The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational will not feature on next season’s European Tour after the dates were changed so as not to coincide with the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
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Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke has backed the European Tour’s decision to withdraw the Bridgestone Invitational from its 2016 schedule, even though that creates a dilemma for potential team members.
However, the new date will clash with the French Open at Le Golf National.
A re-working of the PGA Tour’s 2016 calendar to accommodate golf’s return to the Olympics has seen the prestigious World Golf Championship event brought forward to the end of June.
If Shane Lowry defends his WGC-Bridgestone Invitational next year, he will not earn points toward qualifying for the 2016 Ryder Cup team.
Said European Tour CEO Keith Pelley: “The Alstom Open de France has been a staple on our Tour since 1972 and we are confident that next year’s event, with an increased prize fund alongside the current renovations to the golf course, will properly reflect the importance of the tournament alongside the 100 anniversary celebrations”.
“I think they’ve done the right thing by standing beside one of their mainstays of the European Tour”, Clarke told reporters at Whistling Straits. The annual event at Firestone Country Club will be played next year from June 30 – July 3, the same week of the French Open, which will be played for the 100th time in 2016. I’m a PGA Tour player also.
“I can tell them what I’d like them to do”.
A PGA Tour spokesman said that the Tour had “numerous” conversations with the European Tour about the scheduling conflict, but “we were ultimately unable to find a solution that satisfied all parties”.
“It’s a golf course I prefer”.
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The European Tour’s apparent annoyance at their American counterpart’s decision to pit the Bridgestone against continental Europe’s oldest national championship has seen them withdraw its sanction. “Hopefully, we’ll be back to normal the following year”.
