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.
A reworking 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.
That brings it into direct conflict with one of the oldest tournaments in European golf, the Alstom Open de France at Le Golf National, venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup.
And the European Tour has responded by withdrawing its sanction of the WGC event at Firestone Country Club, meaning money won in Akron will not count for Ryder Cup points or towards the Race to Dubai.
Ireland's Shane Lowry will undoubtedly want to defend the title he won in such style on Sunday, but he and others could be in need of Ryder Cup points at that time, with the qualifying race set to end on 28 August in Denmark.
"I think they've done the right thing by standing beside one of their mainstays"
"It's a tough decision for Shane, he won his first World Golf Championship at Firestone and he may have a decision to make come next summer," Clarke said in a press conference ahead of the US PGA Championship.
"But in terms of what the European Tour has done, I think they've done the right thing by standing beside one of their mainstays. The French Open is steeped in history, around a wonderful venue that we have the 2018 Ryder Cup around. They've showed loyalty to the French Open and rightly so."
Clarke said he would advise prospective team members to play in France rather than Akron, but added: "I can't tell the guys what to do, I can tell them what I'd like them to do.
"But under no means would I try to tell one of my peers what he should do and what he shouldn't do. So that choice will be up to them. All I know is that I'm fully in support of what the European Tour has done to support the French Open.
"Do I think it will demean Firestone? No. Do I think it will make France better? Possibly. I hope so."
Meanwhile, Offaly man Lowry is eager to kick on from his exploits in Ohio over the weekend.
“I’m just trying my best to get back down to earth and trying to do a bit of practice and get ready for the week that’s ahead,” he said.
“I’m not here just to try and enjoy myself and take the pats on the back, I’m here to do well.
"I’m trying to leave my thoughts of my win last week behind me until next week when I get home.
“I’ll do my best to try and do well this week.”
