Europe’s biggest Ryder Cup defeat in 35-years could lead to a new qualifying process ahead of the 2018 biennial showdown in Paris.

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood were very critical post their Hazeltine defeat and particularly a process where the very in-form Paul Casey, and despite not being a member of the European Tour, was excluded from selection.

In fact, McIlroy went so far to say not having Ca

European Tour CEO Keith Pelley chats with Lee Westwood during this week’s Turkish Airlines Open. (PHoto – European Tour).

sey, and who McIlroy had beaten into second place at the Deutsche Bank Championship, ‘definitely hurt our side’.

There was also the scenario of Scotland’s Russell Knox’s 2015 WGC – HSBC Champions victory not counting towards Hazeltine selection as he was not a member of the European Tour at the time.

Knox later joined the Tour and despite finishing as the highest non-qualifier was overlooked by Captain Darren Clarke.

Now European Tour CEO Keith Pelley hinted there could be changes to the eligibility rules for future European Ryder Cup teams in the aftermath of Europe’s six point Ryder Cup defeat and the highest since 1981.

He said:  “We are having discussion regarding the qualification system now and we will continue to have them.

“We will adjust the Ryder Cup qualification if we feel that we need to.  We won’t be afraid to make the changes.”

The question of any changes to the qualifying process will be discussed when Pelley hosts a pre-Christmas meeting, that will include the past three European Team captains in Jose Maria Olazabal, Paul McGinley and Clarke along with Players Committee representative Henrik Stenson, that will sit to select the 2018 European Team Captain.