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.
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