Kaymer forfeits US PGA Tour membership
Martin Kaymer went to North Carolina last week to play in the Wyndham Championship in an attempt to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs.
The lucrative $10 million bonus that goes to the winner wasn't the only draw, though. The Wyndham Championship was Kaymer's 13th event and he needed 15 to meet his US PGA Tour membership requirement.
Had Kaymer advanced to the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second of the four Playoffs events, he would have had 15 starts. But the German tied for 14th at the Wyndham Championship and only moved 10 spots to 139th in the FedExCup so he didn't qualify.
Since he didn't make the minimum number of starts in 2014-15, Kaymer will not be a USA PGA Tour member next year. He will not be eligible to earn FedExCup points or participate in the Playoffs.
”Gaining full eligibility to play on both Tours – the PGA TOUR and the European Tour – is a challenge," Kaymer said in a statement released by his management company. "When co-ordinating my 2014-15 schedule I was forced to plan with a certain degree of risk.
"Unfortunately I have not been able to reach my goals on the PGA TOUR for this season. I certainly accept and acknowledge the regulations of the PGA TOUR. Looking at next season's schedule, especially with the Olympics and the Ryder Cup, I can cope with this situation."
Kaymer will be able to play a maximum of 12 events as a non-member. And after sitting next season out as a TOUR member, the 2014 U.S. Open champ can continue as a member in 2016-17 under his multi-year exemption.
Kaymer's situation is different than a U.S.-based player's like Steve Stricker because the European Tour is the German's home tour. Stricker, whose home circuit is the US PGA Tour, only loses his voting privileges if he doesn't play 15 events.
Martin Kaymer went to North Carolina last week to play in the Wyndham Championship in an attempt to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs.
The lucrative $10 million bonus that goes to the winner wasn't the only draw, though. The Wyndham Championship was Kaymer's 13th event and he needed 15 to meet his US PGA Tour membership requirement.
Had Kaymer advanced to the Deutsche Bank Championship, the second of the four Playoffs events, he would have had 15 starts. But the German tied for 14th at the Wyndham Championship and only moved 10 spots to 139th in the FedExCup so he didn't qualify.
Since he didn't make the minimum number of starts in 2014-15, Kaymer will not be a USA PGA Tour member next year. He will not be eligible to earn FedExCup points or participate in the Playoffs.
”Gaining full eligibility to play on both Tours – the PGA TOUR and the European Tour – is a challenge," Kaymer said in a statement released by his management company. "When co-ordinating my 2014-15 schedule I was forced to plan with a certain degree of risk.
"Unfortunately I have not been able to reach my goals on the PGA TOUR for this season. I certainly accept and acknowledge the regulations of the PGA TOUR. Looking at next season's schedule, especially with the Olympics and the Ryder Cup, I can cope with this situation."
Kaymer will be able to play a maximum of 12 events as a non-member. And after sitting next season out as a TOUR member, the 2014 U.S. Open champ can continue as a member in 2016-17 under his multi-year exemption.
Kaymer's situation is different than a U.S.-based player's like Steve Stricker because the European Tour is the German's home tour. Stricker, whose home circuit is the US PGA Tour, only loses his voting privileges if he doesn't play 15 events.
Labels: US PGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Wednesday, August 26, 2015
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