The European Tour look likely to give the green light to a Monday qualifier for this year’s Irish Open at Carton House.

This is despite an apparent opposition to the move by the Chairman of the Tournament Players Committee, Thomas Bjorn but with a senior Tour official fully backing the notion.

Tournament Players Committee chairman, Thomas Bjorn not all together happy with idea of a Monday qualifier for the Irish Open. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

At present the Irish PGA is afforded eight places in the 156-player field while organisers also are afforded eight sponsors invitations and it would mean the combined agreement of Irish PGA, the GUI and the European Tour, as owners of the tournament, in giving up a number of these automatic places to accommodate entry spots through a Monday qualifier.

While Monday qualifying was discontinued some time ago two events, the French Open and the Scandinavian Masters, still adopt the practice.

A Tour official indicated they have no objection to a Monday qualifier for the Irish Open as long as the GUI and Irish PGA came to an agreement.

However Bjorn, who won the 2006 Irish Open when last staged at Carton House, remarked:  “The Players Committee would like to avoid Monday qualifying, and I don’t think it is the right way to go but then the Irish Open is one of our more prestigious events on the Tour.

“The Irish Open is always hugely supported but if that is the route organisers want to go in having a Monday qualifier then we will have to seriously consider it even though that really is not the route we want to go with our national open’s.”