BMW Masters

Donald questions new European Tour ruling

ESPN staff

October 24, 2013

Joost Luiten watches his opening tee-shot at the BMW Masters - the only shot he played at the tournament © Getty Images

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Luke Donald has questioned the ruling which states that any Euro Tour member must play two of the three preceding 'Final Series' events in order to be eligible for the World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Donald, who is currently playing in the first of The Final Series events at the BMW Masters in Shanghai, took to social networking site Twitter to voice his concern over the ruling.

The Brit was paired with Joost Luiten for his first round at Lake Malaren on Wednesday, but the Dutchman only played his opening tee-shot before withdrawing with a shoulder injury - something which Donald described as a "strange scenario".

The official ruling given on the European Tour official website reads: "Any European Tour Member hoping to qualify for the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai - and therefore the chance to play for The Race to Dubai Bonus Pool - will have to participate in two of the three tournaments preceding the season finalé" - a regulation that was brought in this year.

Despite Luiten playing only one shot, which Donald stated went "about 120 yards straight down the middle", he is still considered to have featured at the event.

Donald insinuated that, if the rule was not in play, Luiten would have withdrawn before the start of proceedings in Shanghai - therefore allowing the first reserve player the chance to play in the event.

Strange scenario 2day, paired w/ Joost Luiten, he hit drive off 1st then withdrew w/ shoulder injury, that 1 shot meant event counted 4 him
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) October 24, 2013

New Euro Tour rule this year states that you have to play at least 2 out 3 events before Race to Dubai to be eligible....
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) October 24, 2013

.....if that rule wasn't in affect then Joost would have withdrawn prior to event and 1st reserve would have got to play this weeks event!
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) October 24, 2013

Donald admitted that he could not blame Luiten for playing one shot before withdrawing, stating that the "new rule forced his hand".

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ESPN staff