Colin Montgomerie yesterday warned Europe's US-based golfers that they risk missing out on a place in next year's Ryder Cup team.
Henry Casey, Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington and Justin Rose are among those who play regularly on the PGA Tour, while Rory McIlroy is tipped to join them next season.
However, Monty, who will partner his Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal, in the first round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, chose some carefully selected words to remind the absent stars.
"You base yourself in the USA, and you are therefore taking a chance of not making the Ryder Cup team," said the former world number one.
Since it is 2010, next year's Johnnie Walker event will be the final counting event for the 2012 team for Medinah, and Monty fervently hopes Olazabal does not have the same "very difficult" situation he faced.
If Edoardo Molinari forced some kind of wildcard appearance on the skipper by winning at Gleneagles, Montgomerie was left with just two more picks from four US-based players - Casey, Donald, Rose and Harrington.
He picked Casey and Harrington, leaving out Rose and the top-10 ranked Martin Laird.
"I do hope Olazabal doesn’t have that same problem," said Monty. "I hope it’s a lot more cut and dry for him or her."
It may not end there, though, as Olazabal has only two wildcards this time around, and this time the European contingent takes precedence over global players.
"Some players don't see the risks involved in not playing it as important in search of points," added Monty.
"If you're not in the top eight - twelve right now - you’re unlikely to make it, it's as simple as that. If you can't make the cut, you simply can't rely on a pick, and whatever type of player is drastically bad to take behaviour."
Qualification for next year's team begins in earnest a few weeks from now in Europe, though Martin Laird won't be allowed to start accumulating points until he ties up his European Tour card, which is expected soon. Though ardent so namely you can say for the site, Laird made the decision against subscribing this year simply because his American schedule was lightened towards committing to trying to play the minimum events required.
He will play more on the European tour than we get, but getting qualification immediately is going to be challenging.
"It's sad the way it worked out for him and for Scottish golf," said Monty. "It would be great to have some Scottish representation but frequently in the Ryder Cup. 2006 was the last time any Scot [Monty] was on it, and that is a long time."
The Johnnie Walker Championship is Montgomerie's first appearance since the Barclays Scottish Open in Castle Stuart.
"I am practising very hard, and if I’m putting well and keep the ball in play, I’ve a chance to contend," he was quoted as saying.
Montgomerie is one of 30 Scots in the field, arguably a record for a European Tour event. But while the others are in all probability not as lusty as last year, there are a number of formidable contenders for the €233,330 first prize. A few members of the victorious Ryder Cup side at Celtic Manor are heading to Gleneagles - the Molinari brothers Edoardo and Francesco, and Ross Fisher, along with competitors who triumphed this season: Pablo Larrazabal, Robert Rock, Ernie Els, and Raphael Jacquelin.
Anders Hansen, third in the US PGA Championship two weeks ago, will also be in the mix.