Golfer Peter Uihlein, the '10 U.S. Amateur champion, has signed with Chubby Chandler's ISM group and "will make his pro debut next month" at the European Tour's Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship next month, according to Jim McCabe of GOLFWEEK. Uihlein said of playing on the European Tour, "It's an unbelievable tour, one that goes worldwide. The economy is great, and I just feel like it's a great opportunity." McCabe reported Acushnet CEO Wally Uihlein, Peter's father, "has been a strong advocate of young players broadening their horizons and testing their games on the worldwide stage, especially through the European Tour." The Abu Dhabi tournament is the "first of seven sponsor exemptions Uihlein can receive in Europe." He also is "eligible for up to seven starts on the American PGA Tour," and is eligible for a spot in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial "by winning the 2011 Hogan Award" as the nation's top college golfer (GOLFWEEK.com, 12/19). In London, James Corrigan notes golf in the U.S. "suffered a blow yesterday" after Uihlein made his "intriguing move." Chandler was "understandably delighted at capturing a player who had more than a year as the amateur world No 1." He said, "It's a pioneering move by Peter" (London INDEPENDENT, 12/20). Also in London, Derek Lawrenson notes Chandler has "pulled off a considerable coup of his own with the signing of one of America's hottest prospects." Chandler saw Rory McIlroy and Ernie Els leave his agency this year, but he said, "I didn’t need a boost. When one door shuts another opens. Sure you’re wounded, but if it means spending more time with the likes of Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Simon Dyson and now Peter, that can’t be a bad thing." Chandler added Wally Uihlein "took one look at our stable and where the more rounded players are generally coming from these days and it’s true that most of them learned the game on the European Tour’s international schedule" (London DAILY MAIL, 12/20).
