All eyes are now on the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour to see what their response will be to the field for the LIV Golf Invitational in London next week.
As you can imagine everyone is waiting to see what the punishment is going to be for players who have decided to play in the event at the Centurion Club.
There has been so much speculation about who will be there but Dustin Johnson’s participation is the biggest shock for me.
It was only four months ago he said he was committed to the PGA Tour and would not take part in any of the LIV Golf Invitational events.
His reversal is a fascinating development and I see his agent has been quick to get his client’s reasoning out there already by saying DJ felt it was too compelling to pass up and in the best interest of his family.
Ryder Cup contingent to play in London
From a Ryder Cup perspective we’ve got six prominent European players involved too in Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell, Martin Kaymer and Bernd Wiesberger.
I’m not speaking out of turn to suggest there are future Ryder Cup vice-captains and potential captains in that list.
Add in Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen and you have six major champions, three of which are former world number one, and 16 of the top 100 in total named – and the possibility of Phil Mickelson to come.
But for all the bluster from Greg Norman it is clear the field is not the star-studded one he has been selling for the last year.
There are some excellent players there of course but nobody from the top 10 in the world rankings is taking part as yet.
I stress yet because clearly that could change depending on what the repercussions for those who have committed to playing are.
If it is a monetary fine or a ban then you might see guys thinking twice. If it’s lenient then the entry list for the next event after next week could be very different.
Time will tell.
Molinari will be a pivotal member of Stenson’s backroom staff in Rome
Edoardo Molinari’s appointment as European vice-captain for next year’s Ryder Cup is as far away from a populist choice as you can get.
Some people may be looking at Eddie’s call-up by Henrik Stenson thinking it has happened because the match will be in Rome, Italy, Eddie’s homeland.
While he is a hugely passionate Italian make no mistake Eddie is going to play a pivotal role as one of Henrik’s right-hand men.
It was only at the start of this year I learned just how involved Eddie is with his colleagues on the tour.
We all knew how diligent he was when it came to statistical analysis but I didn’t realise how many golfers had turned to him for help.
He is working with more than 20 guys at this point on analysing their statistics and offering advice and Henrik is clearly looking to tap into that.
I had breakfast with Eddie at the weekend and if I know one thing about him it’s that he leaves no stone unturned.
If there is an advantage to be had, a tweak to be made, a slight adjustment somewhere, there’s no-one better than Eddie at identifying and implementing it.
That’s why he has so many golfers turning to him for help.
Honestly, I don’t know where he finds the time.
Fitzpatrick one of many to turn to Molinari
One of the guys who has turned to Eddie for advice is Matt Fitzpatrick. He recorded as much detail as possible of every shot he hit in the PGA Championship before providing all the details.
The appliance of science is in full effect in the game now.
It’s the same in all sport really. Talk of xG (expected goals) at football clubs when discussing signing targets is commonplace among my friends who are in that line of work and it will be no different for the Ryder Cup.
We’re firmly in the era of forensically examining every aspect and when it comes to Eddie there’s no-one who fits the bill better than him in terms of analysis.
Henrik clearly knows that which is why has wasted little time on getting Eddie on board.
I expect my Italian friend to be even busier in the next 15 months after taking on this task but I know how thrilled and honoured he is to have been asked.
Trust me, he will be a fantastic acquisition for Europe.
United States is an option if I don’t make St Andrews
Time is running out as I bid to make my fifth Open appearance at St Andrews this summer.
I’m in Germany this week for the Porsche European Open and I’ve said all season my target is to be in the field for the 150th edition of the tournament at the Home of Golf.
I’ve been fortunate enough to play in four Open championships at St Andrews and I’ll be giving everything in the next month to try to get there.
If I fall short then I may take up the offer to play a PGA Tour event during Open week instead.
There are two chances to play in the US in July with the Barbasol Championship in Kentucky running at the same time as the Scottish Open at The Renaissance the week before the Barracuda Championship in California which takes place during Open week from July 14.
There will be guys in the field for the Scottish Open who could have a good week there but not be in the field for St Andrews.
They will want to keep playing if that’s the case and the chance to play a PGA Tour event will be appealing.
