Anthony Kim to play on European Tour in 2009
Anthony Kim has joined the European Tour for next season, leading what is expected to become a migration of high-profile American golfers to spend more time playing in lucrative tournaments overseas.
The 23-year-old Kim, who has shot up to No. 8 in the world rankings, paid the mandatory 2,000 British pound (C$3,998) fee for membership but will depend on invitations for any event he plays in, the European Tour said Wednesday. He is scheduled to play at the HSBC Championships in Shanghai from Nov. 6-9.
The tour said Camilo Villegas of Colombia had also paid the dues to become a member, meaning both players can feature in next season’s Dubai World Championships, a US$20-million tournament that will replace the Volvo Masters from 2009 as the season finale to determine the tour’s leading player.
“Anytime you get players from the calibre of Camilo and Anthony into the tour, it’s great. It’s an asset, it’s good for golf, it’s good for the European Tour,” Sergio Garcia said.
Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont., and Phil Mickelson and have also talked about playing more in Europe next season, and Garcia said he expects several other PGA Tour players to seize on the moneymaking opportunities offered overseas.
“Some of the tournaments we play in the Middle East … are bigger than the ones they play in the U.S. You get good players there, so world rankings points increase,” Garcia said. “At the end of the day, that’s what the big players do it for.”
Over the last six months, Kim has emerged as one of golf’s brightest young prospect with victories in the Wachovia Championship and AT&T National at Congressional, along with a starring role in the United States’ victory at the Ryder Cup. Kim had begun the year at No. 75 in the world.
The 26-year-old Villegas is ranked seventh, meaning eight of the world’s 10 best players will feature in Europe in 2009.
“If you want the tour to grow and get to the level that it deserves, there’s no doubt that you need those big players,” Garcia said from the Volvo Masters.
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