Joost Luiten in role reversal over when it’s appropriate to withdraw

SHANGHAI – Joost Luiten was first alternate at the British Open, and he wasn't very happy when Peter Hanson played only five holes before he withdrew with a bad back. Hanson knew he couldn't finish the tournament. He felt he had to tee off so it would count as a start toward the minimum 15 required to remain a PGA Tour member.

''Those things are always tough,'' Hanson said.

Luiten found that out for himself last week at the BMW Masters. He had a shoulder injury and felt he couldn't play. Justin Walters of South Africa was the first alternate who desperately needed a start.

The problem was a European Tour policy that requires players to compete in two of the first three events in the Final Series to be eligible for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. Luiten's best chance of getting to Dubai was to count the BMW Masters, take off two weeks to heal his shoulder, play in Turkey and then be eligible for Dubai. He is No. 14 on the money list.

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Among the players he sought for advice? Hanson, of all people.

''In the locker room, he's asking me, 'Should I play or should I not?' We had a laugh about that,'' Hanson said.

Luiten hit a weak tee shot with his driver on the first hole and withdrew. He got credit for the start. Walters is likely out of the Race to Dubai.

In Hanson's case, his only other option was to take a minor medical exemption, which would have given him low priority for the 2013-14 season. He felt bad about his WD at the Open, but it worked out well. He managed to finish his next two events (WGC-Bridgestone and PGA Championship) to reach 15 starts, and he finished at No. 125 on the money list to keep his card for the next season.

''He was first alternate at the Open, and I don't blame him for being upset,'' Hanson said. ''But like I said, I wanted to keep my job. And my best chance to keep my job in America was to tee it up. In the end, you have to look after yourself.''