Tis a shame Europe's top golfers won't support their own tour

The Singapore Masters begins Thursday with a field of players similar to the lackluster one at last week’s Indonesia Open. Many of the top European players have gone missing again, in pursuit of larger purses in the United States.

This is an issue that has plagued the European Tour for years. Its lenient rules state that tour members must participate in 11 European-sanctioned tournaments to remain in good stead. However, those include events co-sanctioned with the PGA such as the majors and the World Golf Championships, which will be played only in the United States for the foreseeable future.

Thus, the top European players can skip Asia, and many do. Some may deign to enter the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia, or the Dubai Desert Classic, where purses are larger and conditions tend to be better. But most are nowhere to be seen when it’s time to play in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

It’s hard to blame the players when the money in Asia computes to about half the winnings at PGA events in the States. But as a fan of golf in Asia, I can only voice my disappointment. We must content ourselves with seeing the best Asian golfers compete with Europeans who, with some exceptions, fall into the second rank – good players all, but generally not the glamour boys. I can’t even remember what Sergio Garcia looks like!

In parting, I wish all the Europeans who grumble about the scheduling of WGC events in America would think again. If you really believe golf is a “world game,” why can’t you take a break from the big purses in California, Arizona and Florida and – just a little more often – support your tour in Asia?