Langer may have found loophole for Ryder Cup outcasts on US Tour
Langer, a member of the European tour for 28 years, found out you do not actually have to play in a major for it to count as one of the 11 tour events needed for cup eligibility: entering the qualifying competition is enough.
Parnevik and Donald and Carl Pettersson and Mathias Gronberg have counted themselves out of this September's match.
"It was really my own fault for not knowing it," said Langer, who discovered it in a chance conversation with tour executive director Ken Schofield.
Asked if he thought the information might have changed the minds of the four US Tour players he said: "I really don't know," but said that he would inform them.
"But it's up to them to ask too," he stated. "They don't need to be baby-fed by a spoon. They are all adults. If they want to play in the Ryder Cup, then what you or your manager need to do is call up anybody working for the tour and say 'OK, give me exactly, the rules. What I need to do. What are my options?'"
"They could have done that and, if they haven't, that's their own fault."
Parnevik, Donald, Pettersson and Gronberg all decided they could not commit to 11 European events, partly, because they were outside the world's top 50 and therefore not certain of their places in the majors and world championships, which all count.
It was also confirmed by Schofield yesterday that should one of the four win the US Open, Open or US PGA this season they would be made honorary members of the European tour and as such would not have to play in 11 events.
With four months to go Langer declares himself happy with his team's progress, Sergio Garcia's victory in America two weeks ago having put him into an automatic place and eased the concern that he would require one of the two wild cards again.
One player currently struggling is Colin Montgomerie, magnificent as Langer's partner at The Belfry two years ago, but described by Padraig Harrington last week as "half the man he was".
The Scot is trying to cope with the break-up of his marriage, but comes to the Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth this week on the back of the worst performance of his tour career since his debut in 1987 joint 128th out of 156 in the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open.
"He's gone through a very, very difficult time in his life," said Langer.
"There's no doubt he's a fantastic player, a great guy to have on the team and very inspirational for the rest of the team. I'd love for him to make it.
"If he shouldn't make it [as one of 10 automatic qualifiers] he'll certainly be one of the guys I will consider [for one of two wild cards]. But there needs to be some kind of sign that he's playing reasonably well.
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