Changing of the guard?

Markus Brier’s second European Tour victory at the Volvo China Open on Sunday has edged the Austrian veteran into the Top 20 on the Tour’s current Order of Merit list.
And that brings to 11 the number of Europeans who feature in the top 20 and to four their numbers holding places among the top 10.
With half the matches on the European Tour now being played outside of Europe in Asia, Australasia, South Africa and the Middle East and mostly in the early part of the year, it not entirely surprising that so many off-shore invaders hold top positions on the Tour’s current Merit list.
For example of the top 10, only four Europeans hold places up there, including Merit Order leader Henrik Stenson of Sweden, and they are matched by four South Africans, including the England-based duo of Retief Goosen, who is No 2 on the Euro Merit list, and Ernie Els, who is 5th.
With Asian golfers claiming more and more titles, it is perhaps a little surprising that only two Asians feature among the top 20 at this stage, these being Korea’s Yong-eun Yang, who won the tour’s fastest purse outside of the majors and the WGC events at the season-opening HSBC Champions Championship in China, and Jeev Milka Singh, who triumphed twice on the Tour last year, including in the season-closing Grand Finale, the Volvo Masters, but has yet to win this year.
With Paul Casey (2), Justin Rose (8), Luke Donald (17) and Ian Poulter (18), England are relatively well represented in the Top 20, but the paucity of Golfers from Scotland, Wales and Ireland in the top 20 must be of some concern to the golfing bodies in those three countries, especially Scotland, the cradle of golf, who like Wales, are without any representatives at all.
Ireland is a little better off with Padraig Harrington at No 9, but that’s it right now.
Stalwarts like Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley are nowhere to be seen. Nor is Scot Colin Montgomerie.
Are we seeing a changing of the guard?
Examine the latest European Tour Order of Merit list below and see what you think (currency in Euros):
1 Henrik Stenson (Swe) 1,615,383
2 Retief Goosen (Rsa) 1,192,503,
3 Paul Casey (Eng) 860,767
4 Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 747,104
5 Ernie Els (Rsa) 662,707
6 Nick O’Hern (Aus) 621,886
7 Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 607,513
8 Justin Rose (Eng) 574,263
9 Padraig Harrington (Irl) 47,909
10 Anton Haig (Rsa) 428,333
11 Niclas Fasth (Swe) 410,188
12 Sergio Garcia (Spa) 398,325
13 Michael Campbell (Nzl) 345,635
14 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 336,023
15 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 335,754
16 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 324,428
17 Luke Donald (Eng) 314,584
18 Ian Poulter (Eng) 299,956,
19 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 296,564
20 Markus Brier (Aut) 294,933
Cheers
The Editor
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick: Falling short at US PGA Championship ‘hurts a hell of a lot’
Fitzpatrick carded a closing three-over-par 73 to miss out on the play-off between eventual winner Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris by two shots.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas pays tribute to caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after his US PGA victory
Phil Mickelson’s former bagman gave Thomas a crucial pep talk after he shot 74 on Saturday.
-
PGA Championship
Tommy Fleetwood confident he is ‘coming out the other side’ after dip in form
Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Emotional Justin Thomas credits his experience for US PGA victory
Thomas also won the 2017 US PGA at Quail Hollow.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas eclipses Will Zalatoris in play-off to claim second US PGA title
The former world number one’s victory equalled the biggest comeback in US PGA history.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy’s Sunday charge at US PGA Championship ends in disappointment
McIlroy’s closing 68 in Tulsa was followed by him declining to speak to waiting reporters.
-
PGA Championship
Paul McGinley says Tiger Woods deserves better than to be a ‘ceremonial golfer’
The 46-year-old withdrew from a major championship for the first time in his professional career at Southern Hills.
-
PGA Championship
Mito Pereira with three-shot lead at US PGA as Tiger Woods withdraws
It is the first time in his career that Woods has withdrawn from a major.
-
PGA Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick relishing chance at securing first major title
A third round of 67 means Fitzpatrick trails leader Mito Pereira by three shots at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods withdraws from US PGA following his worst round at event
The American made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.