Langer discovers Ryder Cup loophole

Captain Bernhard Langer today discovered something that might have kept Jesper Parnevik and Luke Donald in Ryder Cup contention.

Langer, a member of the European tour for 28 years, found out that 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 – plus Carl Pettersson and Mathias Gronberg – have counted themselves out of this September’s match, but Langer wonders if they did not know the rule either.

“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 because he is not currently exempt for the Open at Troon in July or next month’s US Open.

“It was never even in my logical mind. It was like ‘I tried to qualify, but I didn’t make it, so I’m not in the tournament, so it shouldn’t count.’ But that’s not the way it is.”

Asked if he thought the information might have changed the minds of the four US Tour players he added: “I really don’t know.”

The German, unable to play this week’s Volvo PGA championship at Wentworth because of a wrist injury, intends to tell Parnevik and the others.

“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 and part of the reason for that was that they were outside the world’s top 50 and therefore not certain of their places in the majors and world championships, which all count.

Now they may have a re-think knowing that the qualifying competitions count as well – but while they think they are not collecting cup points and that ultimately could cost them a place in the team.

It was also confirmed by Schofield today 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 have to play in 11 events.

“One of the benefits of being an honorary life member is that your minimum obligation is removed,” said Schofield. “And what would happen is they would simply be, as some have from time to time, be removed from the Order of Merit.”

The players could also, of course, commit to 11 events, appear in the Ryder Cup and then change their minds. But that would leave themselves open to the possibility of suspension from the European tour.