Increased cut line causing problems

European Tour golfers are having to set their alarm clocks extra early at the weekends now the qualifying cut-off has been increased from 65 to the 70 leading players.

The Moroccon Open in Rabat that ended on Sunday featured 85 players over the last two days, the most to make the cut this season, and the time could soon come when there are 100 players choking up the fairways at the weekend.

It will be dawn when the hapless early starters tee off, as it was in Rabat on Sunday. First tee-off was 6.30 a.m., so that meant a 4.30 a.m. wake-up call for the first group to allow for hotel pick-up, practice and a quick breakfast.

It was not the best preparation for the final round of the week over Dar Es Salam, one of the longest - and one of the best - circuits the pros will experience.

It has all come about because the European Tour made a concession to the journeymen pros who complained tournaments were set up just for the elite, with prize money not being shared out properly.

It is true that appearance money is still going on, even if it now comes under the disguise of clinics and shoot-outs, but the fact is that those who either work harder to get it or have natural talent, are the ones who earn most.

However, the journeymen disagreed and so the Tour decided last year to increase the qualifying cut-off from 65 to the top 70 players and those tying for 70th place.

The extra places have seen weekend fields get larger and larger and it has often meant pros playing from the first and the 10th tees on Saturday and Sunday, not very satisfactory for players, spectators - or officials.

And it's a real shame for those already needing to play catch-up from down the field if they have to get up a couple of hours before dawn and tee off when there is only just proper light.

Apparently a groundswell of professionals is unhappy with the huge fields at the weekend and many in the ranks want something done - again.

One pro suggested paying everybody 400 or 500 hundred pounds appearance money and reduce the cut to 60, or even 50, qualifiers and ties.

It seemed a fair idea. But would that make pros less hungry if they knew that they would be paid anyway?

You do wonder if the pros already get it too easy anyway, particularly if there is enough sponsorship money about from equipment manufacturers and attachments for them not to worry about a modest 500 pounds appearance money.

The Moroccan Open organisers set up a pro-am on Saturday for the pros who missed the cut, with 400 pounds for each pro. That sum, and competitive tournament practice, ought to have meant a full turn-out but quite a few players missed it.

The views of the European seniors would be interesting. They used to need to be in the top 20 for that kind of money!

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