Australia’s Robert Allenby believes the FedEx Cup Play-Off Series is hurting those PGA Tour members not qualifying for the lucrative limited field events.
An injury-plagued season saw Allenby failed to qualify for the four events including the BMW Championship and the third in the series taking place this week in Chicago.
The Melbourne-born golfer instead was fortunate to be afforded an invitation to compete in the European Tour KLM Open in Zandvoort.
Of course, the Play-Off Series is a reward for consistency throughout the year but the Series staging through August and September means those like Allenby who don’t qualify virtually have to hang up their clubs for two months.
Robert Allenby competing in Holland for a first time in 19 year and not pulling any punches. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
In contrast, the European Tour’s Race to Dubai that will now feature a ‘Final Series’ for a first time will again be held in November and a far more appropriate and meaningful time of the year, and well after the hype of the Majors.
Allenby’s appearance in Holland is a first in 19 years and he’s making the most of his return to post scores of 65 and 71 for a four under par tally on the Kennemer course.
“If you don’t qualify for the Play-Off Series you find yourself having to sit around for months as you’ve got nowhere to play,” he said.
“I could have gone to the secondary Web.com Tour and played the four events up against the FedEx Play-Offs but I didn’t need to do that as I had full main tour exemption for next year.
“That allows me to pick my own schedule and play where I want, and hopefully play my back into the top-30 in the world.
“So if I wasn’t playing here in Holland it would nearly two months off before the 2014 starts next month.
“I am going to play the first four and then head back home for the Australian Open in Sydney.
“So that’s why it was great to receive an invitation to come here to the KLM as it’s a lot different atmosphere and environment to the PGA Tour.
“I haven’t played this event since 1994 and that’s 23 years ago, so it’s just nice to be back and it’s nice to be making the most of the invitation.”
Joining Allenby in Holland is triple Major winning Padraig Harrington who also missed out in qualifying for the Play-Offs.
Harrington contested last week’s European Tour event in Switzerland and in his first visit in 11 years while before this week he has not contested a KLM Open in a decade.
But then Allenby’s cause in seeking to qualify for this year’s Play-Offs was not helped by a nagging right hand and wrist injury.
“All year I’ve had no grip pressure in my right hand not even half of what I have in my left hand,” he said.
“At one stage this year I thought I had rheumatoid arthritis and starting taking medicine for that condition but that started knocking me around to trying to overcome the symptoms I thought it was.
“But at the end of the day it traced to a trapped nerve at the base of my neck that ran down into my arm and into my hand.
“So it’s been a tough year as I didn’t play well and I just tried to battle it out but I’ve had about three to four weeks off but all the time practicing hard.”
Allenby revealed it was a friend who recommended he visit specialist named Craig Benedict based in Jupiter, Florida.
“He worked for many years in Formula One and has been to five Australian Formula One GPs working with the drivers,” said Allenby.
“Craig also worked with Olympic swimmers and NBA players and he identified the concern in my hand and wrist straight away.
“Now after having no grip pressure in this one (holding up his clenched right fist) it’s now tighter than my left and that was in just three sessions.
“So I’ve been fortunate and after just three sessions the hand felt so much better. It’s not back to 100% but I can feel tightness that I haven’t had all season.”
Allenby is hoping to also receive an invitation into next week’s Italian Open in Turin and if so, it will be the first time he’s contested the tournament since 1998, and an absence of 15 years.
