Change in approach

There are two major professional tours taking place annually in golf - the US PGA Tour and the European Tour.

Traditionally, the US Tour has enjoyed larger prize purses, better fields and less distance to travel; with all of the events taking place in North America.

The European Tour is now spread from Scotland to New Zealand with most countries in between holding co-sanctioned tour events with either our Asian, African or Australasian counterparts.

Over the years, many of Europe's best players have played more and more in the US using the European Tour as a bedding ground before they pitch themselves against the best for the riches on offer across the Atlantic.

This trend seems to be changing a bit with more investment in the European Tour and the advent of tournaments with very lucrative prize funds like the Race to Dubai. The quality of players on the European Tour is outstanding, with new young stars and first time winners emerging virtually every month.

Some of the biggest names in golf, who are not currently members of the European Tour, such as world number two Phil Mickelson have hinted at playing more events in Europe in order to qualify for the lucrative Dubai finale to the season. However, the European Tour, following a meeting with the Tournament Committee, announced recently that the minimum number of events a player must play in to be eligible to take part and be a member of the tour has been increased to 12 from 11 and that at least two of these events must be played in Europe.

Committee chairman, Thomas Bjorn, said: "It's not a big ask to play 12 events especially when a lot of the guys in question (who may wish to join the European Tour) play four Majors and three World Golf Championship events anyway."

Ernie Els fears the change in European Tour membership rules could lead to US stars rethinking plans to play more on the other side of the Atlantic.

The world number eight said the European Tour might need to think about exemptions to tempt US players over to Europe. "Mickelson has indicated he wants to play a bit more around the world, he's bought a new airplane so I think he can put some miles on it," added Els.

The four majors and the three World Golf Championship events all count towards European Tour membership, meaning players would have to compete in a further five events to have a chance of qualifying for Dubai. Els plays on both of golf's principle circuits, and said he expected more players to follow his example. "I think to raise it to 12 is really not all that much to ask players to do, you can play both tours," said Els.

So, is it going to help or hinder the European Tour by putting these new regulations in place? Only time will tell.

The US Tour already has its own very lucrative end-of-season play-offs, so why should they be allowed to gatecrash ours? The answer; because they are some of the biggest stars in the game and any tournament's profile and status would be raised by them participating.

Golf is a global game and a world tour can't be far away. But for now, if the best players from across the pond want to pitch themselves against the best from Europe more often, they get my vote!

A fans' favourite whose immediate goal is to regain his form rather than the Race to Dubai is John Daly.

The two-time major champion is considering playing regularly on the European Tour next season as he remains hungry to play tournament golf. Daly has made only five cuts this year in 16 events, and his best finish was a tie for 40th place.

Still remembered for his extraordinary win at the 1991 US PGA Championship, when he replaced Nick Price at the last minute, and his Open Championship win at St Andrews four years later, Daly has long been one of the bad boys of golf. However, Daly, reputed to be one of the longest hitters in world golf, still has a massive global following and would be a huge hit on the European Tour.

PRIZE QUIZ!

YOU could win a complimentary 30-minute golf lesson for one person with either Martin Robinson or Oliver Brown, PGA teaching professionals, from Riffa Views Golf & Leisure by emailing Sue at s.addison@theroyalgolfclub.com with your answer to this question: Who is the chairman of the European Tour Tournament Committee?

A draw will be made from all the correct answers on Monday and the winner's name will be announced in this column next week. Normal GulfWeekly contest rules apply.

The winner for the October 1-7 week was Alan Blackman.

Thinking externally can give you confidence

This week the Royal Golf Club's new PGA Teaching Professional, Martin Robinson, continues his series on the mental side of golf and how training your brain as well as your swing will help improve your scores.

The types of mental techniques used in sport are mostly concerned in changing the way we think, but most people aren't aware that we can affect the way we think by changing our physiology.

In particular, this week, I am going to talk about body language. In the world of cricket, one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time, Shane Warne, has gone on record as saying one of the most important things he ever learnt from the Australian Institute of Sport was the importance of taking charge of his body language.

Think about some of the great golfing champions over the years; Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and, of course, Tiger Woods - don't they hold themselves in a certain way? I remember watching Tiger Woods at the 1998 Open at Birkdale. It was the first time I had seen him and as he walked onto the 7th tee, he looked about eight feet tall and he carried a definite aura about him.

If you have ever had the opportunity to watch any of the greats in the flesh, didn't they carry an aura of control and assurance? They walk tall with good posture and they look focused. Think about any other things you notice when observing your favourite golfer move around the course.

Now try to watch a movie of yourself - how do you hold yourself as you walk to the tee? How do you look as you walk off the tee? Especially if it was a bad shot! Compare the way you look with the champion. For many, I would imagine it would paint quite a different picture! The things I have observed in myself and others are nervously approaching a tee shot searching awkwardly for tees, and generally looking unprepared! Tentatively slumping over a 4-foot putt! Storming off the tee with your eyes firmly fixed at the floor! And the list goes on...

Next time you play, try to carry yourself like a champion: walk confidently to the tee, have an air of calmness and readiness before you approach the ball, stride down the fairway with purpose, but most importantly keep your focus by keeping your head up.

Research has shown that when you look down it is conducive to thinking internally - you are more likely to dwell on emotions such as anxiety and anger.

By keeping your head above the level of the tree line or the flagstick, you will be thinking more externally - a state which is not conducive to thinking about emotions, helping to keep all those negative thoughts at bay.

In fact, psychologists have been known to tell clinical depressants to count the number of chimneys on their walk home, as it will keep their focus external. I'm not suggesting for one second that playing golf can put you in a state of clinical depression! But the theory is the same.

Our body language directly affects the way we think - if we carry ourselves like golfing greats, we will begin to think like them! This will surely improve our chances of hitting the better shots more often.