Pádraig: US starlets suffering

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON admitted his comments may seem to be somewhat controversial but then his views are similar to many who believe the US Tour has become so strong but at the determinant of nurturing young American-born talent.

We’ve seen the dominance of Korean-born women on the US LPGA Tour and this year we are seeing the winning ways of non-Americans on the US Tour.

Half of the 33 money-list counting events this year on the US Tour have been won by players not born in the United States.

Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy started the trend in capturing the first event of the season so much so that Australians, South Africans and English-born players have now won a dozen events between them this US Tour season.

Ireland boasts two victories courtesy of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell while a Columbian and a Swede each have won one event.

Of the Americans, the respective World No. 4 and 5 in Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk, who are now into 40s, lead the way with two wins apiece.

“The US Tour is no longer a breeding ground for US-born players,” said Harrington. “This could be a controversial comment but the US Tour is now so strong with the international players coming here that it means the young US-born player doesn’t get the opportunity to learn how to win as much as an international player playing on his home Tour before he comes out.

“If Vijay Singh, as Vijay did a few years ago, won 10 events in a year, it doesn’t leave very many events for anybody else to win. That’s a perfect example. If he wins 10 out of 45 events, that’s 35 left.

“And if Tiger and Phil take five each out of that, and now the rest of the field are playing for 25 events, there’s not a lot of events for players to win out there.

“Whereas young players coming through the South African Tour or Australian Tour, Asian Tour, Japan or Europe, we all get our chance to build up our competitiveness, our ability to win down the stretch on numerous occasions before we come over here to the PGA Tour where there is a lot more depth.

“But with Tim Finchem strengthening the Tour as they have over the last 10 years, it’s made this as strong as possible a Tour. He’s also made it as easy as possible for the international players to join and is that to the detriment of the US-born players.

“So by strengthening the US Tour, there’s no doubt it’s giving a little bit less opportunity to the younger Americans.

“Also if there’s 50 international players every week on the US Tour, that’s 50 less spots for US guys, and they are the very best of the 50, and they are going to finish high up in the event, so it’s even reducing the opportunities as I said even more. ”

Harrington was speaking ahead of this week’s $8.5m WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

Twelve months ago, Harrington went into the final round alongside Tiger Woods and led the American with seven holes to play before taking a crippling triple-bogey at the 16th to virtually hand Woods his fourth straight success in the event.

“I can’t remember a huge amount past the 14th hole onwards,” said Harrington.

“But I’ve played a lot of good golf since then.”

If his most recent performance in finishing runner-up last week at Killarney is any indicator, then Harrington could be on the verge to end a two-year winless drought.

“There was a couple of saves last week that were right up there with some of my best of my career let’s say,” he said.

“But then is that encouraging? I don’t know as they’re kind of one-offs. I’d be more encouraged by solid up-and-downs and solid play.

“The spectacular stuff is nice when it happens but then you know it doesn’t last forever. But yeah, I enjoyed it last week as my short game was sharp though I’ve got to keep working on that.”

Organisers have drawn Harrington to play the opening two rounds alongside Graeme McDowell in an all-Ireland two-ball while Woods has England’s Lee Westwood for company.

McIlroy has been paired to play alongside Mickelson.