Martin Slumbers is getting ready to step down from his role as R&A CEO at the end of the year, and he has some strong opinions about the future of men’s professional golf. He’s been in charge for nine years and recently shared his thoughts on several important issues, especially focusing on the current state of men’s golf.
Slumbers’ time as CEO ends on December 13th, with Mark Darbon set to take over. Before leaving, Slumbers expressed concerns about certain aspects of the sport but also took pride in events like The Open. Here are six main points from his recent interview.
Need for a Peaceful Resolution
Slumbers believes that the current financial model in men’s professional golf isn’t sustainable. He pointed out how Saudi Arabia’s backing of LIV Golf since 2021 has created a divide in the sport. LIV’s $20 million tournaments have drawn top players away from the PGA Tour, prompting it to create its own high-paying ‘Signature Events’. Now, all anyone talks about is money .
Fans might feel that all this focus on cash is hurting golf’s image and driving them away. Viewing numbers have dropped, supporting this idea. “We need to sort out these issues,” Slumbers said. “The game’s history and values should lead us, not just money.”
He added that while he doesn’t know every detail about different business models in golf, he understands enough to see they’re not sustainable long-term.
The Game’s Overall Health
Despite ongoing conflicts at the top levels of men’s golf, Slumbers emphasized that overall participation is thriving. During COVID-19, more people started playing golf than ever before. “We’ve grown more since COVID than during it,” he stated proudly.
Golf now attracts 62.3 million players worldwide—one million more than last year and ten million more than in 2018! Not many sports managed to keep their pandemic boost like golf did.
Less Dependence on Stars
Interestingly, Slumbers thinks big stars aren’t as crucial for attracting interest anymore. There were fears that fewer appearances by Tiger Woods would mean less attention for golf .
But even with famous names like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler around, it’s clear recreational play is booming for other reasons too! Fans might say it’s refreshing seeing new faces shine without relying solely on superstars.
Slumbers explained how perceptions have shifted: “Before COVID-19 hit us hard globally speaking…everyone thought you needed big personalities playing professionally so others would follow suit recreationally.” But now things seem different; societal changes may play a role here too!
The Open Thriving
Slumbers feels proud about how far they’ve taken The Open Championship under his leadership—it’s become one of those major sporting events everyone knows about worldwide! Its size keeps growing along with its reputation—a testament indeed considering where they started from initially!
Growing Female Influence
Early during his tenure merging R&A Ladies Golf Union showed great promise towards increasing female involvement across various levels within golfing circles globally speaking—not just encouraging women/girls into playing but also nurturing talent among future administrators/managers alike via scholarship programs initiated back then which continue today successfully reaching ninth/tenth cohort already!
AIG Women’s Open now boasts $9.5m prize fund making it among best championships available today compared past days when resources were limited significantly affecting overall quality delivered back then…
No Immediate Return To Turnberry?
While Donald Trump remains hopeful hosting another major championship event soon enough perhaps someday returning prestigious tournament such as ‘The Open’ onto one course owned personally himself i.e., Trump Turnberry specifically remains uncertain given current circumstances surrounding political climate etcetera according latest reports provided Telegraph journalist James Corrigan recently published online elsewhere…
What do you think? Should they bring back The Open at Turnberry?
