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OWGR: Obscure golf nations’ top-ranked golfer, part IV

By Mike Randleman

QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 10: Danny Masrin of Indonesia tees off during day two of the New Zealand Open at The Hills on March 10, 2017 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 10: Danny Masrin of Indonesia tees off during day two of the New Zealand Open at The Hills on March 10, 2017 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images) /
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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 10: Peter Karmis of Greece plays his second shot on the 4th hole during Day 2 of the South African Open at Randpark Golf Club on January 10, 2020 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 10: Peter Karmis of Greece plays his second shot on the 4th hole during Day 2 of the South African Open at Randpark Golf Club on January 10, 2020 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

Greece

If anyone can attest to the value of being top dog from your country, it’s Greece’s Peter Karmis.

The 38-year-old has been playing in OWGR events since 2003 and regularly since 2006. He’s never climbed higher than No. 185 and currently checks in at No. 469.

Karmis is from South Africa, but has flown the Greek flag in competition since mid-2018. This was likely done for strategic reasons, as it has, and could continue, to open him up to more playing opportunities.

With the likes of South Africans Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace and Dylan Frittelli standing in Karmis’ way, it’s easier to qualify for international competitions as a Greek.

The Karmis Khameleon’s first opportunity came at the 2018 World Cup of Golf. It did not go well. He and partner Alexander Tranacher finished 19-over-par and in last place by 12 shots.

Tranacher is the only other Greek ranked by OWGR, and he does not have any points and is tied for last in the rankings at No. 2,089.

No one expected these two to make noise, but the result still could have been better.

Karmis, a Purdue graduate, was just three months removed from a four-shot win at the Vodacom Origins of Golf – Selborne on the Sunshine Tour. That was the fourth-highest OWGR points event of his career with seven. The 2017 Investec Royal Swazi Open on the Sunshine Tour and the 2010 Handa Singapore Classic on the Asian Tour were his best by earning him 14 points each.

He hasn’t represented Greece in competition since the World Cup. He was on the outside looking in to qualify for the 2020 Olympics. If golf isn’t on hold for too much longer, Karmis could use the additional time to make a move up the world rankings to qualify for 2021.

The Olympic field is only 60 players, but no more than four players, if they’re all inside the top 15, can represent a country. Only two can if they fall outside the top 15. As of now, the Philippines’ Luis Tabuena at No. 252 would have the last spot.

GOLF IN GREECE

The fact that a journeyman golfer like Karmis can jump right in and be your country’s guiding light in golf goes to show the priority of the sport in Greece

Athletics date back centuries here in the home of the Olympics, but golf is not as ubiquitous.

According to Top 100 Golf Courses, there are only seven 18-hole courses and one 9-hole course.

The place to go appears to be at the Dunes and Bay courses at Costa Navarino. The Dunes Course is more of a links layout designed by Bernhard Langer that opened in 2010. The Bay Course opened in 2011. The Robert Trent Jones II is more of a parkland layout. Both offer views of the Mediterranean Sea.

Most who play here and around the country are tourists. The Greek Golf Federation was established in 1981 and only has around 2,000 members today.

It could go a long way for golf in the country if Karmis could make a charge and represent the Blue and White in Tokyo next year.

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