European Tour reveals radical shake-up

• European Tour reveals radical shake-up in membership
• Players now required to complete just five sanctioned events
• These will include Ryder Cup, EurAsia Cup and Olympic Games

The European Tour has announced a radical shake-up with players required to complete just five sanctioned events in the 2016 season to retain membership.

Previously set at 13, which included majors and World Golf Championship events, those eight events have dropped out but the likes of the Ryder Cup, the Olympic Games and the EurAsia Cup will count as tournaments played.

This aims to benefit the likes of Paul Casey – the seventh highest ranked European in the world – who said in September that he was considering not rejoining the European Tour in January, a move that would end his hopes of competing in the 2016 Ryder Cup and on his current ranking, his absence would be seen as a huge blow to the Tour who obviously want to see their best players in action at the match at Hazeltine.

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“The change to our minimum tournament requirement for the 2016 season recognises that many of our members are global players who, at the same time, wish to remain loyal to the European Tour,” said Keith Pelley.

“When you are within the top 50 in the world rankings and eligible for the major championships and the World Golf Championships, that is attainable. But for those on the cusp, it is harder to plan.

“We continue to strive to deliver world class fields across the globe” – Keith Pelley

“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. At the same time, it also ensures we have not changed or reduced the commitments required by our members to participate in ‘regular’ European Tour tournaments, as we continue to strive to deliver world class fields across the globe.”

In another slight change, the requirement for European members to play in a minimum of one tournament in their home country (should one take place) has been extended to cover all members from all countries (excluding the USA).

Previously, non-European members had to play one or more events in their home region, but this change recognises the importance to the European Tour’s sponsors, promoters and broadcasters of players playing in their national tournaments.

European Tour shake-up :: Your thoughts

What do you make of the new membership criteria for the European Tour introduced by Keith Pelley? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.