Talking Golf in Europe - The DP World Tour and the Ladies European Tour

As we kick off a new Golf Season for 2022, change is afoot in Europe.  The European Tour rebrands itself the DP World Tour, increasing prize money across the board for its players.  The Ladies European Tour (LET) is fresh off of a thrilling Solheim Cup performance and appears to be in the ascendancy from years previous.   

Joining us is our special guest Richard Kaufman, the SkySports golf commentator covering both the DP World Tour and the LET.   In this episode, we discuss the increasing money that is coming into Golf, and particularly the men's game from Saudi Arabia.  Potential Ryder Cup captains are also a topic for discussion as Richard runs down his list of potential candidates for Captain of the European team, including Luke Donald, Paul Lawrie, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and others.  

On the women's side, we look at the abundance of young talented players coming through the ranks in European golf with players such as Pia Babnik, Chiara Noja, and Lily May Humphries among others.   There are some compelling story lines from other players such as Becky Brewerton and Julia Engstrom as they look to rebound from injuries to recapture their form and their status on the LET. 

Transcript

Douglas Maida: 0:29

Hello, good afternoon. Welcome to our podcast show. We're talking golf, our shows produced by the world of golf, and I'm your host, Douglas Maida. Our guest for today's show is Richard Kaufman. Richard is a golf commentator with Sky Sports. SkySports is based in the United Kingdom, and covers primarily the LET -- Ladies European Tour, and the DP World Tour, or what used to be known as the men's European tour. On occasion he also covers football, or what we call soccer in North America and Australia. Richard is joining us from North London where he lives with his family. He is joining us via zoom. And before we introduce him, we wish to apologize because we've been experiencing connectivity problems, leading to some delays and interruptions in our conversation. However, we decided to proceed and try to make the best of the situation. So we thank you for your patience and understanding as the show goes on. Now before we get to our guest, we have to take a short commercial break or messages for our sponsors.

Richard Kaufman: 1:38

Today's show is being recorded from our studio in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. We are produced by the world of golf and you can find us on the worldwide web at www.worldofgolf.org. Or on our social media channels of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and now on LinkedIn. We are proud to announce that "We're Talking Golf" has been recognized as one of the top 40 PGA and LPGA golf podcasts to follow. Now, back to our show. Here is your host, Douglas Maida.

Douglas Maida: 2:58

We're back. Thank you for staying with us. Now without any further ado, we would like to extend a big welcome to our guest, Richard Kaufman. Welcome to the show, Richard.

Richard Kaufman: 3:07

Pleasure to be here, Hi Douglas.

Douglas Maida: 3:11

So tell me, Richard, where are you based? And how much travel do you wind up doing -- covering all those Golf tours like that?

Richard Kaufman: 3:21

Well, it's been a bit strange actually, because of the pandemic, obviously, things have changed a little bit. So I'm based in North London. And I would say normally, I'm away from my family about six months of the year, you know, not always in faraway lands, but quite a bit in Asia and Europe, and sometimes in the United Kingdom, and obviously not at home. But when the pandemic struck in the early part of 2020. For example, I was in Malaysia at the time, and I got a call from my producer to tell me I wouldn't be going to Kenya the week later because the border had closed and the tournament would no longer go ahead. And that the trip to India was still going ahead but come home would go to India from there, then the Indian border closed while I was back in London. And then suddenly my family saw me at home pretty much for six months without stepping too far outside the front door. By the time August, September came around and eventually started doing golf tournaments again, they were quite happy to kick me out the front door.

Douglas Maida: 4:21

So it was a matter of saying thanks, dad, but no more. Thanks. Good to see you, Good Bye and get back to work.

Richard Kaufman: 4:28

Yeah, absence makes the heart grow fonder. And you know, they my family just used to that's the way it's always been. So it was tricky. You know, it was lovely in a way to have that time I would quite say was quality time because it wasn't like we could go out and do anything but it was just nice to be at home.

Douglas Maida: 4:47

So Richard, how long have you been with Sky Sports?

Richard Kaufman: 4:50

Well, it's it's not a simple question to answer. I've been on Sky Sports many many years but as a part, I would say officially a part, of their commentary team. I'd say it's maybe five or six years. But for a long time before that a lot of the golf tournaments that I would cover during World feed, or as other companies do, Ladies European Tour of the Asian Tour, would go on Sky Sports as they probably would do on your network that the covers golf in Canada in North America, like the Golf Channel, but as official part of the coventry team and sky the last five or six years.

Douglas Maida: 5:29

So what is your background in golf? How did you come to the sport? And how did you -- Is there a little story that you have that maybe connected you to the sport or anything like that?

Richard Kaufman: 5:42

Golfers and I've grown up playing the game, loving the game loving all sport, I used to play cricket, rugby, golf, football, tennis, unfortunately, never at a level where I threatened to be a professional, of course, like a lot of youngsters dreamed of doing that. And then when it came to starting a career, I kind of was gonna go two fields, one would have been in comedy, because I comedy and actually that put me in really good stead for I do because when you fail at stand up comedy, which I did, quite spectacularly, nothing will frighten you about being in front of a microphone, or in front of a camera. If you're getting booed on stage, trying to make people laugh. You're set for life, really nothing else can intimidate you. So I was either gonna go to comedy or sport. The first job I ever got, once I finished my studies was, I think you should be aware of because I know traveled transatlantic and there was a Canadian program Whose Line Is It Anyway? -- that if you remember that improv show, Ryan Stiles was in it, Shane, Clive Anderson was the host and I was a runner on there. So I was getting everyone their sandwiches and picking up their dirty clothes or whatever else might be laying around, making sure it was fed, got all the drinks they wanted, and was part of the production for that. Simultaneously, at the weekend, I worked for the big London station, Radio Station doing football. So I decided which one I felt I was flourishing best at, and it was the sport. And it wasn't until about three years into my sort of broadcasting career that I got my break doing Golf which was in 1996. I worked for ITN Radio. So it's the kind of the independent network that opposes the BBC in the UK. And they had a radio network to all the independent radio stations across the country. And I've sat there a couple of months into the job there where we'd cover football matches and they said Does anyone want to cover the golf tournament? There's the PGA Championship at Wentworth. I put my hand up and nobody else did. And so began my time in golf. I turned up at Wentworth in those days, you had a big tape recorder, and I stood behind the 18th green and if you go there now I was at the PGA Championship at Wentworth doing the TV in September and change but this huge hospitality stands now there's a big BMW car right in the stands as well where people can actually sit in; then there was nothing behind the 18th green I stood there on the I think it was the Tuesday or the Wednesday before the tournament. I dumped down all my stuff, picked up the tape recorder machine I had first person that was walking off the 18th Green was somebody who just put on a green jacket a month earlier Nick Faldo, Sir Nick because he likes to obviously be called now and asked him to do an interview. And that was my first interview in golf with Nick Foudy ahead of the PGA Championship. And I suppose the rest as they say is history. That was me working in golf for the very first time.

Douglas Maida: 8:59

Wow, that's quite the story, because he would have been fresh coming off that when at the Masters with Greg Norman in that category, it was five shots or six shots, made up.

Richard Kaufman: 9:09

Six shots, but he I mean, the turnaround was in double figures in the end because Nick won by quite a few it.

Douglas Maida: 9:16

Yeah, yeah, he's, I've read something. He's a . ..

Richard Kaufman: 9:19

Remember. who actually won day. Go ahead. Go ahead.

Douglas Maida: 9:23

I was gonna say, I had read something that he had mentioned that. He wasn't sure if he was gonna be able to make back that difference in strokes because of the lead. But he said as soon as he got to the course and saw Greg, working out a new grip for Sunday, he figured"Whoa, I got a shot."

Richard Kaufman: 9:38

Now it's one of the most incredible turnarounds And one of my greatest memories was that Open Championship until of course, Jordan Spaeth had his favorite, the 12th A few. It was incredible. Then I did my first Open Championship and it's incredible and I, you know, the years go by, none of us feel old. In our heads we're all still youngsters, but when I was at Wentworth field Months ago covering the PGA Championship. It was great fun. I was in the featured groups with Sam Torrance, and a great team that week. And I realized it'd be 25 years since I've covered my first golf tournament that and suddenly, I felt very old. And I know the gray hairs attached to it, but it does show there's been, you know, I did my first open that year at Royal St. Annes. because again, I interviewed a few people that week, Bob Charles, when I got there, Nick Price, but after interviewing them, I watched this Spanish guy walking off with this young kid, and it was Seve Ballasteros. He was one of my heroes growing up, asked him for an interview and had this youngster standing right by him. They just played he just won the Amateur Championship -- his name is Sergio Garcia, and I spoke to savvy for two and a half minutes. I've no idea now I wish I could somehow get hold of that interview. No idea what I asked it can't remember what he said. All I remember is, I'm so nervous. And he was so charming and lovely. And yeah, that was a roll of the dice. And as with Tom Lehman, won the Open Championship, but yeah, that's 25 years ago now.

Douglas Maida: 11:15

Yeah, well, geez, time flies. Let's get to another question here. What has been your most memorable experience with the DP tour?

Richard Kaufman: 11:28

Well, I mean, I've mentioned a few already really? Well, I mean, there's a few there's, there's moments like that, you know, for someone when it's new, it's all fresh and most exciting in a way, but I still love it now as much as I did that back then I was just doing reports and interviewing. And now I feel like I'm more immersed in the toilet because I'm the Lead commentator. And the first time I did my first lead commentary on Sky Sports was the South African Open in 2005. And that was very memorable for me obviously doing that to Henrik Stenson, it was one of his comebacks when he won there. I was at Tiger Woods won the US Open by I think was 12 shots or 13 shots -- should remember shouldn't I off the top of my head? By this time, I was working for a national radio station in the United Kingdom Talk Sport, I was there golf correspondent. So I was commentating with a few of the guys I still work with at Sky Sports. And that same year, I was at St. Andrews when Tiger won the Open Championship and that the field then as well. So to see Tiger in his prime, you know, PGA Championship and he took on Bob Mae in the playoff, I got to see Tiger,I got to speak to Tiger at Firestone, in Ohio to the World Golf Championship which was down the road for me here as well, in a bushy in North London. So I got to see Tiger in his prime. So those are probably the standout memories going back a decade or so you know, being part of seeing greatness. And obviously those first steps into being an elite commentator. And then it's just the jet, you know, camaraderie, you know, just as recently I was doing the Spanish Open on the on the European Tour now the DP World Tour. And it had been a while since we were allowed out -- know, when we were covering tournament's in the early part of the pandemic, It was golf course hotel room, you had to order in, you weren't allowed out. And yet we went to Madrid did the Spanish Open. And it was from the part of the Coventry team that week was Mark Rowe. And, Rick of course, played majors DP World Tour, and just having a glass of sangria, grabbing some food, stories, you know, hearing their stories, you know that that's what it's all about. But you know, the experience of sort of your extended family away from home on the on the Golf Tour, it's it's a, it's a fabulous experience. I pinch myself so many times that I'm doing it I love every minute of it. And yeah, I'm one of the who loves their job and loves what they're doing.

Douglas Maida: 14:12

Yeah, those are quite some experiences to, to hold on to there with Tiger in his prime and whatnot and, and meeting Seve and, you know, Europe's a little bit smaller than North America so you can get to some of these events a little bit easier and whatnot. So

Richard Kaufman: 14:26

Yeah, I mean, I think I've been covered over the events, quite a few of the big events in the United States. I've never been to the Masters, mentioned just before that I I worked for TALKSPORT national radio station in the United Kingdom, and we pretended to be at the Masters. And I'll never forget, there was one time I'm basically in this broom cupboard-- I can't call it any more than them in this room, no windows. I mean, South West London, and I'm doing updates from the Masters and in those days of There was no featured whole coverage, the internet had just started. So there was nothing more than a leaderboard in the morning. So I'm saying, you know, Tiger is off to a great start is barely the first three, Nick Price is two behind, you know, just the general things any minute broadcast anyway then did the next broadcast and I pretty much said the same thing. And then I went to do the next broadcast. And I'd noted that at the top of the page, it says "play delayed because of thunderstorms." And I hadn't realized this for about an hour because all I am is stuck in my broom cupboard. You know, no Twitter in those days, no social media, nothing to suggest other than this little blue line at the top of the screen saying the play was suspended because of thunderstorms. So yeah, one of my goals is, because I've been to all the other Majors, is to is to one day go to Augusta National that would be fantastic.

Douglas Maida: 15:49

For sure. Richard DP World Tour, we've known it as the European tour for years now. What's the rationale and the benefit of that changeover? Can you maybe share a little bit of that with our listeners

Richard Kaufman: 16:07

it's called the DP World Tour now because basically it's the tour title has a sponsorships so DP World is Dubai port world, who freight company, you know, delivering stuff all around the world. And they have sponsored the European Tour. So it's a financial and security for the European tour which this year celebrating its 50th on air. I know I'm going to get it wrong. I've already got it wrong on air. I've caught it European Tour, I have my wrist slapped for it. The DP World Tour now is basically is the European Tour. The benefits of it are what I mentioned there as it's financial provides security, you know, the European Tour during the pandemic did a fantastic job of propping up events. There are sponsors of course, that were affected. So basically provides the security for the Tour during the pandemic. Obviously, the European Tour as it was then was very much effective. But they were playing for some reduced price fun. There was a lot of tournament's that were just a million Euro. So this title sponsorship has allowed Keith Pelley and his team to make sure that the minimum prize fund for every DP World Tour event in 2022, and for the extension of the sponsorship over the next few years, is 2 million Euros,$2 million minimum for each event. Prize funds in general have gone up. I noted they announced it that the French Open which will be at the Kauffman se announced September from last year the price fund has doubled. So it's that's what it is. It's just a change of name. It's still very much the same tour with very much the same tournament's but with a financial security.

Douglas Maida: 18:03

Right. Okay, well, that makes sense. That makes sense. Are you catching any scuttlebutt, discussion or hearing things from the players? I mean, has it been generally well received? Or?

Richard Kaufman: 18:15

Yeah, but the players are absolutely delighted the rank and file if you like the players that aren't in the big tournament, the players that won't be popping across the pond to play the PGA Tour, or the World Golf Championship events, seeing their prize funds, in some cases double? Well, I mean, what player is not going to be happy about that. I mean, there's a lot going on, in the finances of golfers right now. There has been other parties who have tried to get involved with the golfing world, it has now been this collaboration that's been strengthened between the PGA Tour and the European Tour. So this year, for the first time, the DP World Tour, and the PGA Tour coming together for three events, one of them's in Europe at the Scottish Open, and two of them are in America for the Barracuda championship at the Barbasol Championship, which coincide obviously, with some of the big events of the majors that have been happening in the States as well. So further opportunities for the rank and file players from the European tour to even play events in the United States. At the same time, other players are being offered, it seems barrow loads of money to go and place it play elsewhere. Then have you seen this recording today's Daily Telegraph that came out in the last few hours that Ian Poulter has been offered between $20 and $30 million upfront to play the Saudi Golf League. I believe the package was quoted in the newspaper if I remember rightly at $55 million in total for him to assume that over a number of years, but he would have to sacrifice as a result one would assume playing in the Ryder Cup in 2023 and also being a potential Ryder Cup Captain if that was the case, so there's a lot going on. There's a lot of talk amongst the golfers much of the broadcast as amongst the tours of what's happening. But on the one side, you've got a great job that the DP World Tour have been doing in securing events, increasing the prize fund. And at the same time, there's this hesitancy over what's going on. And obviously, Money talks and players, some players heads will be turned, there's no doubt about it.

Douglas Maida: 20:30

You mentioned the 20 to 30 million. Is that in US dollars,

Richard Kaufman: 20:34

That's US dollars. Yeah. Okay.

Douglas Maida: 20:37

And was that 20 to 30 million? You said . . . I understand from what you said, was just appearance money -- just show up.

Richard Kaufman: 20:44

It's an upfront to commit.

Douglas Maida: 20:46

Okay so and it was up for all of their season or just a few events?

Richard Kaufman: 20:51

I don't know. I think it would i I'm making assumptions here. I don't know I assume to commit to the league for a number of years.

Douglas Maida: 21:01

I see. I see. Which would then automatically pick them out of the running then for Ryder Cup events in the future.

Richard Kaufman: 21:07

Don't if you noticed that we're talking obviously the Ryder Cup captaincy is up for grabs, and it looks at the moment is if it's between Robert Karlson, Henrik Stenson, and Luke Donald, although I saw someone throwing Paul Lawrie's name into perhaps today as well. Lee Westwood decided not to put himself forward which was a bit of surprise. Henrik Stenson is one of those that may be loaded with money elsewhere. So there's all this that is going on? I would be surprised if Stenson was offered the job personally, I I've think from hearing from what Padraig Harrington said, and bear in mind, the Ryder Cup captain is picked by the CEO of the DP World Tour, which is Keith Pelley the players committee representative, which would be David Howe and the past three Ryder Cup captains, which of course Padraig Harrington would be one of those. And he has the backing looked on for that. But we shall see the areas of greater little by what's going on elsewhere, unfortunately, because I do so unfortunately, because golf is if you look at the PGA tour right now, you look at the DP World Tour right now. They couldn't be in healthier spots, could they? I mean, look at the young talent. You look at the world's top 15 right now, in the world rankings. You know, it's fantastic. If you look at the talent, it's emerged on the Challenge Tour as well. It's fantastic as well. But obviously, other people want a piece of the pie. And I don't know about you, Douglas but if someone said to me, "You're doing a great job when I'm hearing you. I'd like to make you secure for life by offering you something else" -- you'd be willing to listen, wouldn't you? Human instinct, some might say, and do they actually need more? Well, I suppose that's down to individuals to decide, isn't it?

Douglas Maida: 23:06

Pretty heady stuff going on. Richard, what are some of the things that you would be on the lookout for are some things to watch storylines, players, things like that for 2022.

Richard Kaufman: 23:19

Yeah, it disappointing in a way there was no Q School for the DP World Tour for 2022. It is later on and there was for the Ladies European Tour. And of course, there was Q series for the LPGA Tour. But there wasn't so in terms of new talent coming through with pretty much reliant on those that have come through the Challenge Tours of top 20 on the Challenge Tour, secured their cards for 2022 on the DP World Tour. The number one player on that was a Dane, Marcus Helligkilde who won the final event last four months is is not what can I say a flashy player he's a very solid player is not one that's going to just throw everything at the flag. But obviously he's got the Killer Instinct he's a he's a winner, so he might be one to look out for. And in fact, if I'm going to point out any players I think I'm going all Danish because you've got the two young Hjgaard twins, Nicolai and Rasmus, who are just fantastic players and of course already DP World Tour winners. It would surprise me to see why or even both of those players make a push for the 2023 Ryder Cup team. That's how good they both are. And I've already shown themselves to be so those are some of the players to watch. And, yeah, you know the tournament's that are going on right now. we've seen some fantastic events. So then if you saw the Slync Dubai, there's a classic at the weekend but what a fantastic finish that was unless your a big Rory McIlroy fan you might have enjoyed it so much. And Abu Dhabi as well was a great start to the season so You know, there's lots to look forward to on a DP World Tour. Maybe not quite as much young talent coming through as might have been the case if there had been Q School, but nonetheless, still plenty to say.

Douglas Maida: 25:11

What can you say poor Rory 24 months ago, he was on a pretty good little stretch there, whatnot. So let's hope he gets back on. He's got Augusta coming up.

Richard Kaufman: 25:19

Yeah, every time Augusta comes around, it's can the Grand Slam be completed, I think the pressure is taken off in the longer it goes on. I don't think that anyone who would not be delighted to see or do that?

Douglas Maida: 25:32

Well, right. Exactly. You don't want to see it become a situation like Phil Mickelson in the US Open, right. I mean it just

Richard Kaufman: 25:38

Well it's incredible, isn't it? I mean, you wouldn't believe it, but it's nearly eight years. It's his last major. And he could never have thought that back in 2014, that you would still be waiting here in 2022 for Rory to win another one. I mean, the guy's got so much talent. He's such a joy to watch. He's such a pleasure to listen to. He's one of those golfers that I love hearing speak sometimes I don't agree with everything he says. But he generally speaks his mind and is a fantastic sort of role model. I would say in the world of golf. I think we're very lucky to have someone like Rory McIlroy at the top of the game. And as a, you know, as a result of that, I would love I mean, absolutely love to see him stick on that green jacket at Augusta. But you do worry. It happened at the Tour Championship, the DP World Tour Championship the in November at the end, then European Tour season. It's happened to start this season to hear where he's been in winning positions. And he's let it slip through his fingers. I hope that doesn't chip away his confidence and self belief.

Douglas Maida: 26:41

Before we move on, and take a quick break, I wanted to ask you . . . I was reading Monty's comments a couple days ago about the next Ryder Cup captain and what do you make of that?

Richard Kaufman: 26:50

Personnaly, I think Robert Karlsson, Luke Donald, Henrik Stenson. It'll be fabulous Captain. Henrik Stenson's, I mean, he's got a great personalities. He's funny, he's witty, and obviously he has been a big Ryder Cup. Robert Karlsson has been an assistant many times obviously played his part in the Ryder Cup, as well over the years and Luke Donald we're talking about a former number one who'd probably be, I would say probably the safer option. He's very popular amongst his peers as well. I mean, personally, if you'd asked me a year ago, I thought it's gonna it's gonna be Lee Westwood, but Lee still feels he has the game to play in a Ryder Cup as it as he did in the last one. And you know, this guy's in the top. The timing isn't quite right for him to take that position right now. So I do understand, as I said, I read a from one of the papers in Scotland today saying, Paul Lawrie is a name that should also be mentioned. What he's done for golf in Scotland is fantastic. He's a mentor to some of the young players coming through. He's helped produce the talent has come through in Scotland. And of course, he's a major winner and Ryder Cup player in his own right as well. But I wouldn't be surprised if Paul did get the job. I would say the three that I mentioned two Swedes, Karlsson and Stenson and Luke Donald would be the favorites, probably Donald edging ahead of the two Swedes.

Douglas Maida: 28:20

We're gonna take a short break for some commercial messages. And then when we come back, we're going to chat a little bit now about the LET series -- the Ladies European Tour. So we'll be right back. Hi, welcome back. And thank you for staying with us. Now let's get into the last segment of our show. We're going to chat a little bit about the Ladies European Tour with our guest, Richard. Richard, let's get right to the fact that this is going to be the LET's year, second year, I believe, in partnership with the LPGA. Did you want to or have any thoughts or share any ideas about where it's going and what your thought process is with how successful it's been so far?

Richard Kaufman: 30:30

Yeah, I'm well done to people actually, sticking with me with me rambling on, you've done very well so far. But I try and try and keep it entertaining as well for this for this last month. It's been it's been fantastic, really, the collaboration between the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour. I think it's worked really well the the Ladies European Tour, I've been commentating on and off for the Ladies European Tour for over a decade. I think back in 2008 2009, first year, I started to commentate on it when we just doing kind of nightly highlights, which would be put on late at night in the UK and elsewhere across Europe. And I'm sure, you know, segments of highlights but in North America as well. And now, I think this year, I haven't counted it. But I think I might be covering 1516 either Ladies European Tour LPGA tour events because of course some of those days I'll be at Evian, the AIG Women's Open and there's a couple co-sanctioned with the LPGA Tour like the Scottish Open and the ISPS Handa World Invitation which was won by Pajaree Anannarukarn, who I know you chatted to a little while back as well. And we're talking golf, it was great to hear that. So I think it's worked really well. I think it was so, so important for these European tour. The more golf the better, more tournaments, the better for my web. But for the for the young talent in Europe coming through. I fear that the need is European Tour's becoming fragmented, they would go they play a tournament and then they'd go a month or more without playing a tournament that they play another tournament and then another month without one. How do you build up any momentum how they play to any kind of consistency when your stop - start, you have more weeks practicing than you do play a golf tournament. And I feared for the Ladies European Tours in entity. So when the help came in from the DP World Tour, as well as the RNA from the PGA Tour, but most of course importantly from Mike Whan at the time and the the LPGA Tour, it was a no brainer. Of course, it went to the members, Ladies European Tour players. And thankfully, and I think quite rightly they agreed to do given what happened soon afterwards with COVID pandemic and shutdown of golf in Europe. Without it, I don't think I'd be heading to their mind 17 golf tournament or whatever it is I'm doing with the Ladies European Tour this year, I'd be lucky if there's three or four events because I don't think the Ladies European Tour would be existing anywhere near like it is without it. So I think it's been a fantastic collaboration. I hope it continues to improve. We know who the little sister is here. The LPGA Tour is of course where the top players in the world want to be. But it doesn't mean you can't have a healthy, flourishing Ladies European Tour at the same time bringing through the talent, and it really is continuing to bring through the talent. So yeah, fantastic collaboration.

Douglas Maida: 33:33

Yeah, that's great news. You're talking about the LET. And the challenge it had with the COVID situation when it first hit, how valuable was the Rose Series in terms of keeping golf going during that break?

Richard Kaufman: 33:47

Yeah, the Rose Ladies Series was important. I mean, I don't want to overplay it or underplay it for that matter. But bear in mind, there were other series going on various different countries, but in the UK, the important because for the players on the Ladies European Tour there was based in the UK, there was no gold for them to play. They were tournament's happening on the LPGA Tour, and then there were majors coming along. And if there hadn't been that Rose Series, then there'd been a number of players that wouldn't have had any build up to a really important part of their schedule. And it was fantastic that it was an idea that came around from one of the players these young just wanted to put on an event on a home course of golf. Some of the players that she knows on the Ladies European Tour that are based in the United Kingdom, and then it was picked up by one of the newspapers, the Telegraph in the United Kingdom, then that was picked up by Justin Rose out in the United States and his wife Kate, and they got behind it and I just think it's fantastic what Justin Rose did with that. I know he's not the only male golfer that gets behind ladies golf, but he put his money where his mouth is. And I know it meant the, to those players, you know, I got to commentate on some of those events prior to the Ladies European Tour resuming. Charlie Hall was playing southern Georgia Hall, warranty law, and the rank and file of the 80s. Europeans are from the UK that just will have had the opportunity to one play for money but two to play competitively and get themselves ready for the 2020 season when it resumed in August.

Douglas Maida: 35:25

Yeah, that was fantastic. And Kate's been quite the leader herself in terms of rallying everybody around and getting them active and whatnot. How are you feeling about the Q School situation for the Ladies European Tour this year? I mean, there's been a few players that come through, are there any notables you're watching? I know for me personally, I followed the Gabby Then's travels because she had, you know, just missed out on the Q Series here. And then she went to Europe and managed to qualify, I think finished first even on the to school series there. And the other one I've been watching a lot is Meghan MacLaren.

Richard Kaufman: 36:03

Well, Meghan's a fantastic writer, and she is very inspiring. Every time I see Meghan on the Ladies European Tour it's great to catch up and talk to her. She loves golf, loves sport, and is a fabulous player as well. After what she went through the heartbreak of missing out at LPGA Q Series to come over and get a card to score on the Ladies European Tour was fantastic. But I think another boost for for Ladies Golf was the title sponsorship, new title sponsor for the second tier of ladies golf in America(the EPSON Tour). So I think Megan will be playing mainly on that. I'll be interested to see what Gabby Then does with her schedule, because I'm sure she'll try and play some events in the United States. But yeah, looking forward to seeing what she does in Europe. It's really hard to know exactly because I haven't seen many of these players play that one player that one the second tier in Europe, the Access Tour, there's going to be coming a tour player called Lily May Humphries, who's a young player with a lot of potential. And the fact that she turned pro in June and then was the number one player on the Access Tour shows her potential. She's played Curtis Cup and was a top amateur. Then there's a Q School, Becky(Brewerton) played on Solheim Cup, she came through I mean, it's an incredible story, Becky, with her struggles from being a Solheim Cup player to someone who was knocking on the door of being a regular on the LPGA Tour to completely losing her game she had the driving yips didn't know if he's going left, didn't efforts going right. Obviously many times thought about quitting the game but is stuck with it come through and the signs are that maybe she's gonna get back I don't know whether to her best because she was one of the great ball strikers prime whether she can get back to something close to that it's going to be interesting to see. And then there's stories like Virginia Elena Carta, who went to Duke University could have then turned pro but did a postgraduate Cambridge University in environmental policy. They think there's too many Cambridge graduates that are graduated for the for the ladies European so but she's already before were on the ladies Europeans. Like Meghan MacLaren, Pauline Roussein Bouchard went to Q Series in America qualified came to your quantified again. She's already a Ladies European Tour winner, she looks like she's going to be a fantastic golfer. So those are some of the players that are Q-School, come through the Access Tour So unlike the DP World Tour we talked about earlier, there is going to be this fresh talent coming through in European golf amongst the women. Because what they've done as well, they changed the way the policy of the Ladies European Tour. So you had to be top 40 on the race to Costa del Sol last season to be in the top echelons of the tour so guaranteed starts, then they've gone to the next the top 20 Q-School and then they've gone to 40 to 60 in in the Order of Merit to guarantee your start. So they're giving that fresh Q School players a really good chance of keeping their car because I think in the old days it was only the top five that came in next as opposed to the top 20.

Douglas Maida: 39:32

Where do the LET Access players fit in that scheme? Richard?

Richard Kaufman: 39:36

The Access players I think they come after the top 60. I can't remember off the top of my head but I think I'm correct in saying that.

Douglas Maida: 39:45

And you mentioned Becky. I didn't catch her last name what was

Richard Kaufman: 39:49

sorry say again Douglas.

Douglas Maida: 39:51

You had mentioned Becky trying to is making a bit of a comeback and getting getting her game in shape again. I didn't quite catch Becky's last name He had a reformer cutting out.

Richard Kaufman: 40:02

Yeah, Becky Brewerton. So the player that played Solheim Cup 2009 I believe. Welsh golfer fantastic ball striker and just went through a horrendous time mentally in terms of her driving for a number of years and it's only really the last few years she's managed to break it down if you if you want to read more about Becky's story she I think she has her own website which is well worth a look and she's written blogs on it. It's a fantastic read. She's a brilliant talker as well. So if you I'm sure there are some interviews that you can find on YouTube too with her. Well worth a listen because she's really good at describing both in word and in audio as well, to get back to where she is now.

Douglas Maida: 40:54

Right Okay, well that's something we can definitely look at do for sure. There's another young player that seems to be making a little bit of a splash Richard, I'm trying to remember her name off the top my head and I'm not doing a very good job of it. I believe her first name is Chiara.

Richard Kaufman: 41:10

Chiara Noja Yeah. 15 years of age. She's based out in Dubai, very tall; I got to watch her at the Dubai couple of events in Saudi at the end of last year. She didn't get a card through our Ladies European Tour Q-School but got a couple of starts last year. Hopefully she'll get some starts this year on the Ladies European Tour I'm sure she'll play some of the events on the access series as well. I mean, to turn pro at the age of 15. questionable whether you think that's too young or not. Listen, look at the player that won at the weekend - Lydia Ko? I think she did all right by turning pro at such a young age. Lexi Thompson's another one as well. But there's no doubt about it. This girl's got a quarter ago because she is at the age of 15. An athlete already at the her tender age. And she has all the tools to have a very good career. Obviously, there are no guarantees, but she appears to have a good team behind her. I managed to speak briefly with their parents as well when I was in Dubai too. And they seem like, you know, very down to earth people. You know, not the pushy parent kind of people who I'm sure Chiara grounded. Yeah, she's got all of the chances having a great future ahead of her we shall see.

Douglas Maida: 42:29

And then the LET had a couple of its more notable players graduate onto the LPGA was probably, at least in the case of Atthaya Thitikul, definitely with enough priority to be playing regularly on the LPGA. Is there going to be a little bit of a hole do you think on the LET.

Richard Kaufman: 42:50

No, because as I mentioned already with the access tour with the Q School as well, that there's so much talent coming through. So here's some players they're going to be playing on the Ladies European Tour this year, the player that couldn't play a tour last year because of a back injury. The finished second on the order American the year before young Swedish player called Julia Engstrom who is a fantastic ball striker. Mentioned Becky, a few struggles with the putting yips. I'm off to Kenya in a week or so. And she's making a comeback there a tournament where she led by seven shots going into the final round and last to Esther Henselite. In heartbreaking fashion. She struggled health wise that week and struggled with her putter that week, especially in that last round but has the talent to be a Solheim cup player. And Julia's coming back from injury after a year out. Pia Babnik is only 17 years she could well be the longest player on the Ladies European Tour. She hits it out there with some of the longest players on the LPGA Tour. She's 17 She's already a winner on the Ladies European Tour. She could have gone to Q series at the end of the year because the top five players from the Ladies European Tour got into Q series so Atthaya Thitikul went, Olivia Cowan went, Sanna Nuutinen went, Steff Kyriacou went, and all got their card, shows the strength of the Ladies European Tour. Pia Babnik could have gone because I think she finished third on the rankings or fourth. I can't remember off the top of my head at this stage. But she finished in the top five for certain that she decided that she wanted to do studies, stay in Europe for another year. And we're going to be very fortunate to have her I mentioned already Lily May Humphreys, whose was an amateur star already won a couple of times on the access tour. And then there's Maya Stark another Swedish player. I think in July or August last year, won two of the first three events on the Ladies European Tour, finished sixth on the rankings in just about six or seven events. Incredible, another prodigious hitter. And so the talent just, you know, there's going to be names coming through that I haven't mentioned. There's going to be plenty of players who are going to be entertaining us, producing the goods. And then you've got the Aramco Team Series events. The co-sanctioned event with the DP World Tour, which are the Scandinavia Mixed co-sanctioned events with Scotland and in Northern Ireland at the ISPS Handa Invitational where the so called bigger name players have come across her last year. You know, we ended the year in Saudi with Lydia Ko winning. We've seen Lexi Thompson and Charlie Hull, and Georgia Hall -- all the big name players playing in European in 2021. I expect more of the same at 22. But will that young talent coming through as well? It's, it's great to see.

Douglas Maida: 45:55

The LET is definitely on the way up again. And that's great to see. I mean, there's -- and it's gonna make for tremendous competition in the Ryder Cup. So, pardon me Solheim Cup.

Richard Kaufman: 46:06

Well it is. I mean, how incredible was that last year at the Inverness club. And of course Emily Pedersen is another player that that Ladies European Tour last season came through Q Series has now got her card on the LPGA Tour again, Emily's another fabulous book striker who I hope can now show her talent on the biggest stage and let's face it, it is the biggest stage of the the LPGA tour but the Ladies European Tour is doing a fantastic job of now having a regular run of events and making these players game ready for when they do take the next step. The fact that for the top five players were allowed to go to LPGA Q-Series, only four of them went and all I think that result in itself shows you the health the way the Ladies European Tour is in good health.

Douglas Maida: 46:58

I mentioned Solheim Cup. Any last thoughts about Suzann Pettersen is captain and playing in Andalucia?

Richard Kaufman: 47:06

Yeah, looking forward to that, I think that course is in next year. Suzann Pettersen, I assume will be an entertaining captain. She's had her moments in the Solheim Cup. Some not so good. Some pretty Yeah. I'm interested to see who the US captain is going to be alongside her. I hope it's Cristie Kerr; that would make an interesting clash of the captains in itself. Cristie's someone that I've interviewed on my own podcast before, actually Cristie Kerr, and yeah, she was fabulous to talk to and she was very much when I spoke to her. This was a couple of years ago, very, very strong in that she wanted to be a Solheim Cup captain. So I'm sure if she was, oh, it's something she would take. I think there's took potentially it might be Stacy Lewis. But I still feel Stacy has got the game to play in the Solheim cup personally, but yeah, we'll see. Suzann is going to be a fabulous captain. She's going to be she's highly respected by the players that will play for her. Of course, she's been an assistant for the last couple. She's now retired, but she's still very much involved in the game. And yeah, looking forward to seeing what the European team can do next season because it was an incredible win for them in the United States. And I think at the moment, the European team have got a bit of a grip on the Solheim Cup. And obviously, I stay neutral when I'm commentating. But talking to you right now I can say long may it continue?

Douglas Maida: 48:33

Well, the European side seems to be a little bit more in the ascendancy right now. That's for sure. You know, the crop of younger players. And you know what we neither of us even mentioned Leona Maguire. And yet, there she is right there in the thick of it all.

Richard Kaufman: 48:47

Oh, I'm looking forward to seeing what she does this for the LPGA tour because every year Leona McGuire improves last year she came so close to winning in majors, is so close to winning in regular LPGA tour events. So I'm expecting Leona Maguire to win this season on the LPGA Tour.

Douglas Maida: 49:03

She's definitely been knocking on the door and that would be a natural progression for her for sure. Richard, we're coming to the end of our show. Let me ask you, what's next for you? What's your next event? And what do you have"on the go" for in terms of your podcast and other things like that?

Richard Kaufman: 49:24

Well, the podcast is is on the back burner. So if anyone wants to check it out to the 'Round Golf' podcast and basically they're timeless podcasts, I hope so even though some of them recorded even a couple of years ago. The premise of the podcast is the round golf podcast it starts with the round that was the most important round in the player's career. So if you're interested the ladies game, there's a -- I do everything in person with Mel Reid Cristie Kerr, Lizette Salas, Catrina Matthew, Karrie Webb. Laura Davies, of course we talked about the Golf but with Lizette Salas, we have a good chat about Donald Trump, for example. Cristie Kerr about the bullying she received. Mel Reid about how she came out and what that meant to her. Laura Davies was just a fabulous chat -- I get to work, it's joy is to work with Laura Davies, when I'm commentating. And she was just a fabulous And in the men's side, there's major champions like Davis Love interview. and Padraig, Harrington and Gary Player, but there's also some players you might not have heard of, you just got the most amazing stories. I actually was brought to tears in one of them with a guy called Marc Cayeux, you may or may not have heard of him, he cried, I cried. And it kind of, for me personally ruined the podcast a bit because I kind of lost it, which I'm not supposed to do as an interview. But his story is just so shocking and amazing. That he reduced me to that. And, you know, with Gary Player, you know, talk about arpartheid, you know, cover topics of dyslexia and epilepsy, and all all kinds of things. So yeah, if you want to check that out, it's the round golf podcast, so I'm not doing any more of those. I am off for my First Ladies European Tour event next week. So I'm off to Kenya in Africa, East Africa. Some journey it is as well via I can't remember, via Ethiopia, to Kenya and then it's a couple of hours drive from Mombasa, to the venue, which is Topingo Ridge which I've been to a couple of years ago when Esther Henseliet pipped Julia Engstrom to the title. So both of those players are in the field for that looking forward. Then we'll be covering some -- I'm doing an Asian Tour event in the beginning of March and then doing another Ladies European Tour event. And then I'll be starting my first event on the DP World Tour at the end of March. So yeah, it gets going properly for me from next week, really, in terms of the golf. In the meantime, here I'm doing some football or soccer matches, depending where you are. In the United Kingdom, I do some broadcast coaching for sportsmen and women who want to get into the media as something towards their end of their career. So I'll be doing some of that as well. And obviously trying to entertain my children, you've got to see me for the last couple of months because I've been at home most of December in January. And I'm sure they're looking forward to bidding me farewell as I go on my trips, kicking Dad out of the house.

Douglas Maida: 52:33

Okay, well, that sounds great. You got a very busy schedule and getting back to life on the road again. Fantastic. Is there any, any other last words you'd like to share with us, Richard or?

Richard Kaufman: 52:43

No, no Douglas. its just been a pleasure. I hope. It's been entertaining for anyone who's been listening to this all the way to the end. Good luck with your podcast as well. I think it's terrific what you do Douglas. I know, you cover a lot of the stories in the ladies game in particular. And I just, you know, when I was doing my podcast, I was very keen to make sure that there was as many men, as many women as there was men for it as well. Golfing world now is taking ladies golf, not saying they weren't taking it seriously before, but I think in terms of commercially, I think people take, are taking women's golf more seriously on a commercial level. And I think that's only quite right, because the talent is there. And these players deserve the platform. You know, one of the big stories in the last six months has been the prize fund offered to the women at the AIG Women's Open, they're gonna be paying for $6.8 million at Muirfield in the summer, and at the US Women's Open, they're going to be paying for $10 million. The prize funds have increased on the LPGA Tour. And they know more than they deserve the products there. Hopefully people get watching and you know, more people talk about it, the more people know it's there, hopefully the more eyes that go on it. And hopefully those that are talking over it like myself do a good job, good enough job to justify it.

Douglas Maida: 54:02

Well, I'm sure that'll continue. Thank you very much, Richard, we really appreciate it. Thank you for being on the show. It's been fantastic. I'll just apologize to our audience a little bit about quality of the internet and our, our broadcast a little bit. So, but you know, what can you do? I mean, there's the time zone. We've got all of this going on. And we're so lucky to have you as a guest. So thank you so much, Richard. Appreciate it.

Richard Kaufman: 54:26

Absolutely pressure. Absolutely.

Douglas Maida: 54:28

Thanks. And, ladies and gentlemen, that's our show. Thank you so much for joining us. And we will see you in a couple of weeks. And remember if you're playing golf, keep that ball on the short grass.

Richard Kaufman: 54:39

You have been listening to our podcast show we're talking golf produced by the world of golf. This episode was recorded on Tuesday, February 1 2022. If you have an idea for a future show, please send us an email to info at World of golf.org Please include podcast show in the subject Tonight, this show is the copyright of the world of golf. Thank you for joining us.