Thomas Bjorn dismisses Luke Donald's concerns about European Tour
Thomas Bjorn and Luke Donald may have each contributed something to Europe's recent Ryder Cup win - Donald probably rather more than the non-playing vice captain, to be fair - but the two stand in opposing corners when it comes to the European Tour.
Bjorn is also the Tournament Players Committee chairman, and the Dane has taken exception at Donald's recent comments that suggested the European Tour's increased schedule could mean that some players might forego the tour altogether.
Earlier this month the Tour took the decision to raise the minimum number of events that members would need to participate in, in order to retain full membership. In 2011, players will have to play at least 13 tournaments - up from 12 this year, and 11 in 2009.
Bjorn believes that increase will benefit the tour and that the extra obligation would not prove difficult to fulfil for the majority of players. The 39-year-old insisted the changes were not introduced in order to make life difficult for players who base themselves abroad.
Donald, who is based in the USA for most of the year, claimed last week that the change would not affect him - but then went onto attack the increase, suggesting the move could lead players in his situation, who also play on the more lucrative PGA Tour, to give up on Europe altogether.
High profile European players who currently concentrate the majority of their energies in the US include Padraig Harrington, though the Irishman has said he wants to play in Europe more often in the future, and England's Justin Rose and Paul Casey - the latter two missing out on places in the Ryder Cup, partly because they chose to play in the USA rather than in Europe.
Donald was a wildcard pick for Europe this year after failing to qualify automatically for the team through his performances on Tour.
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