Players Committee chairman, Thomas Bjorn has called on Europe’s top PGA Tour stars to set an example for younger players after the criticism of the recently completed Final Series.
It was European Tour CEO, George O’Grady who admitted last Sunday in Dubai the Tour ‘underestimated the amount of golf’ the Tour’s top players had played throughout 2013.
Thomas Bjorn has called on Europe’s senior players to set the example for younger generation. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
This followed the South African Major winning pair of Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel slamming the Tour into being forced to play two of the three opening events of this year’s new Final Series.
Both South Africans along with Spain’s Sergio Garcia were ineligible for the final Race to Dubai event as they had not satisfied the criteria by playing at least two of the opening three Final Series events.
O’Grady also indicated the Tour will work early in the New Year in tweaking the Series as had been the scenario when the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Series was first launched.
However Bjorn, who captured this year’s Omega European Masters in Switzerland, said it’s timely the likes of Justin Rose and Ian Poulter set the example for the European superstars of the future.
“I have spoken personally to Ernie (Els) and Charl (Schwartzel) and both of them are fine despite the stories that got written in the newspapers,” said Bjorn ahead of the second round of the World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne.
“I have been very honest with all of our leading players competing in the States saying I need from them the truth, and I also make very clear to them that for 99% of their career they think about themselves and nobody else.
“But then for that remaining one percent could just be the thing that you leave for somebody else that in the long run will make you feel good about yourself. That’s the one percent I am trying to drag out them, to think about someone else.
“In talking to them I use Seve (Ballesteros) and Arnold Palmer as an example as they just donated that little bit extra that left something for somebody else.
“It’s difficult when you sit with Justin Rose and Ian Poulter and try to explain this to them that they are the players that the young kids look to, and while they don’t have the same playing record, they are the Seve Ballesteros’ and Arnold Palmer’s of today.
“But they are the players that younger golfers look to and they must set the example and offer that one percent for those following.
“They are starting to understand from where I am coming from but as for some of the others it is a little bit more difficult.”
Bjorn remained tied for the ‘Individual’ lead in the $8m event with American Kevin Streelman nearing the halfway mark of his second round.
