China crisis over for Poulter

Ian Poulter’s last-minute dash across the world to play in last week’s Hong Kong Open has turned out to be an unnecessary journey.

Poulter dropped out of the world’s top 50 on October 19 and was therefore ineligible for his planned appearance in the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, meaning he would be unable to play the 13 events required for European Tour membership.

Only members can qualify for Europe’s Ryder Cup team and that meant Poulter was forced into a frantic journey from Orlando to Hong Kong, but only after former US PGA champion Rich Beem generously agreed to give up his tournament invite.

The 39-year-old was initially sixth reserve for the final World Golf Championship event of the year, but the first four were drafted in to complete the 78-man field and Tyrrell Hatton then replaced the injured George Coetzee.

When American Brandt Snedeker also withdrew, Poulter was handed a place in the event which provided his last European Tour victory in 2012.

Poulter tweeted: “I will be playing the #hsbcchampions event next week in Shanghai now. I guess it was meant to be...”

Meanwhile, Gleneagles will host the Solheim Cup in 2019, the Ladies European Tour has announced.

The PGA Centenary Course hosted the Ryder Cup in 2014 as Europe beat the US for the sixth time in seven events and now the women’s teams will face the same test.

Europe surrendered the Solheim Cup last month as the US completed a remarkable comeback to win 14 1/2 – 13 1/2 in controversial circumstances in Germany.

Suzann Pettersen came in for intense criticism at Golf Club St Leon-Rot after denying she and teammate Charley Hull had conceded a 2ft putt on the 17th hole of their fourball match after America’s Alison Lee had picked up her ball.

Europe were awarded the hole and went on to win the match two up, but it was the indignant Americans who eventually claimed the trophy by recovering from 10-6 down in the singles.

Pettersen issued an apology in the aftermath of the US victory and tempers appear to have now cooled ahead of the event heading to Des Moines Golf and Country Club in 2017.

Gleneagles beat The Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Sweden to earn the right to host the event two years later and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she is delighted to see the event coming to Scotland.