While the PGA Tour heads to TPC Boston for the Deutsche Bank Championship this week, the European Tour has moved from a future Ryder Cup venue to a former as we take on the superb Celtic Manor Resort course for the Wales Open.

With the points system for selection of the European Ryder Cup team for the 2014 edition kicking in from this tournament, it is an important week for players dreaming to be a part of the team. Even though as Asian players we are not involved in Europe’s great biennial battle against the USA, there is no denying there is a different buzz about the place.

Obviously, some of the biggest stars and Ryder Cup regulars will not be there at Celtic Manor. Guys like Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson are all involved in the FedEx Cup Playoffs on the other side of the Atlantic.

It is an unfortunate situation and I am sure the Tour and captain Paul McGinley would have liked more top stars to be present at the start of the selection race. But scheduling conflict is a reality in professional sport, which everyone involved has to accept. There is no way these players would give up something as important as FedEx Cup Playoffs.

The good thing is that the Tour understands that the better players are going to play on the bigger PGA Tour. Which is why McGinley decided to change the selection process and have five players from the world points list and increased the number of his picks to three as compared to Jose Maria Olazabal last year, who just had two picks. This move definitely gives McGinley greater flexibility.

There was a thrilling climax in both European and the PGA Tour events last week. While Tommy Fleetwood won his maiden Tour title at Gleneagles, after battling an extra hole with the experienced duo of Stephen Gallacher and Ricardo Gonzalez, Adam Scott’s win at The Barclays was sensational, coming as he did from six shots behind on the final day.

There are those who will say Scotty was gifted the title, but believe me, there is no such thing in the cut-throat world of professional sport. Because the leaders could not match the clubhouse target he set following his final-round 66, it just goes to show that the conditions were tough and the Aussie did all the hard work early.

Also fascinating was the way Tiger Woods played the tournament with a bad back. It was evident that the world No. 1 was feeling intense pain on Sunday, and yet he managed to somehow hold his round together and actually contend for the title till the very end. It was inspirational stuff again from Tiger.

— Jeev Milkha Singh is a four-time champion on the European Tour