Europe’s Ryder Cup controversy baffles Price
The former Open champion was in Germany last week for the Deutsche Bank-SAP Open and found it hard to believe that the European tour has taken a step which could easily weaken their side to face the Americans in September.
Britain's Luke Donald and Swedes Jesper Parnevik, Carl Pettersson and Mathias Gronberg are all currently ineligible because they have been asked to commit to 11 European tour events this season and do not want to because their priority is the US Tour.
"That's a restraint of trade and I don't think it's the right thing to do," commented Price.
"The guys on the US Tour are trying to better themselves. It's not that they have anything against the European tour, but to take their games to the next level they feel they have to play in America.
"How can you penalise them for that? Tony Jacklin and Peter Oosterhuis did the same thing years ago.
"You would think that Europe would want their strongest team and it's confusing to me winning the Ryder Cup has to help the European tour, doesn't it?
"Imagine if it was somebody like Darren (Clarke) who was ruled out. It would win a 'Bone Head of the Year' award if that happened.
"And how ridiculous it will look if one of those not eligible now win the US Open, Open or US PGA."
One Sunday newspaper touched on the restraint of trade issue by reporting that "a leading sports lawyer" had said the rule would probably be thrown out by a court of law.
"I would much rather attack the case than defend it," he said.
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