“The FFGolf is ready to organize the first PGA Tour tournament in Europe”

Laurent Louët with Lionel Vella,

Future president of the French Golf Federation – he is at the head of the solely candidate listing for the election of December 5 – Pascal Grizota of the continuation in the concepts. While he fastidiously prepares his entry into workplace, Pascal Grizot unveils the components of his subsequent time period at FFGolf. Just a few weeks in the past, he revealed in a small committee the foremost axes of his motion: sports activities and excessive degree insurance policies, growth of federal observe, environmental safety. And for the former director of the 2018 Ryder Cup, who enjoys an essential worldwide community, the group and holding of a serious European skilled tournament in France is a precedence.

Financial ressources

As we all know, the dean {of professional} golf tournaments in continental Europe has been roughed up since the Chinese from the HNA group deserted the foremost sponsorship. A withdrawal in 2018 which led the European Tour to turn out to be the foremost promoter of the occasion, earlier than “downgrading” it, due to lack of monetary sources. First, by transferring the French Open from July to October 2019, to a a lot much less enticing finish of season date. Then leaving some uncertainty over its relocation (from the Golf National to Terre Blanche), earlier than lastly canceling the 2020 version due to a viral pandemic.

“I discuss it calmly with Keith Pelley, confides Pascal Grizot today, by phone. We have cordial relations. There are different possibilities for the future, in the new organization that is preparing for the European Tour… ”

In one Facebook Live hosted by Journal du Golf on November 20, Pascal Grizot has taken a transparent place – although it has gone virtually unnoticed – relating to the holding {of professional} tournaments on French soil in 2021. After a 12 months with out the French Open or Challenge Tour assembly (2nd European division), Grizot has put lots of strain on Keith Pelley, Canadian boss of the European Tour: “Me, what I can tell you is that we have sponsors if we have to organize a very large professional tournament tomorrow (in France) . Today, the European Tour which ensures our tutelage does not know how to make a great tournament. I cannot go and ask sponsors for sums comparable to those committed on the PGA Tour if I do not have a guarantee of the field (of players). Turn on your television and watch the difference between a field of players in a PGA Tour tournament and that in a European Tour tournament! “

Just a few days later, Pascal Grizot, inscisive, continues: “Of course I want to be able to offer in Europe a field of players equivalent to that of a PGA Tour tournament in America. And for that, the European Tour will have to take decisions. If he does not take them, he himself will be taken over by the PGA Tour, or by an investment fund that supports one of the four or five takeover projects (among which a Saudi file is favorite, editor’s note)… I confirmed to Ty Votaw (Deputy Director General in charge of International within the PGA tour) that the French Golf Federation, if the PGA Tour resumed the European Tour, was ready to become the first partner of the new entity. And if the European Tour was not ready to transform, the FFGolf is ready to work live with the PGA Tour and make the first PGA tour tournament on European soil! “

Stretched pole

And paf! A pole extended to the Americans who, in the event of a merger with the European Tour, would in any case take the leadership of this new World Professional Golf League. The ball is therefore in Keith Pelley’s court, just a few days before the grand final of the Race to Dubai (December 10-13) where he is used to presenting the results of the past season and to projecting himself on the next. Even more strongly, Pascal Grizot tells the general manager of the European Tour that he has the financial solutions to free himself from his tutelage and develop a large-scale project with the Americans.

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One of Pascal Grizot’s ideas dates back several years: he wanted to organize a large touring tournament in continental Europe, hosted depending on the year on different courses, like the British Open. A rotation that would start in France, then go to Germany, Spain and Italy, for example, before returning to Golf National. The idea obviously appeals to major international sponsors such as Rolex, a major global golf partner, and BMW, or even some companies in the LVMH group, compatible with the Swiss watchmaker …

Companies in France

“There are companies in France that can engage and support a French tournament, confirms Pascal Grizot, without giving names. You mustn’t tell me that’s not true. These companies can commit large sums of money, but they are also very demanding. They won’t pay $ 7 million to have two or three Top 50 players, that doesn’t exist… ”Direct reference to the Rolex Series endowment for a number of seasons…

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The tone is set. Instigator of reflection, Pascal Grizot has the ambition to be a part of a brand new mannequin, like the one which exists in the present day in tennis: a World Tour together with Grand Slam tournaments, Premium tournaments (Rolex Series , ATP Masters 1000 FedEx Cup playoffs) on completely different continents (America, Europe and Asia) and fewer endowed native tournaments (USA, France, England, and many others.). The novelty is to impose a Premium tournament put in in a number of nations of continental Europe, supported by worldwide funding but additionally native …