Rory McIlroy welcomes prospect of European Tour changes

What’s the root of the problem? He played 27 times on the PGA Tour in the 2014-15 season and finished 12th in the FedEx Cup standings, earning more than $3.5-million. He’s been an unbelievable ambassador for the European Tour. You’ll start to see it come to fruition in 2018.

“It doesn’t take a mathematical genius to work out that the economy in Europe is not very good”, adds Graeme McDowell. It’s a terrific event with wonderful fan engagement with 125,000 fans that experience the game of golf, and the way that we actually present it should be applauded.

Would a merger solve the problem? “I feel like I’m going in the right direction”, said Donald, who tied for fifth at last month’s British Masters. We are trying to provide a great option for them. It didn’t do Manchester United any harm when they were bought by Americans.

The latter change replaces the previous requirement for non-European members to play one of more events in their home “region”, and recognises the importance to The European Tour’s promoters, sponsors and broadcasters of players playing in their national tournaments, at the same time as recognising the global nature of the Tour and its membership alongside the need for equality in the membership regulations.

The competition has exploded with popularity in the modern era, and because the European Tour gets to decide the qualification terms for how players can make its team, it holds all the leverage.

“I would go with the weather and make sure we play everywhere in the world a little bit, even countries where we normally don’t go”, says Martin Kaymer. The Presidents Cup – as it does on the PGA Tour – counts toward qualification, so Reed will tee it up in his 13th event this week.

An impressive bogey-free round of 68 has put Bath golfer Laurie Canter in prime position to secure his European PGA Tour card for next year in the final qualifying stage.

What problems would it cause?

“So he’s a world class player with many different scheduling opportunities”.

To an extent, a global tour has already emerged. Almost half of the European Tour takes place outside Europe, visiting South Africa, Hong Kong, UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, China, Singapore, and Australia.

“This makes it easier for them to maintain European Tour membership and I think that’s a fair thing for us to do and in the best interests of the tour”.

Numerous European players compete on both tours, including top 20 players such as McIlroy, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia and Louis Oosthuizen.

“This change will benefit them and enable them to continue to remain in membership with us in what are extremely exciting times for The European Tour”.