ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- The European Tour will require its members to play in at least 12 events next year, increasing the minimum by one event as more players from around the globe contemplate whether to join the Tour for the $10 million Race to Dubai. The new regulations also insist that players play at least one regular European Tour event in continental Europe.

The tour's Tournament Committee voted for the change Tuesday.

Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Robert Allenby are among those who might join in 2009 when the European Tour season concludes with the top 60 players on the money list eligible for the season-ending Dubai World Championship. A separate $10 million in bonus money will be awarded, similar to the FedExCup on the PGA Tour.

The four major championship and three World Golf Championships -- six of those seven events are held in the United States -- count toward the minimum 12 for European Tour membership. Mickelson has played the Scottish Open the last few years, and he is expected to play the French Open next summer.

He also is scheduled to play the HSBC Champions in China in November, which officially starts Europe's 2009 season. Under the old rule, Mickelson and other international players could have become eligible for the Race to Dubai without stepping foot in Europe.

The new demand also could affect some European stars. British Open and PGA Championship winner Padraig Harrington, for instance, has not played a regular European Tour event (not counting the British Open) in continental Europe so far this season -- the Volvo Masters in Spain at the end of October will be his one and only; nor has Sergio Garcia. Justin Rose, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey have played only one each.

Thomas Bjorn, chairman of a committee that consists of current and former players, said it was not asking players too much to compete 12 times to retain membership, noting that the four majors and three WGCs count toward the total.

"It was never a big ask," Bjorn said. "It was just time to change."

Harrington said he felt the number should remain at 11 to encourage American players to join the European Tour.

"I think it would strengthen our tour if they came," he said. "If we could attract players like Phil and Vijay (Singh), it is basically a bigger pot for everybody. We have attracted the best players from South Africa, Australia and Asia, but we have never had an inflow from the U.S. Tour."

Tiger Woods has said he does not plan to take up European Tour membership.

Mickelson and other world stars who have talked of possibly joining the European Tour may be forced into a rethink after the decision to up the minimum number of events required for membership from 11 to 12 -- and to stipulate that at least two of them, including the British Open, must be played in Europe.

"It was a very positive discussion by the committee, who reviewed all aspects of the Tour and took into account the current economic situation," said European Tour Chief Executive George O'Grady. They felt this was a correct way to recognize the support of the founding body of the European Tour in Europe.

"It is a stepping stone and they will continue to review the situation on an annual basis."

Asked whether a larger minimum number of tournaments was considered, Bjorn stated: "No, 12 was always the preferred number. But we will keep it under review."

The stipulation of two events in Europe comes after a season when many of the tournaments there have suffered from weakened fields.

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