Turkey officials are discussing a future Ryder Cup bid "internally before they approach the European Tour with a proposal," according to Alex Miceli of GOLF WEEK. There "is time" with the next available Ryder Cup date not until '22, but "the window is closing." The European Tour following the '14 event in Gleneagles, Scotland, "likely will move quickly to fill" the '22 date. It is "clear that if a bid were forthcoming that Istanbul would be the only suitable host city." Istanbul officials "would need to build a new course," as there are "little more than a handful of courses in the city." Int'l Sports Management Managing Dir Chubby Chandler, who helped bring this past weekend's European Tour Turkish Airlines Open to the country, "thinks there is enough interest in Istanbul, plus the requisite financial backing, to get a course built" for '22. European Tour CEO George O'Grady is "not as positive as Chandler but is willing to listen." O'Grady said of a potential Turkey bid, "It's very early days to even think about it. I think speaking personally, I'm staggered by the success of this tournament and the enthusiasm and the welcome and the can-do attitude of everybody here in Turkey. I think we rule nothing out." The '18 Ryder Cup will take place in Paris (GOLFWEEK.com, 11/10). Tiger Woods said that he "didn't know yet if he would be back next year" for the European Tour Turkish Airlines Open. But a Turkish Airlines official said that Woods "probably would" return. ESPN.com's Paul Mahoney wrote the "chequebook is clearly open and Woods has been in chipper mood all week." It has been "good business for all" (ESPN.co.UK, 11/10).
WHO'S SILLY NOW? The WALL STREET JOURNAL's John Paul Newport wrote this time of year until recently was "known as golf's silly season," but the world's top players now "barnstorm the globe picking up humongous checks, from both prize purses and appearance fees, in unlikely places like Turkey, China and the United Arab Emirates." Several "silly season staples remain," but now these "made-for-TV filler events are increasingly overshadowed by the never-ending roster of global mega-events." The "biggest change to silly seasons is that they are no longer about pro golfers kicking back at the end of the year and grabbing a little extra spending money." Pro golf is "becoming a big-deal global sports juggernaut" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/9).
