Defending Irish Open champion Paul Casey admits he could be struggling to conform to a new European Tour rule he in fact voted on late last year.
Casey’s a member of the Tournament Players Committee that passed a ruling last year whereby European Tour members must compete in their ‘home’ event as one of the 13 mandatory events needed to be played to retain full Tour membership.
The England-born Casey’s home event is the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth but he was forced to miss the tournament as he was advised not to leave the U.S. while his ‘Green card’ was being processed.
It means under the Tour rule he now must play an additional two European Tour events.
Paul Casey could struggle to play a further 11 events under European Tour guidelines he voted on late last year. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
He will tee-up this week in Cork having played this year in just four European Tour events and needing to contest a further 11 in total or forfeit Tour membership.
“I’m on the Committee when we made that decision but I don’t remember how I graded that one,” he said.
“I am not a fan of forcing guys to do things like play extra events. I’m always a fan that guys should want to do something, and that creates the best environment.”
There is one further event this year on England soil and that is the October 16th commencing Volvo World Match-Play Championship at the London Club but given that is a limited field event it does not count as a ‘home’ tournament as the rule applies.
“It’s George’s (O’Grady – Tour CEO) discretion but if he pushes the issue I may have to play the 15. The good thing I am playing this week so that is five and also playing next week, and then I’m playing the Scottish Open and The Open so there’s eight.
“But we’ll see and I will figure it out as I have always played my 13 and I will play 15 if I have to.”
And while Casey has not played a regular Tour event since February’s Dubai Desert Classic he and contested 11 events on the PGA Tour, and all but secured full Tour membership for 2015.
“I am playing on a past champion’s category in the States so it means unlimited invites and various other things,” he said.
“The Tour sent me through some rough numbers the other day indicating if I earned roughly $700,000 I would get back my card for next year. I’ve already earned over $700,000, and I have $713,000 so I am basically there if their predictions are right.
“And I still plan playing the Bridgestone, the PGA Championship so there’s two more that will count in Europe.”
However Casey’s fiancée Pollyanna Woodward is soon expecting the couple’s first child early in September that could disrupt his playing schedule.
Casey, who is among 31 players who contested the 2002 Irish Open when last staged at Fota Island, will play the opening two rounds of the Euro 2m event in the company of the Ireland duo of Graeme McDowell and former 2009 winner Shane Lowry.
