View From The Fairway - Saudi International Reflections

In a special View From The Fairway, Golfshake's Derek Clements reflects on what we saw at the controversial Saudi International and what it means for the professional game in the months and years ahead.

GREG NORMAN, who is the public face of the men behind Saudi Arabia’s attempt to dominate world golf, tells us: "We're not in this for a fight," Norman said. "We're in this for the good of the game.” If he really believes that, Norman is being naive at best. I cannot for the life of me understand why the so-called Asian Tour would want to hold a tournament in England in the same week that the DP World Tour is staging the Scandinavian Mixed, a high-profile event that not only brings together Europe’s best men and women golfers but offers a prize fund that is on a par with Norman’s tournament at Centurion Golf Club. There is also one other minor detail - the tournament is being staged the week before the US Open. Given these circumstances, does Norman really believe that any top-ranked golfer will be asking the DP World Tour for a special release to take part at Centurion? Not a bit of it. I do not for one moment underestimate the threat posed to the existing global world order by the moneymen from Saudi Arabia but neither do I expect this tournament - one of 10 - to cause anything more than a gentle ripple. And if it can’t attract a decent field, who is going to go along and watch it? Not me.

THE Saudi International has exercised the minds of many. I was most intrigued by the views of Colin Montgomerie, an eight-time winner of the European Order of Merit. Monty spoke of the evils of money driving the game, insisting that when he played the game he did not do so for money. Really? I hate to point this out Monty, but you won 31 European Tour events during your storied career, picking up more than £25m in the process. He also picked up a tidy sum on the PGA Tour and has continued to rake in the cash since joining the over-50s in both Europe and America. If that isn’t playing for money, then I really don’t know what is. Unless he has given it all away to charity, of course.

ONE by one they were wheeled out to face the media. It was like the build-up to a major as we prepared for the start of the Saudi International. Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Marc Leishman, Lee Westwood. Out they all came, trotting out the party line about how good it was to be spreading the word. The tournament attracted a world-class field and the rumour mill was working overtime. It seems that Lee Westwood and Dustin Johnson, to name but two, have signed non-disclosure agreements, which would seem to indicate that they have already signed up to the proposed Saudi super league. Fair enough, that is their choice. But please, let’s not pretend that this has anything to do with “spreading the word” or “growing the game”. It is all about money. Pure and simple.

AMONG those with some very difficult decisions to make is Ian Poulter. The Englishman may well be in the autumn of his career but he tells us that he lives and breathes for the Ryder Cup. He has already said that he believes he has one more in him as a player, and there is no doubt that he wants to be a Ryder Cup captain. It is also beyond dispute that he would make a very good, and passionate, captain. But if, as seems likely, he signs on the dotted line for the Saudis, it seems inevitable that the DP World Tour will punish him by banning him from any future involvement in the event. I have said this before, but it is worth repeating - players who find themselves banned from plying their trade anywhere, whether it be on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour or Ryder Cup, are likely to launch legal challenges. And if that happens the only winners will be the lawyers.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

PHIL MICKELSON, who has pocketed more than $70m in prize money during a wonderful career, has accused the PGA Tour of what he describes as “ obnoxious greed”  while playing in the Saudi International. This comes from a man who picked up a huge appearance fee for playing in Jeddah. It is safe to assume that the 51-year-old six-time major champion is one of those who has signed a deal to throw his hat in the ring with the Saudis. It will be interesting to see how he is received when he next tees it up in a PGA Tour event. 

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU cut a pretty miserable figure as he hobbled his way through the first round before withdrawing, citing hip and hand injuries. He would do well to listen to his body. It was only a matter of time before all the work he does in the gym in search of extra distance started to come back to haunt him.

IT SEEMS that nobody told the good citizens of Jeddah that the world’s best golfers were performing on their doorstep. It was eerie to see wonderful shots being greeted in total silence on every hole apart from the 18th. And even at the final hole, the assembled throng could hardly be described as large, especially over the first couple of days. As we have heard repeatedly, the Saudis are throwing money at the sport in an effort to grow the game. Perhaps the locals just don’t get golf.

MAKE a note of the name - 14-year-old Ratchanon Chantananuwat comfortably made the cut in Jeddah. It was the fifth professional event on the trot in which the youngster has played all four rounds. He is a sensational young talent and is definitely one to look out for.

Professional Golf Is About To Be Shaken To Its Core