Paul McGinley won't host the Irish Open again next year if asked to step in as a late replacement for Padraig Harrington.
Harrington was provisionally pencilled in to take the reins in 2020.
But such a commitment will clash with his European Ryder Cup captaincy next year and it appears he would prefer to delay his place in the five-man rotation that also includes Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme MCDowell.
Harrington said on Sunday that having witnessed the job done by McGinley, staging last week's event would have "scared the life" out of him.
Lahinch last week proved a massive success but McGinley insisted he wouldn't step in again if asked to do so.
"No, we're on a five-year rotation," he stated. "We've all agreed that.
"Is Pádraig doing it next year? Has he agreed to do it or not? I've never seen Harrington scared!".
There is a lot of uncertainty about the date and venue for the tournament for next year with US PGA chiefs threatening to move one of their big WGC events, the FedEx S Jude, to the same date as the Irish Open.
They moved the Bridgestone to the same week as the French Open before the Rio Olympics and could do the same before Tokyo 2020.
"The condensed schedule is challenging, it's accentuated by the fact it's an Olympic year and Ryder Cup year," said McGinley.
"When you put all those into the melting pot, it makes it difficult."
The Dubliner confirmed that, having met with European Tour chief Keith Pelley on Friday, nothing has been set in stone for the Irish Open next year.
A move to a September date is under consideration. "Like all things, it will be resolved," McGinley stressed.
"It mighn't be resolved in a perfect way, because I don't think there is a perfect way. But we will resolve it."
McGinley doesn't believe there should be a repeat of four years ago, when Europe's top players were told they would receive no Ryder Cup ranking points for playing at the Bridgestone instead of the French Open.
"We're working very closely with the PGA Tour, a lot closer than we ever have done," he said. "Relations between the PGA and European Tours are really strong, harmonious.
"I know this date, this Irish Open is high on the agenda in the communication between Keith and (US PGA commissioner) Jay Monahan in Portrush in two weeks.
"We're very harmonious, honestly. We're getting on really strongly with them, and we want to continue that, and we don't want to go into a brinkmanship situation.
"We may have to go into two opposing tournaments, but what can we do? We've done it before. We'll do it again.
"But next year is difficult. We've got JP's Pro-Am on next year, as well. It's really tricky because of the moving parts.
"We're going to have to concede on something. It's their decision".
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