The PGA Tour's summer schedule for '16 "received a jolt" yesterday when the European Tour "announced that it would not co-sanction the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club," according to Jim McCabe of GOLFWEEK. The decision was prompted by a "clash with the French Open, as both tournaments will be held June 30-July 3." By not co-sanctioning the event at Firestone, the European Tour "will not award money or Ryder Cup points ... to any member who competes." That could "put a hit on the field, because just last week, 28 of the 77 players who competed in the Bridgestone Invitational were also European Tour members, including the winner, Shane Lowry." The '16 Bridgestone is "among the many moving parts to a summer schedule thrown into a state of flux by golf’s return" to the Olympics. That competition "will be held in mid-August, which would have been the Bridgestone date" (GOLFWEEK.com, 8/11). GOLFDIGEST.com's Joel Beall wrote the Bridgestone "has become one of the best non-major tournaments of the year," but that standing "just took a serious hit." With the French Open "holding particular gravitas next summer on its 100th anniversary, many European stars are expected to skip" the WGC event. European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke said, "It depends on what guys want to do. If they're close to qualifying on the points list or they're close to qualifying through Dubai, it's a tough decision to make" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 8/11). YAHOO SPORTS' Ryan Ballengee noted the European Tour "is expected to again co-sanction" the event in '17 (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/11). In Ireland, Malachy Clerkin notes the French Open is the "oldest national open in Europe and has been a fixture on the calendar" since the tour’s formation in '72. It has "traditionally had one of the larger purses outside the majors and WGC events" (IRISH TIMES, 8/12).
EUROS BACK DECISION: REUTERS' Andrew Both noted Clarke "backed the decision by his tour." He said, "They've done the right thing by standing beside one of their mainstays on the European Tour. They've showed loyalty to the French Open and rightly so" (REUTERS, 8/11). Golfer Graeme McDowell: "The European Tour has done the only thing available to them. They had no other decision. It’s a one-off year. It’s a messed-up summer. We all know that. I don’t think the European Tour had other options.” The AP's Doug Ferguson noted under terms of its contract with the French Open, the European Tour "was not allowed to sanction any other event" (AP, 8/11).
