Player Auction For Golf Tournament Inspired By Cricket's IPL

A player auction for a new golf tournament inspired by "cricket's hugely successful Indian Premier League" has seen former U.S. Open winner Michael Campbell attract the highest bid, according to the AFP. Eight franchises hired four players each, with Campbell "winning the highest bid of $61,000 and two other Major winners, Darren Clarke and Angel Cabrera, both picked up for $55,000." Asian tour stars Thaworn Wiratchant and Chapchai Nirat went for $37,000 each at the auction in Mumbai, India. Indian golfer Shiv Kapur, who is also one of the event organizers, said that the teams, made up of both foreign and Indian golfers, will play three 14-hole rounds. Kapur said, "It is the slow and steady build-up to the dream that I have had for a franchise-based event in golf, and now we are up and running" (AFP, 1/20).