Two-time senior major champion Richard Brand believes the Ryder Cup is now “just another PGA Tour event” after Europe unveiled a new qualifying system for next year's Ryder Cup.
The new system will move from two qualifying lists to a unified ranking with 5,000 points awarded for major championships and 3,000 points for elite PGA Tour events.
In contrast, Rolex Series events on the DP World Tour will have 2,000 points up for grabs, the same points offered at regular PGA Tour events. DP World Tour “Back Nine” events will have 1,500 points up for grabs, and DP World Tour global events and PGA Tour opposite events will have 1,000 points up for grabs.
For the 2025 European team, the six players with the highest points will qualify to play at Bethpage, with Luke Donald having six players named to the squad.
Brand is not a fan of the new system, and believes it will be nearly impossible for full-time DP World Tour members to qualify for the biennial event.
“It’s sad,” said Brand, who leaves the DP World Tour in 2022 to join LIV Golf.
“I understand that quality is a must in the States, but it basically means that anyone who plays DP World full-time can't play in the Ryder Cup. You can't play. Obviously, the world rankings have become like this, and now the Ryder Cup has become like this.”
Brand went on to address Ryan Fox’s failure to make the 2022 Presidents Cup International Team, despite the New Zealander finishing second in the Race to Dubai standings.
“When you get a guy like Foxy, who was second two years ago on the DP World Tour, and he can’t play,” Brand said.
“I mean, really? It seems like it's just a PGA Tour event. The Ryder Cup is just a PGA Tour event now. It doesn't mean much for the rising stars in the game. You just look at the world rankings, how many guys from the DP World Tour are in the top 100 in the world? Maybe two? So I think it's a sad day for the DP World Tour, to be honest with you.”
Brand has been a frequent and outspoken critic of the “strategic alliance” between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour, announced in 2020.
Three years after the agreement was struck, the DP World Tour announced the Ten Card Project, which aims to give the top 10 players in the season-ending Race to Dubai rankings (who are not already exempt) the right to play on the US tour in 2024.
Brand added: “I think it's completely wrong to be in cahoots with the Americans.”
“Who would really think [PGA Tour commissioner] Does Jay Monahan care about the DP World Tour? No, he doesn't. To him, the “10 Player” contract is all about getting the best DP World Tour players to the PGA Tour. [the PGA Tour] I don't care about the DP World Tour. They never did.
“Let's face it, anyone who knows world golf knows that the DP World Tour made the wrong decision three or four years ago when they had the opportunity to play with the Saudi team.
“I think most of the players have realised that.”