Friday 24 June 2016 14:58, UK
Brexit will have no implications for the Ryder Cup, according to the European Tour.
UK voters have made the historic decision to leave the European Union, but British golfers will still be eligible for Europe's biennial showdown with the United States and the European team will continue to play under the blue and gold flag of Europe.
A spokesperson for The European Tour said: "The criteria for being European in Ryder Cup terms is a geographical one (ie from countries who make up the continent of Europe) not a political or economic one (ie countries who make up the EU). Therefore the result of the UK referendum has no bearing in Ryder Cup qualification terms.
"In terms of the flag flown to represent the European Ryder Cup team, we consider that the blue and gold flag of Europe represents the continent of Europe and, as a broad symbol of Europe as a whole, we therefore plan to continue to use it."
The European Tour, which awards prize money in euros, is based at Wentworth in Surrey and officials will now take time to assess the implications of the vote, but they do not believe it will have any impact on the tour schedule.
The spokesperson added: "Like all global companies whose main headquarters are in the UK, we are now in the process of assessing the implications for our business following the result of the referendum vote on June 23.
"In terms of tournaments appearing on The European Tour International Schedule, including those in the United Kingdom, we do not believe that the result will have any impact.
"The United Kingdom remains a geographical part of Europe, even though it will no longer be part of the political or economic structure of the European Union."
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, the world No 4, has used an analogy from his own sport to jokingly suggest a second chance at 2016 could be an option following Brexit and the emergence of Donald Trump in the race for the White House.
"With Brexit and the way the US presidential race is going.... Can we take a mulligan on 2016??," he tweeted.
