Gallacher admits to disappointment over exemptions
Today is the final 18 holes of the European Tour as we know it, with an American set to be crowned as the winner of the Race To Dubai for the first time.
The DP Wo r l d To u r Championship in Dubai brings the curtain down on the 2021 season, with Collin Morikawa set to pip Billy Horschel to the top prize.
While the Joburg Open, starting in South Africa on Thursday, will be the first counting event for the renamed DP World Tour.
These are big changes in European golf, and have provoked plenty of debate, not least the idea of an American ruling the roost in this 50th season of the Tour.
What is more, this is only Morikawa’s fourth “regular’” European Tour tournament, outside of Majors and World Golf Championship events.
For those steeped in European golf, like Bernard Gallacher (inset), there is a rather uneasy feeling about the 24- year- old’s expected success.
“It’s not ideal to have an American winner, but at least Morikawa is the
Ope n Ch a m p i o n this year,” he told The Sunday Post.
“Three Majors are played in America, and three WGC events. Play well in those and you can be well up the list, find four more events and you are going to win the Order of Merit.
“Am I pleased we are going to have an American winner? No. But am I pleased Morikawa is going to win it? I would probably say yes for what he did at Royal St George’s.
“But it doesn’t sit right with me. The whole idea of the Race To Dubai was for the guys who support the European Tour.
“Ye t n ow you can play the minimum number of tournaments and walk away with the title.”
The non-appearance of Jon Rahm in Dubai this week generated headlines with the World No. 1 citing exhaustion after a demanding season, despite still having a chance of overtaking the two Americans above him in the Race To Dubai.
While Rahm pulled out, fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia and American Patrick Reed were granted a special exemption to play in the Middle East, despite not meeting the playing criteria for the 2021 season.
It is hard to imagine the PGA Tour bending their rules for players in similar circumstances, and Gallacher is disappointed at the European Tour’s stance.
“I’m disappointed Jon Rahm couldn’t play, but I can understand why,” says the three-time Ryder Cup captain.
“He’s obviously all played out after a hectic season, the Majors, the Ryder Cup, the Olympics. Plus he played two events in Spain last month.
“He also had a child and he’s had Covid, too, so maybe he just needs some time at home to recharge his batteries for next year.
“But I’m not happy about Sergio and Patrick Reed being allowed to play.
“In the past, the rules to get into the Volvo Masters at V alder ram a to mark the end of the European season we re always sacrosanct.
“One year, Sandy Lyle had not fulfilled his minimum requirements. The sponsors wanted him in and Sandy had a good reason for not playing all his events, but the tournament committee said no.
“That sort of stance has obviously evaporated. Marketing has trumped the rules and they have bent over backwards.
“Sergio has always gone his own way. He wouldn’t play for Seve Ballesteros in the Seve Trophy, which hugely upset Seve. But that’s Sergio.
“While Patrick Reed has probably pleaded a special case.
“But that is a weakness by the European Tour that it can’t enforce its own rules.
“Ca n you imagine this happening on the PGA Tour? No, as they have a greater hold over their players.”