Poor Alistair Tait. Poor pampered European tour professional golfers. By the look of things, they’ve just come to realize that poverty exists in the world. I’ve yet to figure out if Tait writes with naivete or with cynicism in his recent GW article titled “Point Of No Return: Lasting Images of first India aren’t good.”

Tait calls the Euro tour administration on the carpet for exposing touring professionals to the first-rate poverty of a developing country. India might have nuclear weapons and most of the USA’s help-call business, but it clearly has way too much underpriviledge for Tait’s taste. I’ll not waste space quoting the man; go here to read what he says and see if you line up with me.

Anyone who believes that there is no poverty within 30 miles of each USA tour stop is a fool. Go abroad to the various Nationwide stops in Panama, Mexico, and other such nations and you’ll narrow the radius. Travel to the Asian tour, the South Africa tour, and some of the developing-country Euro tour events and the gap wilts to nothing.

Is professional golf just realizing what the rest of society has known for years? Two nights ago a visiting hockey player had his neck torn open by a teammate’s skate in my fair hometown. I saw the ashen horror on the faces of teammates, opponents and fans. After reading Tait’s weepy tale, I can imagine the same coloring of skin on most Euro Tour players when they faced the reality of New Delhi. Welcome back to the world, lads. Time to grow up.

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