Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters has voiced his frustration after missing out on qualification for this week's Genesis Invitational, taking place at the iconic Riviera Country Club near Los Angeles.
The likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas will be competing in the California event which has attracted 19 of the world's top 20 golf stars.
In an effort to keep all eyes on the PGA Tour, the circuit's top players have committed to play at least 20 events across the season, with an additional four 'elevated events' added to the 2023 calendar with an average of a '$20 million purse' at each.
The Genesis Invitational is one of the selected 'elevated events' resulting in a stellar field lining up at the Riviera Country Club.
However, Belgian golf star Pieters has fallen short of the qualifying criteria for the invitational event, which is part of the American-based PGA Tour. He tweeted his disappointment stating: "Sad to miss my favourite tournament of the year. Because well as #34 in world, I just couldn’t get in @PGATOUR #GenesisInvitational."
Pieters plies his trade largely in the DP World Tour in which he has won six events and finished 10th overall in the series last year. The Belgian last played a PGA Tour event at last year's Players' Championship - but is not a full Tour member.
The PGA Tour has a standard system to determine who qualifies for its events, but Pieters has fallen outside of the qualifying criteria. PGA Tour, Golf Championship and major tournament winners inside the last five years are given qualification.
The top 125 in last season's FedExCup and members of the most recent Ryder Cup and Presidents' Cup teams are also granted a place. Unfortunately for the Belgian golf star he fails to fall into any of these criteria, while others including world No.446 Nick Watney have received invites.
Selection for Europe in this year's Ryder Cup would solve Pieters qualification problems for PGA Tour events in the immediate future. The Belgian star made his Ryder Cup debut in 2016 - but has missed selection in the last two events.
Pieters has previously played at the Genesis Invitational when he tied for second in 2017 after receiving a sponsor exemption to play in the event. This was after the Belgian played 12 PGA Tour events in the 2016/17 and accumulated enough points for a 'special temporary membership' which allowed the star unlimited sponsor invitations for the remainder of that season.
