Where are the US players?

Rory McIlroy has done a stellar job with the Irish Open, and the field this year is without a shadow of a doubt the best ever. But where are the Americans?

The event is being billed as 'Unmissable', but that message doesn't seem to have been heard over the pond.

There will be just four American teeing it up as the tournament gets underway today. There’s a record purse of $7 million as it is part of the European Tour’s new Rolex Series, which compares very favourably with the $7.1 million that is up for grabs at the Greenbrier this weekend.

But only Peter Uihlein, Paul Peterson, David Lipsky and Daniel Im will be representing the USA, and they all elected to start their professional careers on the European Tour in any event, which means that not one single PGA Tour player has decided to make the trip.

Yes, it is the Greenbrier, and there will be plenty of US players wanting to support that event after the devastating flooding of last year.

But you would have thought that the opportunity for some proper links tournament golf just two weeks before The Open should have attracted some interest.

There’s still the Scottish Open, and whilst Phil Mickelson will be staying away because he doesn’t want to learn a new course, at least Rickie Fowler will be putting in an appearance.

Related:

R&A switches to $$$s for The Open prize fund