One of the first reasons I have always admired Gary Player is that he left home in South Africa every year to travel the world to play golf. One of his claims to fame is that he travelled more miles in a plane, over 11 million, than any other golfer, and this was in the day where nobody had private jets.
Gary set the standard for guys, especially from the southern hemisphere who wanted to become the best they could be. Remember when he won the Masters in 1961 he was considered a 'foreigner", in fact he was the first non American to win.
Since Gary, I came to admire Ernie Els, Reteif Goosen, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, for becoming truly world golfers.
Now of course with China and the Far and Middle east opening up guys like Rory, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Adam Scott, Ian Poulter just to name a few are jetting all over the world as part of their yearly schedule
Luke Donald has carried the title world golfer to the extreme this year with all of his success, champion of both tours.
The PGA tour is fabulously wealthy and the average PGA tour pro doesn't need to carry his passport to be very comfortable.
However the stunning rise in success of the European Tour, with all 4 majors and the Ryder Cup and a bevy of stars to rival any, and WGC events in China, strong fields in Australia, and the Race to Dubai starting and ending in that country, now one of the sporting and holiday hubs of the world, the action for the big boys is now all over the globe.
Therefore when a guy like Peter Uihlein, at 22 already rich through his family beyond our wildest dreams, decides to get out and travel the world and compete on the European Tour to cut his teeth professionally is commendable in my opinion.
It's not often you see a spoiled American kid do this, I hope it's a sign of the times..
Here is the AP report
Peter Uihlein has decided to leave school early and turn professional in 2012, signing on with Chubby Chandler's International Sports Management group.
The former world number one ranked amateur will make his professional debut in Abu Dhabi at the end of January with the goal of playing primarily on the European Tour next year.
"It is a pioneering move by him - the obvious step would have been to try to establish his career in the United States," said Chandler. "Having seen players like Lee Westwood, Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Darren Clarke build careers by playing all over the world, including America, Peter has been encouraged by that. I'm sure that he will benefit enormously from the experience."
Uihlein, who failed to get past the second stage at both PGA Tour Q-School and European Tour Q-School this year, says he wanted a full year of play as a pro rather than join the professional ranks mid-season following college.
The 22-year-old also shot down suggestions that his father, Acushnet CEO Wally Uihlein, played a big role in his decision to turn pro.
“The decisions that I make are always my decisions. My dad is one of my sounding boards. For years, players have been asking my dad for advice, so logically I am going to take advantage of that same opportunity.”
Uihlein is eligible for seven sponsor's exemptions on the European and PGA Tours. Chandler has already "guaranteed" he'll play in seven tournaments by April. If he manages to equal or better the money earned by the player who finished 115th on the European Tour Order of Merit, 258,939 Euros, Uihlein will earn his Tour card for the remainder of the year.
He'll be hoping to chart the same path that fellow pros Adam Scott, Graeme McDowell and most recently Rory McIlroy carved out for themselves by winning on the European circuit before taking their game to the PGA Tour.
McIlroy made the decision earlier this year to leave Chandler's ISM stable in order to sign with Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management.
"The PGA European Tour plays all over the world from the United Kingdom to China, from Korea to South Africa and from the Middle East to Southeast Asia," he said. "Those players who have played on the Tour, and who are still members, make for a pretty impressive list. I just feel the ISM team is well-positioned to help me achieve my goals."
The top four players in the world will be in the field in Abu Dhabi, along with Tiger Woods who will also be making his 2012 season debut.
Bryan Angus also on twitter@mummmbles
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