McGinley will resist moves forcing stars to play in Seve Trophy

Paul McGinley will resist any move at this week’s Players Committee meeting in Portugal to make it compulsory for the likes of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell to compete in the Seve Trophy.

Europe ended a 13-year winless drought to win the tournament at the weekend. However, nine of Europe’s top golfers were absent — including eight players from last year’s victorious Ryder Cup side.

Those missing included the US Open winning trio of McDowell, McIlroy and Justin Rose, along with two European qualifies in Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer. Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano was unimpressed by the no shows. He said: “I still can’t believe the better players on the European Team were not here to support the event. The Seve Trophy is important for the European Tour because it’s about getting to know how to play team golf and it is about getting on with your team mates and that’s what Continental Europe did well this year under a great skipper in Jose Maria. Also Thomas (Bjorn) has been fantastic as he gave a fantastic speech on Saturday night over dinner and it’s always great to be around these legends. I just hope this tournament continues as the European Tour really needs this tournament and it’s because of this tournament that we are very successful in the Ryder Cup.

“It would a real shame if we had to let this tournament go. I don’t know what we can do about it but then maybe it has to be compulsory to play but something has to be done. We have a Tournament Players committee meeting this coming week in Portugal and probably we can discuss the matter.

“It is not on the agenda but maybe someone will mention or raise the issue in ‘other business’ as we need to do something to protect the Seve Trophy”.

But McGinley, who had been asked to leave a committee meeting earlier this year in Abu Dhabi ahead of being chosen as 2014 Ryder Cup captain, is reluctant to put pressure on those who didn’t compete.

“I don’t think we need to go down that road as what we really need is a sponsor. And if we can lock in a sponsor then I would love to see the event rotate between Great Britain and Ireland and the Continent.

And Thomas Bjorn, who chairs the Players Committee, is sympathetic to Europe’s PGA Tour based players. “We have to understand what those guys playing in the States go through. They come off a massive run in America and as long as tournaments come so thick and fast it’s going to be difficult for them,” said the Dane. “One of the purposes of the Seve Trophy is trying to build that Ryder Cup sense in those who have not played it. So why I understand the bigger names did not play and I have sympathy for them.”