Although those involved in the process will hastily deny as much, the sense the European Tour has put down a Ryder Cup marker by withdrawing its co-sanctioning of next year’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is impossible to ignore. Pertinently, it has the support of Darren Clarke.
The Tour announced on Tuesday morning the final WGC event of 2016 would be removed from its schedule because of a clash with the French Open at Le Golf National. That date issue next year is primarily down to golf’s return to the Olympics, which will increase tournament congestion to a level that is bound to irritate players.
The knock-on effect will be in a Ryder Cup context, with players ultimately having to choose between France and Akron, for money won in Akron will not count for Ryder Cup points. Ryder Cup hopefuls will inevitably feel pressure over which decision to take, a matter of weeks before the team is confirmed.
The European Tour has stressed that France hosts the oldest national open in continental Europe. Next year marks the 100th anniversary of that competition. Still, this is a significant move given the status of WGC tournaments, which are regarded as just one step down from majors.
“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,” said Keith Pelley, the European Tour’s chief executive.
In a statement, the PGA Tour said: “Coordinating a worldwide professional golf schedule always has its challenges. Those challenges were even more acute for 2016 with addition of golf’s inclusion in the Olympic Games.
“Several events were impacted and while we have had numerous conversations with the European Tour with respect to the scheduling of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, we were ultimately unable to find a solution that satisfied all parties.”
Clarke, Europe’s Ryder Cup captain for 2016 at Hazeltine in Minnesota, fully backed his tour’s approach. When asked what recommendation he would make to players seeking advice over which tournament to participate in next July, he insisted: “France. From a European perspective.”
The issue would, however, be complex for Shane Lowry, who would be due to defend at Firestone after his stunning success there on Sunday.
“I think they’ve done the right thing by standing beside one of their mainstays of the European Tour,” added Clarke. “The French Open is steeped in history, around a wonderful venue that we have the 2018 Ryder Cup at. They’ve showed loyalty to the French Open and rightly so. You can’t please everybody all the time. And with the scheduling of the WGC the way it is next year, the Olympics are only once every four years, it’s one of those unfortunate situations that’s happened.
“Do I think it will demean Firestone? No. Do I think it will make France better? Possibly. I hope so. Because, as I said earlier, it’s a mainstay of the European Tour and rightly so.”
