TIGER WOODS SAYS proposed changes to the European Tour’s qualification rules might tempt him to join.
The European Tour has come under pressure to change its qualification rules and allow players to count the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and Seve Trophy towards the 13 events they must play to be eligible for membership.
The US-based PGA Tour requires members to play 15 events but team events do count to that tally. Woods feels if the European Tour went down a similar path, he could probably meet the requirements of membership.
“I don’t know what my numbers are as I know I played 19 in the States this year and whether it crosses over or not but I will again look at it,” Woods said.
“I did play Abu Dhabi but then 13 (events) are certainly a lot more than 11 (as it was when Woods last considered the European Tour in 2000) especially playing full time in the States.”
Discussion of the European Tour’s qualification rules began after this year’s Ryder Cup, with England’s Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland calling for change. The Ryder Cup brings in plenty of money for the European Tour but Europe’s players are not paid to compete and Donald has argued they deserve some sort of imbursement.
“We all know what a big revenue maker it is for the European Tour,” Donald said. ”It’s a privilege to play Ryder Cup but it’s still a week’s worth of sacrifice. I think at the very least it should count as an event. I don’t see why it should be on one tour and not the other.”
World number one McIlroy backed Donald’s claim and with the European Tour keen to keep both players involved, change is expected.
“For guys playing a global schedule, the Ryder Cup should count toward one of those tournaments,” McIlroy said. ”Golf is the easy part in the Ryder Cup week. There’s so much going on.”
