Perry: Won the John Deere Classic on Sunday
Also see
The hottest golfer on the planet will be absent from Royal Birkdale. Tiger Woods? No. One Kenny Perry.
The 47-year-old from Kentucky has won three of his last five tournaments on the PGA Tour, climbed to second on the FedEx Cup list and is on a two-tournament winning streak.
But this week he will be taking his wondrous form not to Royal Birkdale for the season's third major. He will be teeing it up alongside a bunch of journeymen at the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee.
Perry likes to play in warm conditions and reckons the Lancashire coast will not suit his game. Although strangely, he played in the Open 2003-06 and finished in the top 16 three times out of four.
What do you think of Perry's decision to give the Open a miss? Is he mad to give up the chance of etching his name in golfing history? Or is he sensible to ply his trade in a minor event Stateside in the knowledge that the Claret Jug is firmly beyond his reach?
Share your thoughts...
Comments (18)
Les Eaton says...
Kenny Perrys decision not to play in the British Open is sad but understandable.He is a big boy and quite able to make big decisions like missing the US open as well as the British . I am sure that he doesnt make these decisions of the cuff Is it the tall poppy syndrome -- he is on top and people want to see him fail ?
Posted 02:45 18th July 2008
Rory O'sullivan says...
What's worse, Kenny Perry deciding not to travel, stick to his commitments and give a place to an alternate.........or........Sandy Lyle walking off after nine holes coz he could not face it and denying an alternate a place??? Alternates can win too you know.......Winged Foot 1991.
Posted 19:45 17th July 2008
Paul Coffee says...
Wouldn't of know whether he was there or not to be honest. Just another target golf journeyman with an unstylish swing and a weight problem. No loss.
Posted 05:21 17th July 2008
Steve K says...
To Mark Crncich, your statement regarding the us tour against the european tour is a misguided joke. You obviously dont watch the euorpean tour and WHEN was the last time you won the Ryder Cup!! Say's it all!! The best players competing against each other from each tour. We've wiped the floor with you for years now and will continue to for the forseeable future. Waken up will you your still dreaming. As for Perry not coming to the open, quite right, if he thinks he's not good enough to win why bother. Let someone that does stand chance have a go. We'll see what he does in the Ryder Cup, i cant wait.
Posted 16:42 16th July 2008
Philip barnett Barnett says...
If you guys had read the real reason he isnt going to the Open, it would be easier to report. Kenny committed to Milwuakee back in February, when he was ranked 200 and had no chance to even be in the Open. He said he doesnt like to cancel once he has committed. I think it shows class, and loyalty. He is paying a tournament back and not changing his commitments to suit him. I think it should be applauded and not panned.
Posted 15:51 16th July 2008
Bj Michael says...
Mark Crncich says... A weak field on the U.S. PGA tour is much, much tougher than your average field on a European Tour event my friend. Mark, I find it hard to agree with that comment. Did you see the field that Kenny perry beat last week. And considering that he duffed and bladed his way to victory it really shows the quality in depth. I will agree that when the big guns all play the PGA will have a stonger field but aside from Majors & WC events that is getting to be a rare event. If you watch enough of Europen Golf it is full of International players & events throughout the year. Also with the race to Dubai beginning this year, and the continuing globalisation of the europen tour I can see it becoming the dominent tour over the next 10 to 20 years. Add to that the fact that the PGA is full of international players as the US currently seem incapable of producing any young talent. these international players feel no obligation to play in the PGA and will travel to where the big money & fields will go. The pendelum is turning my friend. Watch it.
Posted 12:04 16th July 2008
Steve E says...
Entirely up to him; he can play where and when he likes. I appreciate his respect for the Ryder Cup and am looking forward to him and the rest of his team getting thrashed.
Posted 10:53 16th July 2008
Yen chong Yap says...
Did Kenny Perry say why he is skipping the OPEN over the tube? Anyway I read about it in one of the dailies and if what has been reported is accurate I have some comments. In any Major, the participants are usually the elite and he has ruled himself out of the elite. With 3 wins from his 5 starts recently, but yet he has no confidence that he is as good as his peers playing in all sorts of weather conditions. If he continues to have a phobia playing in conditions existing in the OPENs my perception of him is "he is only good in his backyard". KP come out from the shell and show them that you are part of the elite
Posted 01:37 16th July 2008
Jolly Potter says...
I think Perry has missed a great opportunity to be in the limelight for the right reasons rather than being in the news for the wrong reasons. He once said not so long ago that he was kinda getting a liking for the Open type Golf and this was backed up by his top 20 finishes in recent years. He hits it straighter and further than anyone and seems to be in the Form of his Life. He should be seeking a Major of any type - did Ben Curtis and Todd Hamilton have Open experience ? hardly - the only way he can vindicate his decision NOT to come is to win in Milwaukee - as someone said his goals are set way too low right now he should be stepping up to Major Champion level.
Posted 00:09 16th July 2008
Mark Crncich says...
A weak field on the U.S. PGA tour is much, much tougher than your average field on a European Tour event my friend.
Posted 21:33 15th July 2008
John Halliday says...
it is only fair that we respect kenny perrys desision but with his rich vain of form it is surprising that he dose not want to compete at the oldest and most prestegest tournment the game has to offer. it is every golfers dream to here those magic words uttered by peter dawson, and the champion golfer of the year is.............
Posted 19:46 15th July 2008
Declan Swayne says...
A very strange decision. This is indicate of how sport has become a business and less of a sport. All Perry is interested in is the dollar. So what if he doesn't come over and do well. At least he would have taken part in the Open, a feat which many golfers would be proud of. The more opens he plays the better chance he would have. If only he qualified in 11th position for the Ryder Cup. It would be great to see him overlooked. I strongly doubt he will be any good when the pressure is on anyway.
Posted 17:06 15th July 2008
Mick Collins says...
A sound decision by Perry but a question mark for Ryder Cup captain Azinger. Here's a player who's beaten a couple of pretty weak fields (at the AT&T and John Deere) and has chosen not to spar against the world's best in the pressure-laden majors. Is he really ready for the true test of man-to-man combat in the Ryder Cup?
Posted 13:16 15th July 2008
Jeff Wilson says...
I work in Kentucky and the radio and tv indicated that he wants to play for the US in the Ryder cup more than anything this year because it is his home state. He felt his chances of being selected for it would be much better if he played here and did well in the tournaments he would have missed. As he has won the first one his decision appears to be a correct one
Posted 21:18 14th July 2008
Mark Crncich says...
This does not come as a surprise at all and British gold fans should not feel any slight by his decision. With the Ryder Cup being contested in Kentucky this year, Kenny, a native of that state, has stated all year that his primary goal was to make the U.S. team. He probably already has solidified his place on the team, if not through ranking then an obvious Captain's choice. But, the fact remains that The Open presents unique challenges apart from the other Majors that do not suit certain American players, no matter their form leading up to the tournament. Kenny hits a high draw from the tee or the fairway that would fail him in any kind of wind that is normally associated with The Open. Personally I wish he was coming so I could go watch him play, but I think we'll have a fantastic tournament nonetheless.
Posted 21:00 14th July 2008
Gary Slatter says...
Kenny Perry is a true Kentuckian and, for him, winning in Milwaukee will be just as important as winning at Birkdale. He's not a Scott Hoch and probably just wants to stay in the USA and make money! He's good at it.
Posted 16:41 14th July 2008
Chris Churchill says...
I can see his point of view - he thinks he cannot win, so why bother? The irony is that the form he is in, he has a better chance of winning than 95 per cent of the entries. But they are all turning up and daring to dream. They all have a chance of making history. Perry has ruled himself out for the sake of a tournament that will be forgotten by the following Tuesday. He also said he wanted to qualify for the Ryder Cup in his home state of Kentucky and playing in the US would give him more chance. Fair enough. But he is a lock for the team now so that no longer applies.
Posted 15:45 14th July 2008
Ian Ward says...
Good decision, by winning these smaller tournaments he will make sure that he is on the Ryder Cup team, which appears to be important to him.
Posted 15:17 14th July 2008