Forsyth's tour future set to be decided

Ian Doyle hopes to meet with European Tour officials this week and avoid a legal battle over the future of Scotland's Alastair…

Ian Doyle hopes to meet with European Tour officials this week and avoid a legal battle over the future of Scotland's Alastair Forsyth.

Forsyth finished 116th in the Order of Merit after the Italian Open on Sunday with only the top 115 earning a tour card for next season.

But Forsyth's manager Doyle is unhappy that Sergio Garcia has taken one of those 115 places despite having only played 10 Tour events this season, one less than required for European Tour membership.

However, all those players, including Garcia, who qualified for the US5million American Express Championship in St Louis - cancelled in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11th - have been credited with 'playing' the tournament, therefore taking Garcia up to the required 11 tournaments.

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If the event was not counted then Garcia would be taken off the Order of Merit and everyone below him would move up one place, making Forsyth safe in 115th.

Doyle hinted at possible legal action on Sunday evening but said today: "The way forward is hopefully we can have sensible dialogue with the tour, we are hoping to meet up in Spain (scene of this week's Volvo Masters) by Thursday or Friday morning.

"Our opinion basically is that it's a decision that must be questioned and the simple solution is to extend the tour card to 116."

Asked about possible legal action, Doyle added on Sky Sports News: "It's certainly not an option at this point in time, I haven't even consulted solicitors, but suffice to say my managing director is a lawyer.

"He has had a look at the rules. He thinks there is the possibility of challenging the decision but at this point in time I hope common sense prevails."

The European Tour have declined to comment but are believed to feel the players have known for long enough about the decision to count the Amex and have had ample opportunities to earn enough money to keep their cards.

The Cannes Open was revived at two week's notice in October and jointly staged by the tour and Chubby Chandler's ISM management group, and all those in the top 115 on the money list earned over Stg£115,000 this season.

PA