Sport-Blog.com

Much has been made of the US PGA Tour changes for 2007. A NASCAR style points chase has been added to the mix and that move has led to the repositioning of several key tournaments in the United States.

Of course, the US Tour is only a part of the global golf initiative. So any changes in America are certain to ripple throughout the other global tours. One of the first to discuss adjustments with their current schedule is the European Tour.

One key issue for Europe is the move of The Players Championship to May. Currently that event is a key component of the early golf season in America, being played in March prior to the first major, the Masters in Augusta, Georgia. However, the revamped PGA schedule pushes the TPC to May at a key juncture for the European schedule.

But an even bigger concern is that the NASCAR style chase finishes with the U.S. Tour's FedEx Cup championship series. Those events are set for August and the world's top players are expected to compete in four straight tournaments during that time frame, culminating with the American Tour Championship.

European tour executive director George O'Grady will have his work cut out for him to keep the European Tour viable. But all officials in the golf world acknowledge that it is important to the global interests in golf that Europe sustain its tour.

But with key players now a part of both tours, the changes could make it difficult for the likes of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Darren Clarke, David Howell and Padraig Harrington to compete in the necessary 11 tournaments to remain a part of the European Tour. And without those big names, the question becomes will the European Tour survive without making adjustments to allow those people the opportunity to compete.

Among the moves being considered is to push the British Masters, an event traditionally held in early May, to September. Moving that event, however, will impact current golf events held in both in late August and early September. Those events are not likely to be pushed back to October because of potential weather issues.

One suggestion, made by south African Ernie Els is to move the current Arab swing, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai, to the end of the calendar year to give Europe a finish to its season that rivals that of the American Tour. Then again, such a move will affect another global tournament, the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.

Clearly, the US PGA Tour restructuring is having an enormous impact on the golf world. And the global nature of golf demands that these other tours and other key world wide events need to reconsider their options so as to draw the better foreign players to their events.

Without some of those big names appearing at least infrequently, the likelihood of those events and tours like the European or Australian continuing is up for serious debate.