The players who pulled out of Bahrain

[Templeton Peck]

There's nothing to stop them hosting a tournament the argument is that given the circumstances it just shouldn't have been a ranker. It makes very little difference if it's a ranking event or not in the grand scheme of things. The irony is that when they scheduled it they probably made sure it didn't clash with one of Ronnie's PL dates...

[hegeland]

Well there are 96 players on the tour, and to make it a non-ranking event (thus leaving out all but the top players) just because 4 of them had other commitments would not have been a reasonable decision IMO.

[Templeton Peck]

There isn't a number limit on the field in non-ranking events, you know. They could have run it exactly like they have done but just not awarded ranking points.

[João]

They should have done it like the NI Trophy; start as invitational and make it a rank event the year after.

[hegeland]

There isn't a number limit on the field in non-ranking events, you know. They could have run it exactly like they have done but just not awarded ranking points.

Anyhow I fail to see how the whereabouts of 4 players should determine a 96-player-tournament. Of course it would have been better if they had put it sometime else, but this is the second best solution.