European Tour pulls out of WGC for 2016

Ireland’s Shane Lowry won this year’s Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday.

The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational will not feature on the European Tour next season after it was moved to the end of June by the PGA Tour of America.

Membership of the European Tour has a requirement to play in 13 tournaments a year and, in the past, with four majors and four WGC events counting towards that total the world’s top golfers – most of whom base themselves in the United States – were able to easily plan their schedule to meet the criteria.

Having posted his first victory in America over the weekend, Lowry will naturally be expected to defend his title in Ohio next summer but because of a date clash with the French Open, new European Tour CEO Keith Pelley said on Tuesday morning that they will be withdrawing their support for the WGC tournament.

In 2016, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational will not be co-sanctioned by the European Tour.

A PGA Tour spokesman said that the Tour had “numerous” conversations with the European Tour about the scheduling conflict, but “we were ultimately unable to find a solution that satisfied all parties”.

“The Alstom Open de France has been a staple on our Tour since 1972 and we are confident that next year ” s event, with an increased prize fund alongside the current renovations to the golf course, will properly reflect the importance of the tournament alongside the 100th anniversary celebrations”. “Hopefully, we’ll be back to normal the following year”. Where will I be?

Clarke said he would advise prospective team members to play in France rather than Akron, but added: “I can’t tell the guys what to do, I can tell them what I’d like them to do”.

“The European Tour is my home, and that’s kind of where I learned this great game of golf, and I feel always loyal, and I feel like I owe them something at all times”. I don’t blame them. “But under no means would I try to tell one of my peers what he should do and what he shouldn’t do”.