Stevie couldn't wear shorts ( in the 105 degree heat ) he wasn't playing. They threatened to suspend him from the Tour because they were only an hour or so from teeing off. That is when he said fine, I 'll go play in Europe. "Finchie" probably crapped himself. Probably the last time a Tour official threatened Tiger.

Now thats what I call a boss!!

I wonder whether there is more to it. Tiger is very comfortable with the European players( and liked) and he maybe can relax more. Perhaps he isn't as wound up about winning. Remember when his best buddy Mark O'meara won two majors in a year. Its not like Tiger isn't trying, but imagine it's Phil or Vijay? No way they are winning.

just play more period... would like to see near 20 events

I think playing on the European Tour could help Tiger become a more well rounded golfer, if he isn't enough already. No disrespect to the PGA Tour but on a week in week out basis the courses in Europe are more vaied than the States. It obvioulsy couldn't happen this year with the Presendents Cup, but in the future Tiger could make a trip over here after the FedEx cup. The backend of the Season in Europe visits; The Belfry, Wentworth, (St.Andrews, Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns- one tournament), and Valderama. I don't think there is a golfer in the world who wouldn't want to compete over those courses. He'd also play the Matchplay again adding a bit of variety.

Realistically however i'm sure he'll just keep coming over when it suits him or when the money is good, i.e. he's getting paid loads for just showing up.

Keep in mind that next to Augusta, Tiger knows how to win at British Open venues.

What would be his motivation to play more in Europe or America for that matter.

At this point in his career Tiger earns far more in endorsement dollars than he does playing golf. Golf has become the platform from which Tiger markets himself. That being said Tiger playing in more tournaments around the world would only broaden his appeal from a worldwide marketing standpoint. So from a net financial standpoint Tiger could actually make MORE MONEY via endorsements playing on the European Tour than he could on the PGA Tour. Plus the European Tour as no restrictions against players getting appearance money. So any short fall in terms of tournament money could easily be made up.

The plus of staying in the USA is mostly it's easily more convenient to travel. The European Tour is easily the most international tour on the planet. The only continent they don't play a tournament in is Anartica. If Tiger every got to the point where it was "All about the Benjimans" I could see him easily playing on the European Tour on a fulltime basis. Another big reason why Tiger stays on the PGA Tour is that it is still the most prestigious golf tour in the world, and most of his goals in terms of golf i.e. most major wins and other records are PGA Tour records.

True it would broaden his worldwide appeal but he is one of the most famous people in the world, I just don't think he's all about the money. If he was he would be in the Slam Dunk Contest.