Sandy and Seve back rebel tour

13 April 2012

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Sandy Lyle and Seve Ballesteros, two of the greatest names in European golf, have pledged their support for a breakaway championship which aims to give older players a new chance to compete for titles.

Lyle and Ballesteros are among the so-called "fading 40's". That is the unkind tag applied to past heroes who look set to be rendered uncompetitive at the 66th Masters which starts here today on a new-look Augusta National course that is bound to favour younger power-hitters.

Indeed, Jack Nicklaus, winner of a record six Masters titles, confirmed that the radical changes to America's most famous golfing venue will "eliminate part of the field, there's no question about it".

As a consequence, the green jacket, which is traditionally awarded to the winner of the Masters, will probably be worn on Sunday evening by one of the new breed of athletic golfers, such as defending champion Tiger Woods, who are able to exploit the 285 yards added to the length of the National course.

The knowledge that they are no longer capable of hitting the ball a sufficient distance to challenge for a place on the leaderboard is causing the likes of Lyle and Ballesteros to consider joining the proposed Major Champions Tour, despite opposition to the concept from the US PGA Tour.

As reported by Standard Sport last month, this series would be open to winners of at least one major title who are between the ages of 37 and 50 when they become eligible for the Seniors Tours in the United States and Europe.

A circuit of tournaments is being drawn up for next year, and Rupert Murdoch's Fox Sports television station in the US will cover the events if at least 20 players make a commitment to the tour.

It is understood that Fox have set a deadline for the end of next month for the organisers to come up with a list of suitable names.

Lyle, who in 1988 became the first British winner of a Masters title, said: "I'm definitely interested in it. It would suit me down to the ground."

The 44-year-old Scot is based in Florida and plays most of his golf in the US. But the 1985 Open champion is no longer sufficiently competitive to earn a place in US PGA Tour events by right, and invitations to tee up against the elite no longer drop through his letterbox.

He said: "I always thought that being a major winner would have some stronger recognition. It doesn't seen to happen these days.

"I've been writing to sponsors and not even getting replies. What's going on here?"

Ballesteros is also ready to compete in fields that could include Nick Faldo, Greg Norman, Bernhard Langer, Mark O'Meara, Curtis Strange, Hal Sutton and Ian Woosnam.

The 45-year-old Spaniard, who has won five major championships including the 1980 and 1983 Masters, said: "In principle it's a good idea. It would be very interesting for TV and for the audiences. I would be happy to play 12 to 15 tournaments." Of course, it will be a long time before 26-year-old Woods needs to consider such things. Of more immediate importance today is that he begins a quest to become only the third player after Nicklaus and Faldo to win back-to-back Masters titles.

It is one of the many traditions at Augusta that the outgoing champion presents the new winner with his green jacket, and what happens should Woods triumph again has led to a lot of debate among the organisers of the season's first major.

The outcome was today revealed by Hootie Johnson, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club. "I will present Tiger with his jacket," he said.

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