The Australian Open was held last weekend. It was won by Peter Lonard. Only about half a dozen Americans attended. Bob Estes finished best at equal fifteenth. None of the big names from the US Tour attended - apart of course from several Australians.

It was the Centenary Open so was a significant event for Australian golf. Arnold Palmer came out and played an exhibition game with Peter Thompson and Bruce Devlin. Palmer in a press interview said that golf had been very good to him and he felt he should put something back into promoting the game.

I recall Nicklaus and Player making similar statements a few years back when they regularly played in (and won!) the Australian Open. They drew huge crowds and were great publicity for golf in this country. I believe that Nicklaus, Palmer and Player each at various times expressed the view that the Australian Open should be the fifth major.

Times have changed. I admit that Thanksgiving was perhaps not the best day to start a tournament and a couple Australians - Norman and Scott chose not to attend. None the less, it seems to me that over the past few years the mighty dollar, not the game of golf, is uppermost in most players minds.

While the eyes of the world are on the US Tour and all the world's best players eventually finish up there, if the game is to flourish throughout the world then these top players should be seen by the world. It may not be so lucrative but the best players do make a hell of a lot of money and could afford the occasional lesser purse to promote the game.

What do you guys think?