WORLD CUP BIDS ARE IN: England, South Africa, Germany,
Brazil and Morocco have formally bid to host the 2006 World
Cup. FIFA's Exec Committee will choose the event's host
next July. England's Football Association will spend about
$16M on its bid by the time the campaign is over, similar to
the amount other countries are expected to spend (FINANCIAL
TIMES, 8/10). South Africa is the early favorite to land
the event, as FIFA President Sepp Blatter has "come out
openly" to support an African site (TORONTO STAR, 8/10).
WOMEN'S SENIOR TOUR: GOLFWEEK's "Forecaddie" reports
that the fledgling Women's Senior Golf Tour is "moving ahead
with plans for a three-day event" in Green Bay, WI, in 2000,
played opposite the Women's British Open. The event will be
for the "over-40 set and will feature a purse of $500,000."
LPGA Commissioner Ty Votaw "reportedly has given his OK, as
long as players eligible for the British do not forgo a trip
across the pond to stay stateside" (GOLFWEEK, 8/7 issue).
AT THE TURNSTILE: The ATP's du Maurier Open in Montreal
drew a record crowd of 151,722 for the week (ATP Tour). The
figure, over 15 sessions, represents 97% capacity (Montreal
GAZETTE, 8/9)....The WTA Tour's TIG Classic in San Diego set
an attendance record for the third year in a row by drawing
82,793 for the week (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/8).
