Richard Bland disappointed at big Ryder Cup change which will impact European players

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The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black begins in just over a year, and European players must contend with a major change in the build-up to the event.

Luke Donald’s men are looking for a historic victory on American soil and will face a new-looked Team USA with Keegan Bradley at the helm.

Amazingly, Bradley admitted Stewart Cink deserved to be captain after he had been given the role.

The Europeans will have to contend with a new qualification process, and LIV Golf star Bland has now highlighted another issue which will impact DP World Tour players in particular.

Richard Bland: DP World Tour players can’t make 2025 European Ryder Cup team

• READ MORE: Three outsiders who could make the USA Ryder Cup team in 2025

Changes to the system mean 2000 Ryder Cup qualification points will be available at DP World Tour Rolex events and regular PGA Tour events. However, elite PGA Tour events will be worth 3000, and major championships 5000.

Essentially, DP World Tour players are rewarded less for their efforts, something Bland is disappointed with.

“It’s sad,” Bland told Golf Digest. “I understand that the strength plays in America, but this just basically says that no one playing full-time DP World can play in the Ryder Cup. You can’t make it. Obviously, the World Rankings have gone that way, and now the Ryder Cup has gone that way.”

DP World Tour must be proactive in order to compete with the PGA Tour and LIV Golf

Clearly, the DP World Tour is viewed as golf’s third-rate competition at present. The PGA Tour’s prominence and the emergence of LIV Golf have made it extremely tough for European decision-makers.

The lack of household names is causing an issue, and this Ryder Cup decision won’t help going forward. Promising European players will know their chances of making it into golf’s most prestigious will be limited unless they make the move to the PGA Tour.

Those who left the DP World Tour in search of LIV Golf riches also need to shoulder some responsibility. Lee Westwood claimed the lack of big names in Europe is an issue while completely forgetting it emerged as a result of his decision.

Moving forward, incorporating more co-sanctioned events could be the start of getting the DP World Tour back on the map because, presently, the Scottish Open feels like the only time the PGA Tour elite even contemplate making the trip across the pond.