Tour News (posted 27th August 1998)

Parnevik to rejoin European Tour

Reuters

London - U.S.-based Swede Jesper Parnevik plans to rejoin golf's European Tour to make qualifying easier for next year's Ryder Cup team, the Tour said on Thursday.

Parnevik played on the victorious 1997 European team only after being a wild card selection by then-captain Seve Ballesteros.

He gave up his European membership when he joined the U.S. PGA Tour in 1994 and has not played enough European events since then to be member of his home tour.

But the European Tour has ruled that non-Tour members will not be eligible for wild card Ryder Cup selection in future and Parnevik will have to rejoin the European Tour to be a candidate to play in next year's event at The Country Club at Brookline near Boston.

Parnevik will have played in all four majors -- recognized by the European Tour -- and three other Tour events this year. He must promise to play ll events next year including the majors.

His task is simplified by the addition to next year's calendar of three World Championship events which will count among the 11. Parnevik intends to continue playing on the U.S. Tour as well.

A Tour spokesperson said Parnevik is expected to finalise his membership within the next month.