Golf:Luke Donald discovered only yesterday that Ryder Cup qualifying does not end when he thought it did.
Europe's nine automatic qualifiers and three wild cards will be named in two weeks at the end of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Gleneagles.
Like Pádraig Harrington, Justin Rose and Paul Casey - the current favourites to be selected by captain Colin Montgomerie if they do not climb into the top nine - Donald plans to be at The Barclays event in America.
That finishes the same day as the tournament in Scotland, but does not count for points.
"I didn't even realise that until this morning (Thursday) - and it does not seem fair," said Donald after starting the USPGA Championship with a level-par 72.
He is currently fourth on the world points list, but if he falls one spot on that he will require a wild card as well because five of the team are determined by European Tour earnings.
Harrington's hopes of avoiding the need for a pick from Montgomerie suffered a big blow with an opening 75.
And the three-time major winner then said that it was only a week ago that he remembered the first of the FedEx Cup play-off series does not carry Ryder Cup points.
He says, however, that he can see why the European Tour wants to end the race at one of their events rather than one on the US Tour.
"For a decision of that magnitude I can totally understand that," he said.
Harrington still believes he can re-ignite his challenge at the final major of the season - one he won two years ago, of course - but things look really bleak for two more cup stars.
Sergio Garcia might well be starting a two-month break from the game tonight after a 78 which included several angry swipes at a bunker as frustration boiled over, while Swede Henrik Stenson, suffering badly with a chest infection, followed last week's last place by dropping five shots in the first two holes.
He was seven over after 12 when play was called off and had only four of the 156 strong field below him.