Opinion & Analysis
Why isn’t anybody questioning the Race To Dubai system?
A month ago, Rory McIlroy won the European Tour’s Race to Dubai—a year-long points system ending with a four-event extravaganza where the point values are extra charged. The Northern Irishman’s triumph here was hardly surprising, with his monstrous season that included victories in four of the most significant events counted by the circuit.
But then consider that McIlroy decided to break from golf in mid-October, mere weeks before the beginning of the four-event finale (known as the Final Series). The 25-year-old skipped the first three events of this supposedly lavish quartet closing to the European Tour season, and while he did compete in the fourth and final tournament, he had already clinched the Race to Dubai crown prior to teeing off.
All in all, McIlroy won his second Race to Dubai title in three years before hitting a single shot in the Final Series.
Does that sound crazy?
One would suppose that question might garner varying answers from a wide range of parties—with an outcome objectively radical like this, fierce polarization among the golf faithful would just be an assumption. But so far in the aftermath of McIlroy’s effortless victory, the voices have been nearly unanimous: The 25-year-old deserved to win this way.
Huh?
Where’s the outrage golf fans can unleash over the tiniest detail—a ball drifting ever so slightly from its previous position, a drop a mere two yards from its start point? Isn’t this the same group that constantly derides the FedEx Cup—the same type of four-tournament system on the other side of the Atlantic?
The Final Series is meant to be a punctuation to the European Tour season, a strong, dramatic closing to a year-round campaign. Yet, praising McIlroy’s method, one could easily argue, endorses a very alternate reality—that these four weeks are nothing more than a blip in the 12-month tournament calendar.
And it has been praised. Some remain too apathetic to form an opinion on the matter, but several players and media have lauded the current points breakdown. Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia each offered a firm approval of McIlroy’s premature triumph. Others have suggested it would be “in rather poor taste” for anybody else to claim the Race to Dubai. And most who’ve posed the question of whether the current system is adequate did so only to affirm their conviction behind the status quo.
One of the few that gave an honest thought to this question was the Daily Mail’s Derek Lawrenson, who felt the current setup paved the way to an anemic finish to the European Tour calendar.
It’s not necessary for all of us to follow in Lawrenson’s path, but systems can improve with a healthy dose of questioning. In the face of the champion competing in just one of the four über-important year-end events—a controversy on a platter, really—why is the Race to Dubai being shielded from practically any criticism?
The initial years of the FedEx Cup fell victim to harsh words from all sorts when victors like Vijay Singh were confirmed before the Tour Championship. The PGA Tour brass adjusted and transformed the enterprise into an affair that ensured no winner would be awarded before the final event or that the closing tournament would be an afterthought in determining the champion.
The FedEx Cup Playoffs remain imperfect, and I did refer to it as stale in the aftermath of Billy Horschel’s 2014 double (the PGA Tour announced last week that it was reducing the amount of points in the four playoff events, a change probably not implemented because of what I wrote, but you can’t prove that). Yet, the system is markedly superior to its earlier iterations, something that likely wouldn’t have occurred without a large peppering of public outrage.
The Race to Dubai should be able to evolve from such a constructive process, if there are willing actors. They were certainly willing a year ago when players complained about competing in a minimum of two of the first three Final Series tournaments in order to be eligible for the last event, critiques that convinced the European Tour to remove this clause altogether.
One may surmise that this change weakened the Race to Dubai—although I would disagree, on grounds that the points system, not eligibility, was the force driving the absentee-winner in McIlroy—but it proves that willing actors are present in advocating tweaks to this system. And constantly opening it up to these participants tends to produce positive results in the long run.
The Race to Dubai needs to continue discussion on internal events that might be in any way troublesome in order to ensure the best possible system is being created. The finish to the 2014 season and what it says about the present system certainly deserves to be one of these talking points.
Yes, the vast majority of voices that have spoken here failed to promote tweaks to the four-event finale, but that feels disingenuous. This is a picky sport, one where fans, players and media are prone to argue over any perceived issue. And those hotly debated early FedEx Cups were far less radical in their main point of argumentation (a lack of drama) than this year’s Race to Dubai—where we pretty much knew throughout that McIlroy would eventually clinch.
Simply, I don’t trust that the panel of golf is so one-sided on this issue. There’s a dissenting voice to the Race to Dubai 2014 that has just not manifested itself much yet.
I’m not sure why the other side has not voiced its opinion strongly as of this moment. Maybe they’re afraid to speak out in case it’s misconstrued as an attack on McIlroy’s season (which, while quite stellar, isn’t an all-time great season as quotes from other players might have you believe). Maybe kvetching about the FedEx Cup has burned everybody out. Maybe McIlroy’s accomplishment came at a time when too few protestors were paying attention or cared enough to weigh in.
Whatever the case, a productive two-way discussion needs to take place on the Race to Dubai. An event as radical as 2014’s can’t sit by untouched; these are the results that must be interrogated in order to gauge whether the system is sound.
Who knows, maybe at the end of this conversing, the current system is deemed worthy. But at least in this instance, it is put through an honest test of healthy questioning following an event that could be construed as alarming.
Systems take a number of years to incorporate an adequate model. In light of McIlroy’s easy win, the Race to Dubai should be subjected to that process.
Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
Opinion & Analysis
AVL: We’re talking about practice! My best tips for taking your game to the course
With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game.
Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills.
While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice.
This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times.
Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy.
One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length. Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine.
It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season.
Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds.
Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time. With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game. Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills. While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice. This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times. Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy. One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length.
Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine. It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season. Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds. Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time.
For Korean golfers, we always look forward to the last of the kkot-saem-chu-I for the true start of a new golf season. The term refers to a cold snap, but literally translates as “winter being jealous of the flowers beginning to bloom, thus lashing out one final time before surrendering to spring”.
A rather poetic mouthful packed into a short expression.
Koreans can be like that. Understated, yet oddly expressive at the same time. And nowhere is this more true on the golf course and in our golf bags. In fact, I suspect many Korean golfers look forward to new apparel and accessory drops more than they do actual equipment launches each year.
At this point, Korean golf fashion may exist on its own timeline. (courtesy of @seonbi_golfer)
There is ample evidence to support that suspicion. Korea is the world’s third-largest golf market behind the United States and Japan, yet its appetite for golf apparel exceeds that of both countries combined. Recent estimates suggest that Korea accounts for nearly 40 percent of the global golf apparel market, placing it among the world’s most influential golf fashion markets and punching well above its size.
Simply, we care deeply about how new golf clubs look and feel, but enjoy looking good while swinging them even more.
Golfers in the West may laugh and say that golf is played on a course, not a fashion runway. Perhaps. But what’s the harm in trying to look and feel good, if the added self-confidence can help actual performance? It certainly seems to have worked for Jason Day, who may have unlocked a new stats category: dormant strokes gained. Coincidence?
During the COVID-era, estimates placed the market near $9 billion, an astonishing figure for a single country.
As a proud member of Gen X, I’ve witnessed the highs and lows of golf fashion firsthand. The pleated trousers and wing-tipped shoes of Jack Nicklaus, the stylish plus-fours and knickers of Payne Stewart, the baggy black trousers and fitted mock-necks of Tiger Woods, and the thigh-hugging athletic tailoring of Rory McIlroy. Golf fashion, like the golf swing itself, has rarely stood still.
But nowhere have those trends shifted, evolved, and been scrutinized quite as relentlessly as in Korea. Here, golf fashion moves faster than fairway gossip, and consumers dissect brands with a level of discernment that can be both impressive and mildly terrifying. New brands are studied, judged, embraced, or dismissed with startling efficiency.
The result is a consumer base with one of the sharpest eyes for quality and authenticity anywhere in the world. It is difficult to quantify, but easy to recognize. Clean lines without trying too hard. Luxury mixed with utility. Trend awareness balanced by restraint and purpose.
It’s golf fashion shaped by one of the world’s most style-literate cities, something I like to call Seoul Sensibilities, referring to the taste level forged by a uniquely competitive environment.
And increasingly, global brands have noticed.
Many golf brands in Korea have their own flagship shops dedicated to apparel only
Titleist understood this years ago, when its apparel business in Korea took on a life of its own under new ownership and local direction. What had once been a straightforward extension of an iconic equipment giant became something sharper and more premium. By going all in on the serious Tour-player look (I couldn’t even fit into their XL sizes), Titleist struck the right chord with Korean consumers and helped its fledgling apparel business break into the mainstream. Titleist became a household name even for non-golfers who wore its caps, shirts, and windbreakers in daily life. In many ways, it proved that even heritage golf brands could carry real fashion credibility when viewed through a Korean lens.
Several years later, PXG took a page out of Titleist’s playbook and followed suit. Korean consumers helped transform the brand from one known largely for irons and loud commercials into something broader and more stylish. PXG apparel’s growth in Korea was explosive, where it found an early audience and turned the category into something more than mere logo merchandise. It is still hard to walk anywhere in Seoul without seeing its palindrome logo.
Malbon’s meteoric rise in the United States was genuine, but its ascent into a global golf lifestyle brand owes much to Korea, where it was elevated by a market already fluent in modern golf style. Korea did not simply embrace Malbon. It pressure-tested the concept, refined its appeal, and helped push it into the global spotlight.
As such, new brands may arrive from abroad, but more often than not, their sharpest evolution happens here. If a brand can earn credibility in Seoul, it’s deemed to have passed one of the toughest style audits in the game.
That is why the next meaningful chapter may not come from outside, but from a Korean brand moving in the opposite direction, carrying those Seoul Sensibilities outward as K-pop once did.
Play young Stay dope.
From Seoul, With Intent
Khalhon is a label that feels less like a trend-chasing newcomer and more like the product of a market that has already seen everything. Golfers here have long been surrounded by luxury logos, technical fabrics, and tour uniforms disguised as lifestyle wear and vice-versa. In other words, novelty alone rarely lasts here, and the Koreans seems to understand that instinctively.
Its style language leans into clean silhouettes, relaxed but tailored proportions, muted palettes, and premium materials that speak quietly but confidently. There is a modern city aesthetic running through it all, with strong layering pieces, thoughtful textures, and subtle branding that suggests sophistication rather than demanding attention.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
Most importantly, the garments seem designed to blur the line between golfwear and everyday style. Shirts, trousers, knitwear, and outer layers move comfortably between a game of screen golf, a lunch reservation, an airport gate, or an afternoon coffee in Gangnam with friends.
It raises the question of whether this is golfwear that happens to look good off the course, or everyday clothing that performs beautifully on the fairways.
Personally, I have long appreciated Nike Golf for its clean, athletic modernization of golf attire. It also has the useful side effect of making me look like a more serious golfer than I probably am. But off the course, there are times when being instantly identified as the golf guy in a crowd of non-golfers can feel a touch self-conscious.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
That is part of what drew me to Khalhon, which seemed to blend golf and everyday wear naturally. While some of the outfits may be slightly beyond my personal confidence level, the brand also offers tasteful options for older guys like me who still want to express a little personality without regretting the decision later.
These are not simply flashy outfits worn on the course and then banished to the closet until the next tee time. They work surprisingly well off the course too, and I suspect many of the pieces will still look right a couple of years from now, which would certainly be kinder to my wallet than most golf fashion trends tend to be.
And perhaps that broader lifestyle positioning also helps explain why someone like Sean Wotherspoon would find Khalhon creatively interesting in the first place.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
“Korea is not only one of the most fashion-forward golf markets in the world, but one of the most fashion-forward markets globally. Korea is ahead, and I love to watch and try to catch up.” – Sean Wotherspoon, Creative Director at Khalhon
Seoul and Beyond
If Khalhon’s rise says something about where Korean golf fashion is today, its relationship with Sean Wotherspoon says even more about where it is heading.
For readers less familiar with Sean Wotherspoon, his arrival at Khalhon is not some routine celebrity endorsement or influencer collaboration. In design and streetwear circles, Wotherspoon is regarded as one of the more influential creative voices of his generation, particularly when it comes to blending nostalgia, storytelling, and contemporary culture into products that people can connect with.
He first gained widespread attention through his now-famous Nike sneaker collaborations, where his vintage-inspired designs and instinct for color helped turn him into one of the defining artists of the late-2010s sneaker era. His work gradually expanded beyond footwear into apparel, automotive collaborations, collectibles, and broader lifestyle design.
Modern golf style now extends well beyond the fairways, where performance and functionality are largely expected by default. And while plenty of brands already make technically competent golfwear, Khalhon seems more focused on designing clothes people would genuinely want to wear even after the round ends.
And when guys at Wotherspoon’s level show genuine interest in working with a Korean golf brand as its new Creative Director, fashion circles tend to sit up and pay attention. There’s already a huge buzz among the fashion-conscious here about upcoming collabs with iconic sports stars and brands.
“My creative direction for Khalhon is disruptive, colorful, nostalgic, and modern. My goal is to blend these avenues seamlessly within each collection.” – Sean Wotherspoon
In chatting with Sean, what stood out most to me was how genuinely energized he sounded about the project itself. Despite having already worked across and countless other creative spaces, he described golf as a completely fresh category for him, saying that Khalhon “will be an amazing vehicle for my design work.”
At the same time, his enthusiasm seemed tied just as much to Korea itself. He spoke openly about admiring Korea’s fashion culture while repeatedly insisting he is still a terrible golfer.
There was something oddly refreshing about that humility. Rather than sounding like a celebrity parachuting into golf simply because the category suddenly became fashionable, Sean sounded genuinely curious about what Korea might do with the category next.
And perhaps that is what makes Khalhon feel interesting right now. The brand feels less like a trend-chaser and more like the natural result of a market now confident enough to export its own point of view.
For years, global brands came to Korea to sharpen their image against one of the most discerning audiences anywhere. Now, a Korean label appears ready to send those Seoul Sensibilities outward instead.
Which brings us back to kkot-saem-chu-i.
That final cold snap before spring always arrives with a reminder that seasons are changing, whether we notice it immediately or not. Golf fashion feels a little like that right now as well, as the old boundaries between sport, streetwear, luxury, and everyday style continue to soften.
And somewhere in Seoul, a Korean golf label already seems prepared for whatever season comes next. I just hope they have everything in my size.
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Mat
Jan 21, 2015 at 4:57 pm
There’s nothing wrong with the system in its points aggregation. That can be adjusted from here to next week. What needs to happen is the format needs to be more head-to-head.
4 weeks, like this:
Top 125 FedEx / R2D get into a field.
Week 1: Most players compete. An average of your seed and your position after the tournament determine total. 75+ continue. This makes Top 10 optional to play. No Friday cuts
Week 2: Most players compete. All Majors winners advance, along with Tournament Top 50+. Major winners are optional. No Friday cuts.
Week 3: Play to get down to a field of 32. 4 Major winners guaranteed 1 seed, but no one else.
Week 4: 5 rounds of match play, starting Thursday. Play twice Saturday, and Sunday title is 36 holes.
Christopher
Jan 20, 2015 at 2:43 pm
“Why isn’t anybody questioning the Race To Dubai system?”
Why write an article about a question’s no-one’s asking! If people aren’t up in arms about the winner, then they’re probably worthwhile winners, with a worthwhile system. We do occasionally get things right on the European Tour! The Play-Offs are only as interesting as the top players in-form, Rory was rewarded for his fantastic year and that’s what counts.
Sargio_Gercia
Dec 31, 2014 at 4:20 am
Ryder Cup. You’re welcome America!
Steve H
Dec 30, 2014 at 1:34 pm
The fact remains, there are only 5 or 6 events that truly matter in Professional Golf – The Masters, US & British Opens, PGA, Ryder Cup and maybe The Players. These events are golf’s equivalent to the Super Bowl, World Series etc. These playoff systems on both tours are just an attempt to keep the best players playing later in the year and hopefully get some eye balls to watch the tournaments that are really meaingless.
Since these playoffs will stick around, my suggestion, is the final tournament be a match play event, making the final round as close to a Game 7 as you can get in golf. Have the venue on the west coast, show it in prime time, but rather than finishing on a sunday, have the final round on a tues or weds. night and avoid all TV conflict with the NFL.
Knobbywood
Jan 3, 2015 at 4:29 pm
So the final day will only be two players? How many people do you think will tune in to watch Kevin Na and Ben Crane scrap it out for five and a half hours for the fedex cup? That’s an extreme example but you get my point and the the PGA tour won’t risk that happening… Although as a fan of the game of golf I would love it to be match play, just don’t see it happening
Greg V
Dec 29, 2014 at 3:25 pm
I, for one, think that the Fed-X cup has it wrong, and particularly the outlandish prize for winning a 4 week play-off. The most important tournaments are the majors, and of those, the most important are the Open Championship and the US Open.
Here is my “fix”: the major champions don’t play the first event of the playoffs, but get seeded into the second playoff event receiving the same number of points that are awarded to the first playoff event winner.
Then they play from there.
And they should play for something much more modest than the $10 Mil.
Joseph
Dec 29, 2014 at 6:25 pm
Not a bad idea. What about a race for the top 16 spots and then match play fom there? Major winners get auto bids. That leaves 12 spots up for grabs. Gotta do something to spice it up a bit.
JHI
Dec 31, 2014 at 2:40 am
No.
Tony
Dec 29, 2014 at 6:41 am
He won 2 majors and a WGC. if he’s not the player of the year then who is?
I don’t like the FedEx system. Couple years ago Rory won 2 of the 4 tournaments and top 10 in final tournament yet he didn’t win. How is that fair?
Golf is different to basketball, baseball and football, it’s not one team against another until they get knocked out each round. Trying to replicate those sports doesn’t really work. Someone could win all 4 majors and be #1 coming into the final tournament but not win, bizarre.
Matthew Bacon
Dec 28, 2014 at 7:41 pm
No one cares about the European Tour
Rich
Dec 29, 2014 at 9:36 am
Perhaps you should. It’s where all the players that thrashed the USA in the Ryder cup this year play a lot of their golf throughout the season.
JHI
Dec 31, 2014 at 2:40 am
Rich,
Ha-ha! Nice one!
Knobbywood
Jan 3, 2015 at 4:33 pm
Check again there rich most of those guys are PGA tour players
Rich
Jan 5, 2015 at 5:00 am
Knobby, think you better check again mate. They have to play a certain amount of events on the European Tour to be members of the European Tour or they can’t play Ryder Cup. They might be members of the PGA tour but by playing Ryder Cup, they are European Tour players. It’s as simple as that.
Rusty Putter
Dec 28, 2014 at 10:41 am
How many golfers are there in Dubai?
12?
golfing
Dec 28, 2014 at 9:14 am
They can make it to suit the show so we can be more interested and the
sponsors get more out for their money.
This is simple, points as it is now, but with a happy ending… a race
between the 4 best over 18 holes to lift the money…on Sunday at Dubai.
golfing
Dec 28, 2014 at 9:18 am
Or a race at 2 for 36 holes, or 4 semi final 36 holes, and 2 at final 36 holes, but the show is only over when the fat lady stops to sing.
Ronald Montesano
Dec 28, 2014 at 8:16 am
Rory McIlroy won the PGA Championship of Europe and the USA in 2014. He won the Open/British Open and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. He was also runner-up in three events and averaged a bit more than 12th place in all events played. If future champs of the RTD have similar seasons before the playoffs, they deserve to win the event.
It’s proper to have one series that rewards an electric finish, running fairly parallel to another that rewards season-long play. If sponsors ever feel differently, we’ll see changes.
No big
Dec 28, 2014 at 3:27 am
What’s the big deal? The rules were set for points-won during the season, and the guy who gained the most points wins – like in the English Premier League or any other intelligently set, point-system league competition.
Each player is responsible for trying to get as many points as possible to win it at the end.
No silly divided-division play-off wild-card silliness like we see in America.
And why don’t any teams in professional sports in America get relegated? Where’s the camaraderie in sticking together as a team? You win as a team, you lose as a team, therefore if you play poor and are the bottom, you should get relegated. Oh but wait.. that’s right! In America, the individual is more important, therefore the team never goes down, the players are never together and are not part of a team! No wonder you guys keep losing the Ryder Cup as well.
Jeff
Dec 27, 2014 at 9:03 pm
The reason the same people the deride the Fed-Ex Cup that like the European system is the Fed ex cup feels gimicky. In most fans mind, it’s hard to award any golfer but Rory a season long award. The race to Dubai standings always seem more in line with the actual quality of a players season, where who knows when and why the fed ex cup points change.
Nick
Dec 27, 2014 at 6:25 pm
It is very simple to me: The Race to Dubai is more in line with traditional European scoring systems such as the Premier League which reward year-long consistency, whereas the Fedex Cup promotes a more American system of peaking at the right time such as the NFL, MLB, NHL and NCAA Tournament Playoffs.
In Europe, they have always rewarded consistency over an entire season, whereas here in America we become affixed to the “playoffs” as almost a marketing scheme to make it more exciting towards the end. It is neither here nor there and I am CERTAINLY not bashing America, but I expected each governing body to behave in this way given their respective cultures – the Euro tour more resembling the BPL and the Fedex Cup more resembling our playoff system here. Nobody complains because that is what they are used to. Golf may be “a little bit different” than most sports, but it has become clear that each of the governing bodies wants to move golf in a more stereotypical-to-culture direction.
No big
Dec 28, 2014 at 3:29 am
It’s because of the hype for TV ratings geared by marketing for commercial minutes sponsored by the very manufacturers who put up the money to broadcast the show and also to provide the goods being bought to fuel the economy, etc etc, yada yada yada what a load of bull
Rich
Dec 27, 2014 at 5:38 pm
Hang on a second. Golfwrx shows little or no interest in the European Tour during the whole season and yet publishes an article that is critical of how the European Tour operates the Race to Dubai? Not everyone wants to do the same as the USA. The Fedex cup system is dumb. Billy Horshel had a great play off series but he won because he had a good “postseason”. He was not even close to the best player for the whole year. McIlroy was the best player on the European Tour by a mile. How is this not the right result? Stick to what you know best Golfwrx and that’s golf in the USA. Stay out of European golf. You don’t know anything about golf in Europe or on the European Tour and it’s blindingly obvious here with this article.
Bogus
Dec 27, 2014 at 7:13 pm
You are spot on my friend! Only sticking their noses in when negative words are to be throw against the Euro’s or their tour
No big
Dec 28, 2014 at 3:32 am
Exactly, Rich!
Golfwrx also ignores the Champions Tour, the LPGA, the Asian Tour, the Australasia Tour, the ELT, as well as all the other “foreign” developmental tours as well the kids’ tours around the globe.
And it calls itself a golf website. But then again it’s a part of GolfDigest, so what do you expect!
Ronald Montesano
Dec 28, 2014 at 8:02 am
“But then again it’s a part of GolfDigest, so what do you expect!”
Inaccurate, No big.
Ponjo
Dec 28, 2014 at 6:54 am
+1
Gerard
Dec 28, 2014 at 7:32 am
Rich goes bang! Spot on mate, could not agree more. Seems to be the American way or the highway a little bit doesn’t it.
Rich
Dec 28, 2014 at 8:29 am
Yes it would seem so Gerard but it’s not surprising…………..
Knobbywood
Jan 4, 2015 at 8:47 am
I think it’s funny how all the euros come rushing in to defend their precious euro tour as if it were their baby… All this geographic loyalty is akin to gangs disagreeing for no other reason than they grew up on different side of the city… No valid arguments folks grow up… Most of your European Ryder cup players play on the PGA tour most of the time anyway…
Derehk
Dec 27, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Because its a season long race to Dubai and not a playoff.
Prime21
Dec 27, 2014 at 3:17 pm
Because it is The European Tour. The current set-up does not allow players who are playing both tours to make each event in the Race to Dubai. If they gave them an ultimatum to play or be disqualified from the event, they would lose their top draws, such as Rory, and their attendance and television numbers would suffer as a result. In the end, I would say they are doing exactly what they should be doing, considering the alternatives. Unfortunately this means that some seasons will have uneventful “races”, much like the early years of the FedEx Cup. If they have to choose between having Rory or Justin for 1 event or none, they are going to take 1 every time.
Mikko U
Dec 27, 2014 at 3:10 pm
I don’t really understand this fixation with playoffs or season finals. Why can’t (or shouldn’t) the player who has had the best season from the first tournament to the last win? If a football club secures the championship with four rounds to go, they’ve either been dominant or the others just haven’t showed up to play. Why should someone who was in good form in April lose to someone who was in good form in September?
Of course I understand that different tournaments have different sponsors and prize funds, the bigger the purse the more attractive and difficult the tournament is to win. Thus bigger tournaments should count for more than a Mickey Mouse tournament played alongside a major.
I don’t mind the Race to Dubai Finals or the FedEx Finals with huge purses but I’d hate to see a guy come from nowhere to top the money list at the end just for going on a hot streak for a couple of weeks. While it might not be as exciting to see a player securing the top spot over 20+ tournaments than in the last ones, I also think the big finals can undermine the work put in in the previous ten months.
No big
Dec 28, 2014 at 3:33 am
Because, Mikko, from the Yank perspective, they don’t understand a major sport that doesn’t have a fake play-off system to really not see who’s actually the best of the season, but the best of the moment to help them sell more stuff on TV.
Knall
Jan 4, 2015 at 3:09 am
Lol thats a great summary of most american sports from a euro perspective. They probably find our league systems just as stupid though.
WhoNeedsFairways
Dec 27, 2014 at 2:45 pm
If the Race to Dubai is supposed to be the culmination of an entire season then how can you not expect McIlroy not to win it? Regardless of his participation in the last 4 events. Look at it from a more holistic perspective… If you look back on this season several years from now, would it seem odd that the person who won two majors in a single year also won the season-long trophy? Of course not… It makes perfect sense. But unfortunately for the powers that be it doesn’t fit in with their plans here and now to manufacture a thrilling playoff… Golf has no room for playoffs… Both models are stupid…
Steve
Dec 27, 2014 at 5:35 pm
That’s not true. Golf has plenty of room for playoffs, they just have to find the right way to do them. The alternative is only having 4 events a year that are actually important. Playoffs at least have the potential to add some more excitement.
WhoNeedsFairways
Dec 27, 2014 at 6:44 pm
Have to respectfully disagree. there are plenty of other tournaments outside of the 4 majors that are important and add excitement… Players, Bay Hill, all the WGC events, BMW match play, Phoenix. There’s plenty of excitement… Just not enough for them to make golf a 12-month sport. And IMO, they shouldn’t try to .,,
Joseph
Dec 27, 2014 at 2:10 pm
You can throw the FedEx Cup into the same discussion. Professional golf has been and will continue to be all about the majors. Other than someone becoming ridiculously rich by winning 10 M, I just don’t care a whole lot.
Largechris
Dec 27, 2014 at 2:07 pm
In previous years the race to dubai has been a good competition, Stensons win was fantastic in 2013.
Not much the tour could or should do about it when a player has a season like McIroys. That’s the nature of sport, sometimes you get anti climaxes. Anything else is WWE.
Johnny
Dec 27, 2014 at 1:56 pm
To piggy back what Dan said, how many people really care? The correct answer is very, very few. If that many.
Tony
Dec 29, 2014 at 6:33 am
Yes, well said. USA is the centre of the universe, everyone else is inferior, irrelevant and any time spent talking about matters outside the USA is a waste.
Jay
Dec 27, 2014 at 1:51 pm
He dominated the regular season in such a way that the “final series” was irrelevant.
Jon
Dec 27, 2014 at 1:50 pm
It seems to me that the rest of the field needs to do a better job of winning. It’s not like Rory was handed a bunch of wins for free. It was a fair win and no welfare involved. Those who complain should work harder if they want to win the Race to Dubai. It is impossible to have a tournament championship where everybody will be satisfied and given a winners trophy.
Dan
Dec 27, 2014 at 1:47 pm
Because nobody cares about the race to Dubai
Knall
Dec 27, 2014 at 2:16 pm
Pretty typical american answer…
Mark
Dec 27, 2014 at 2:23 pm
You are both correct!
Mikko U
Dec 27, 2014 at 3:13 pm
No, only the first reply is correct.
Forsbrand
Dec 27, 2014 at 4:18 pm
I am European and both the Fedex and Race to Dubai are both meaningless. May as well have a seven club challenge over four rounds.
Steve
Dec 27, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Definitely this