Forsyth legal threat to Tour

The European Tour could be threatened with legal action after Alastair Forsyth missed out on his card by one place.

The Scot finished 116th in the Order of Merit after the Italian Open - won by Frenchman Gregory Havret yesterday - with only the top 115 earning a guaranteed starting berth next season.

But Forsyth's manager Ian Doyle is unhappy that Sergio Garcia has taken one of those 115 places despite having played only 10 Tour events this season, one less than required for European Tour membership.

However, all those players, including Garcia, who qualified for the American Express Championshipin St Louis - cancelled in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 11 September - have been credited with 'playing' the tournament, taking Garcia up to the required 11 tournaments.

If the event was not counted then Garcia would be taken off the Order of Merit and everyone below him would move up one place, making Forsyth 115th.

Doyle said: "We all understand the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of the Amex but Garcia has profited out of it.

"We intend talking to the Tour to try and resolve this issue."