The Futures Bright, the Futures European

Following Tom Lewis picking up his first European Tour win at his third attempt the future of European golf has never looked stronger. Already quoted in saying he is looking at qualifying for the 2012 Ryder Cup team, you can’t blame his confidence but he’ll sure have some competition for a place at Medinah.

Arguably even before the Hertfordshire sensation made his name the future was bright anyway. Players such as Rory McIlory and Matteo Mannasero are already worldwide names but the European Tour has never been healthier in terms of the talent coming through.

Other names such as David Horsey, Oliver Fisher, Rhys Davies, Pablo Martin and Shane Lowry are all winners on tour and still under-25.

Then you take the argument of when do players actually hit their peak? Heavyweight names like Martin Kaymer, The Molinari brothers, Alvaro Quiros and Pablo Larrazabal are all still 30 or below so in terms of peak maybe another 10-15 years left at the top?

The world number one is still only 33!

I suppose golf is a game where if you feel good about your game and you’re still confident at competing at the highest level then you still can.

Greg Norman and Tom Watson spring to mind after their challenges at the Open Championship in recent years.

Sport on a whole is going down the route of the fitter you are the better you will be and for longer. Golf can most certainly be the exception with Darren Clarke a fine example or not if you know what I mean. A player that admits spends more time at the bar than the gym and yet can produce four days of golf to win a major championship.

Then again on the other hand it was just a week where he produced the goods and not for a long season like a footballer or rugby player.

Love of Golf

This I believe is where golf comes into its own and the reason it is loved around the world. It can be played by anyone who wants to try it whether it is a social morning, club league or Tour.

So going back to the future of the European Tour, the last few years have been interesting in terms of its players realising that it is the tour for them. Stalwarts such as Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood has continued their support by saying they have no need to play elsewhere as the tour is no longer European based. It is very much a worldwide tour now and they players get the opportunity to on different types of courses which will benefit their game.

I guess the point I’m trying to make is young players need not have their heads turned by the Dollar bills on offer over the Atlantic. The European Tour has been home to some of the best players the game has ever seen and with talent coming through like Lewis and Mannasero it will continue to be so.