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US golf 'too grim, impersonal'
Severiano Ballesteros, of Spain, winner of the 1980 US Masters, tips his hat to the gallery as his caddy throws his hands in the air at the final hole of the tournament at Augusta, Georgia, on Sunday. Help
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Severiano Ballesteros, of Spain, winner of the 1980
US Masters, tips his hat to the gallery as his caddy
throws his hands in the air at the final hole of the
tournament at Augusta, Georgia, on Sunday.
AUGUSTA, Georgia, Mon-
day (AAP-AP). — US Masters
winner Severiano Ballesteros
says American golf is "too grim
and impersonal" and described
American professionals as
"money hungry".
Speaking after his triumphant
win, the 23-year-old Spaniard said
of American golf, "It's too cut-
throat. Players are money mad.
There is little fun in the game".
Ballesteros, the most exciting
figure to emerge in golf since Jack
Nicklaus, also cast doubts about
his returning to the US in the near
future to play tournaments.
"There's big money here. More
tension. You know, money's mon-
ey. They [American professionals]
are money hungry. Me, I don't
worry about money. I want to win
and be happy", Ballesteros said.
"I think I'll stay in Europe.
When they get tired of me then
maybe I'll come to America. We
don't have a fiesta when we play
[in Europe] but everybody is happy
when you win".
These were depressing words to
Deane Beman and the architects of
the $A11.7 million America tour,
at the moment suffering from a
lack of identity and a downturn in
popularity.
With the aging Arnold Palmer
and Jack Nicklaus decending from
their once lofty pedestals to be
replaced by an almost indist-
inguishable wave of young lions in
plaid slacks, the game is thirsting
for a new dramatic personality.
Now they have one in the hand-
some Spaniard, considered by most
of the international golf communi-
ty to be the world's No. 1 player.
He is reigning champion in two
of the four major tests — the
British Open and the Masters. His
horizon appears limitless.
Recognising this, the PGA tour
offered Ballesteros a players card,
free access to the tour without the
necessity of going to the qualifying
school.
The card would require
Ballesteros to give his first al-
legiance to the US tour.
"No, gracias", he said.
Some American pros were
stunned by this rebuff. The locker
rooms seethed with caustic com-
ments.
"If he is to be a world-class
player he will have to learn how to
play the difficult tree-lined courses
that demand precision as well as
distance", said titleholder Dave
Graham, of Australia.
Graham insists that the Ameri-
can tour is a requisite to golfing
greatness.
South Africa's Gary Player says
if Ballesteros decides to play in the
US he will prove himself the best
in the world.
US Masters reports. — Page 21.
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