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Dunhill Links Championship: Leading American golfers are unlikely to change their schedules after the European Tour raised the number of mandatory events for membership to 12 tournaments, Ernie Els said on the eve of the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland today.

Players including world number two Phil Mickelson have mooted playing more events in Europe to qualify for next year's multi-million euro Road to Dubai event, but Els said the European Tour's move had probably scuppered that.
   
"For US players to change their schedules and play here, I don't think so," said Els in St Andrews.
   
"Mickelson has indicated he wants to play a bit more around the world, he's bought a new airplane so I think he can put some miles on it.
   
"But I don't know if there's going to be special exemptions for players to play in the Race to Dubai. If that's not the case I don't know if the (American) guys will really change their schedules to that extent."
   
The European Tour upped the minimum number of events to qualify for Tour membership from 11 to 12 yesterday plus two of those events must be played in Europe as events have previously suffered from weakened fields.