Paul McGinley admits the European Tour may abandon the three-links swing that starts with the Irish Open after he hosts the Lahinch event in July.
With Rory McIlroy already a confirmed non-starter, McGinley admits it has been a "very tough process" to attract the top Americans to commit to the tournament.
The Dubliner has reached out to all of the world's top 50.
While happy that top Europeans have committed - including Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood and Danny Willett - it could be after the US PGA championship in May before big names from the US follow suit.
If, that is, any do commit.
McGinley has spoken to the management teams of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson - a Lahinch member - and the rest. Some have given verbal assurances they will commit, but nothing is set in stone.
That's despite a $7m prize fund in place - exceeding the $6.4m on offer at 3M Open in Minnesota on the PGA Tour that same week.
It's also a golden opportunity to play a links course that McGinley is setting up to be similar to Portrush, which hosts The Open a fortnight later.
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"You can only use strong-arm tactics if you’ve got leverage," a downbeat McGinley admitted. "The players make their own schedules. They have the power.
"It’s obviously not a Players Championship-quality field but, all things considered, I think we’re going to be in very good shape.
"But it's very difficult to sell a product like the Irish Open when the players, ultimately, are dictating.
"We don't pay appearance money, so we can't go offer them a deal and get a commitment a long time out.
"It might've happened in the past. That's not the case now.
"We do offer a huge prize fund and a brilliant golf course, we offer a links golf course two weeks before The Open - which will be played in Ireland this year.
"That's the kind of leverage I have - but I don't have any other leverage.
"The players have a $7m event - but the top 50 are playing for a minimum $7m throughout the season.
"So $7m is not a huge amount for them, and they've lots of options."
Another factor is that the WGC Fed Ex St Jude Invitational will be held in Memphis the week after The Open this year. The world's best will be there.
The European Tour put the links swing in place two years ago when Irish Open took place in Portstewart the week before the Scottish Open, which immediately precedes The Open.
The swing continued last year in Ballyliffin but McGinley acknowledges that the heavily-backed Scottish Open won't budge from it's prime position.
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"We in the European Tour are going to reconsider, to have another look at this links swing," confessed McGinley. "For a lot of players, three weeks in a row on a links is probably too much.
"Realistically, it's fair to say we need to be considering other dates.
"It's very difficult. You put it in the best date in the schedule and the player ultimately can say, 'It doesn’t suit me', or, 'I want a week off'.
"The bigger the player, the more power they have because they can make or break a tournament.
"What you have to do is pinpoint three, four or five big names. If you can do that, you'll have a successful tournament.
"Look at the Honda on the PGA Tour a few weeks ago - the oldest sponsor on the PGA Tour and they battled for a field.
"Ninety players live in the area and only half played the tournament, even though it's on their doorstep.
"The idea that all of the top players will turn up, that’s not applicable anymore unless you're playing a Ryder cup, a major, a WGC or The Players.
"That’s the reality of professional golf".
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