Perry enjoying spreading his wings

bruced

Kenny Perry would encourage his compatriots to pursue a globetrotting calendar – despite criticism of this attitude.

American veteran Kenny Perry would encourage his compatriots to pursue a globetrotting calendar – despite recent criticism over desertion of the US PGA Tour.
Last week, three-time PGA Tour winner Scott McCarron, 44, lashed out after Ryder Cup winner Anthony Kim was granted a release to play in Abu Dhabi instead of at the Bob Hope Classic.
But, ahead of his first appearance at a regular European Tour event at this week’s Commercialbank Qatar Masters, 49-year-old Perry admitted he regrets not pursuing a more worldwide schedule until now.
“It’s Scott’s opinion but not everybody on the PGA Tour. I definitely want the releases,” said the world number 13.
“I skipped the Open in 2008. I set an agenda to make the 2008 Ryder Cup team so I went to Milwaukee instead of going to the British Open. And I really got crucified for that.
“But I finished sixth at Milwaukee, I set a gameplan, and I was able to accomplish my goal and make the Ryder Cup team.
“I am also 49. I joined the Champions Tour this year and my whole life has been in America. Now I’m comfortable with my life and I want to see more of the world.
“It’s also a great opportunity to play in Doha. If I can play well, earn points and try to get on the (Ryder Cup) team again and go to Wales. I would love to play one more Ryder Cup.”
Perry, who has held his US PGA Tour card since 1986, has enjoyed a swansong towards the end of his career, with 11 of his 14 titles coming in the last decade, culminating in a second Ryder Cup appearance at Valhalla.
And, despite only arriving in Doha at the start of the week, he is already enjoying the greater camaraderie on the European scene, which, along with the lucrative Race to Dubai, he believes will attract more players across the Atlantic.
“There were no Americans at the Dubai World Championship but you had all of the guys in America talking about it,” he added. “We started talking about it and asking each other, ‘are you going to join the European Tour?’
“It may be a slow process but in the end there will be more guys going in that direction than there are right now.”