A rule change which would have greatly increased the chances of Europe fielding its strongest side in the Ryder Cup in September has been delayed for a year. The size of the field for the £3million NEC Invitational is to increase substantially but not until the 2002 event.
After the controversy which saw Jesper Parnevik and Sergio Garcia excluded from the tournament in Akron last year, it has been decided to include all members of the world's top 15 and winners of leading tournaments around the globe.
Only 41 players appeared in the inaugural event two years ago and last August it was just 37 with places being restricted to the President's Cup teams, the 1999 American Ryder Cup team and the top 12 Europeans on the Order of Merit.
This August Europe's allocation goes to the top 12 in the Ryder Cup table at the time - and as things stand US Tour-based Garcia and Parnevik will again miss out on the chance to collect the million-dollar first prize in what is the penultimate tournament of the points race.
Garcia and Parnevik, both winners on the American circuit this season, are favourites for Sam Torrance's two wild cards at the moment. (PA)
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
