Harrington and Bjorn plan to get to ‘core’ of problem

By Bernie McGuire Vilamoura

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON comes face-to-face with Players Committee Chairman Thomas Bjorn tomorrow night after being invited to attend the committee meeting in Portugal.

European Tour chief executive, George O’Grady, who will also be present, has asked Harrington to give his views on the planned introduction from next year of six ‘core’ tournaments which Tour members must play four to retain membership.

Harrington made his views public after the opening round of the recent Alfred Dunhill Links Championship by claiming the contentious proposal was a form of protectionism and suggested it could be a matter for the European Union.

But at the close of the Scottish event, Bjorn savaged Harrington in a verbal tongue lashing by declaring the Irishman’s comments were "totally out of order".

Harrington was less than 50 feet apart from Bjorn yesterday on the Vilamoura practice range but there was no effort on either side to talk about the spat that was splashed across the back pages.

"I’m sure I will catch-up with Thomas some time this week, and besides I’m in no hurry," said Harrington.

"George (O’Grady) has invited me to the Players’ meeting on Thursday, so I guess will see Thomas there.

"However, I’m not too sure what the protocol is because I’m not on the committee.

"I’ve already voiced my opinion about any changes to the membership criteria and if so, I will voice those to the committee on Thursday night."

Fellow Irishman and committee man Paul McGinley admits it’s nothing personal between Harrington and Bjorn.

"No, it hasn’t gone as far as that and besides how can you be personal with Pádraig as he’s such a nice guy," said McGinley.

But McGinley admits the committee will be discussing one the toughest concerns in recent times to face the European Tour.

"I’d say this is the biggest issue the committee has ever had to deal with," McGinley added.

"There is a huge debate going on and it’s a major issue that needs to be resolved.

"It’s not just solely an issue for the European Tour. The Americans are fighting the same issues, the same problems.

"Once this economic crisis hit, things have started to happen, so sponsors are looking for bang for their buck and it’s a dilemma facing the Tour.

"This is the biggest issue we’ve ever come across. In a tough economic climate, sponsors are looking for more value for money.

"There is a number of proposals on the table but basically, we’re a business like everybody else and the sponsors are complaining that the top players are not playing enough.

"We’ve got to find a way of trying to get a little bit more commitment from the top players. We don’t know what we are going to do.

"But the tournaments that are hurting most are our core events, of which the Irish Open is one. The Irish Open has a huge prize fund this year and we are struggling every year for a field. It’s a problem we are facing, not just in Ireland. All the major tournaments are facing the same issue."

However Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, who is also a member of the committee, remarked: "I don’t think it’s too much to ask our members to play four of six core tournaments and that’s how I will be voting."

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, October 14, 2009