SUCCESS for Jesper Parnevik in the Players' Championship could well clear the path for him to rejoin the European Tour and move a step nearer a Ryder Cup debut.
The 32 year old Swede has told Tour executive director Ken Schofield that his immediate priorities are his wife, who is expecting their second child, and continuing his brilliant start to the season on the American tour.
First prize at Sawgrass would almost certainly take Parnevik to the top of the US money list.
It would also make him exempt from qualifying for the US Open in June and would therefore make it easier for him to change his schedule and fit in more European events.
If he rejoins under a new regulation which means he has to play only seven tour events in addition to the four majors, his points could be back dated to include his five stroke Lancome Trophy victory in Paris last September.
"I think that would be fair," added Parnevik.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)