American Tour given precedence over Ryder Cup – Gallacher

Tim Finchem, commissioner of the US Tour, finds himself the man being mainly blamed for what has happened at the Ryder Cup this past week – and what might happen in Chicago in two years if nothing changes.

The match at Celtic Manor is the first to be held in October on this side of the Atlantic since 1965, when it was nothing like the major sporting event it is now.

And the scheduling of the FedEx Cup play-offs, with its 7m first prize, means that the next match at Medinah is down for September 28-30.

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The weather there this weekend featured gusts of 40mph with rain showers and temperatures struggling to reach double figures – and some frost at night.

The staging of the first Ryder Cup in Wales so late in the year on a course in the Usk Valley was always a risk.

Former European captain Tony Jacklin said before it started: "I think it's just crazy to jeopardise an event as popular as the Ryder Cup by pushing it back that far.

"I think it would have been the ideal year to change the format and play the match over four days. If they get perfect weather it is likely to be foggy in the morning, if they get rain delays they won't finish."

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Fog thankfully has not added to the problems – although there is still this morning to be negotiated.

Bernard Gallacher, Jacklin's successor as captain, said on BBC Radio: "Unfortunately we're being put under pressure by the American tour who are finishing the FedEx Cup and the Ryder Cup is coming straight after it.

"They certainly value it (the Ryder Cup), but it's actually run by the American PGA not the American tour.

"The American tour runs the Presidents Cup (held in alternate years).

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"There is a feeling that Tim Finchem, who pulls all the strings over there, gives that precedence over the Ryder Cup in terms of proper dates.

"It's not going to get better. In 2014 we'll be playing in Scotland (no exact date has been announced yet), where it could be the same type of weather and lack of daylight.

"There is a break in that FedEx Cup, there is a week and so I think we'll have to try and ask Tim Finchem if we can play the Ryder Cup in that break."

Those talks have already started, according to Joe Steranka, chief executive of the PGA of America.

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"We have spoken to the PGA Tour as recently as this morning," he commented on Friday following the first seven-hour rain delay.

"I spoke to Tim Finchem about a number of things, which include the schedule for Ryder Cup. We are earlier in 2012 when we play at Medinah (by only a few days).

"The 2012 season is the last season in the current television agreement for the PGA Tour and they have pledged to work with us on dates in their new television agreement that can give us the best week that all of the players would be available for Ryder Cup.

"And we know that is preferably earlier than it is this year when we are playing in October."

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George O'Grady, chief executive of the European Tour, stated: "Ideally I think we have to have the best week when the players are available.

"Whereas it's quite easy for us to move our weeks, this is difficult with the scheduling in the United States.

"It's a constant discussion with the PGA of America, the PGA Tour and their schedules and where the players are.

"Everything is reviewed, all the time, and is negotiated.

"We all know the weather can change all the time. In fact, some Japanese visitors came to Muirfield for the Open (in July) once – they thought it was a great championship and asked why didn't we play it in the summer."

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Some other sporting events affected by uncontrollable circumstances

Ryder Cup

The 2001 Ryder Cup was scheduled to take place from September 28-30 at The Belfry but was postponed by 12 months following the terrorist attacks in New York 17 days earlier. The same teams and captains were retained. Sam Torrance's Europe won.

Six Nations

The foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001 affected many sporting events – especially horse racing – across the country, with Ireland's home games in the Six Nations postponed until the autumn. England eventually won the Six Nations but were denied a Grand Slam after losing 20-14 in Dublin on October 20.

The timeless Test

Test matches used to be played without a time limit, but that came to an end after England's game with South Africa at the end of their 1938-39 tour. Set 696 to beat the hosts, England had reached 654-5 before they had to quit in order to catch the boat home. The match had started on March 3 and finished on March 14.

The Grand National

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The 1997 Grand National was postponed after an IRA bomb threat forced Aintree to be evacuated on Saturday afternoon, but the race took place two days later at the unusual time of 5pm, with Lord Gyllene – ridden by Northern Ireland's Tony Dobbin – leading from start to finish.

Scottish Cup

A harsh winter in 1979 meant the second-round game between Inverness and Falkirk had to be postponed 29 times.

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