The debate over whether PGA players participating in
the Ryder Cup this September should be paid continued as the
field began assembling in Medinah, IL, yesterday for the PGA
Championship. PGA of America officials, who operate the
Ryder Cup, met with PGA Tour officials and 16 potential U.S.
team members, and in DC, Leonard Shapiro writes that the
one-hour meeting "seemed to cool the rhetoric." PGA Tour
Commissioner Tim Finchem: "Every player, 100 percent of the
players indicated they had no interest or desire to be
compensated for the Ryder Cup" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/11). PGA
of America CEO Jim Awtrey blamed the dispute on the media:
"This (play-for-pay) started with the media. ... There's no
issue between the PGA of America and the players" (K.C.
STAR, 8/11). The AP's Doug Ferguson writes that the PGA of
America, which could generate $63M in revenue and $23M in
profits from the Ryder Cup this year, has pledged to "look
into channelling some of its net profit" to charities of the
players' choices. The players receive $5,000 in travel
expenses (AP, 8/11). In Dallas, Brad Townsend writes that
most players declined to comment, but those who did "seemed
satisfied" by the meeting (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/11).
TIGER'S BEAT: But before meeting with officials, Tiger
Woods said players should be paid and then decide what to do
with the money: "I think it's up to each person's discretion
what they want to do with it. With all the money that's
being made, I think we should have a say in where it goes"
(TORONTO SUN, 8/11). But Davis Love III called the debate a
"non-issue. Except in the media room. It's not an issue in
the locker room and it really never has been" (BOSTON
HERALD, 8/11). In Phoenix, John Davis: "It didn't sound
like a non-issue ... when Tiger Woods reiterated his
feelings about the distribution of profits" (ARIZONA
REPUBLIC, 8/11). In Boston, Bob Ryan: "Tiger or Davis?
Which one do we believe?" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/11). Also in
Boston, Joe Gordon writes that "it has become clear Woods is
the power broker here" (BOSTON HERALD, 8/11). European
Ryder Cup Captain Mark James: "My opinion is that I would
guess everyone on the American team probably made a couple
of million dollars to get on the team. I just wonder how
far greed is going to go. In Europe, guys would pay money
to play in it" (Fox Sports Net, 8/10).
BOYCOTT LOOMING? While David Duval, who first suggested
a boycott of the event, called such talk "premature," Woods
said that such a move was possible: "Do I see it happening?
Well, it could" (N.Y. POST, 8/11). But Awtrey "insisted"
that none of the 16 players at the meeting threatened to
boycott, adding that the players just wanted a "greater say
in which charities would benefit" from the Cup (N.Y. TIMES,
8/11). Payne Stewart: "We're all on the same page. We are
going to play. How's that?" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/11).
BLACK EYE FOR THE PGA? In Boston, Karen Guregian writes
that the PGA Tour and the PGA of America want the debate to
"go away. They want a pretense of peace and harmony. They
want all this ugly-American bashing to blow over. Well,
here's a news flash. It's only just begun" (BOSTON HERALD,
8/11). In Toronto, Dave Perkins: "The PGA and the PGA Tour
are doing severe damage control now, reining in the
dissidents" (TORONTO STAR, 8/11). In N.Y., Hank Gola notes
that "a whole lot of spin control" is going on at Medinah
(N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/11). In Milwaukee, Gary D'Amato: "The
PGA can only hope that attention returns today to the PGA
Championship" (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 8/11). USA TODAY's Harry
Blauvelt writes on the debate in a Sports cover story under
the header, "Pay vs. Pride" (USA TODAY, 8/11).
