The PGA Tours Int'l Federation announced that the first
three World Golf Championships, scheduled to begin in '99,
will offer purses of $5M each. The Federation also
announced that the fourth international event, The World Cup
Team, will be held in the U.S in 2000, in South Africa in
2001, and in Japan in 2002. In addition, a new TV ad
campaign for the World Golf Championships will debut next
week in the U.S. and carry the tag, "This Time It's For The
World." A full global rollout is also planned (PGATIF).
Winners of each of the new World Golf Events will receive
$1M. Currently, the biggest first-place check on the PGA
Tour is $720,000, for The Players Championship (Jayne
Custred, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/16).
THE UGLY AMERICAN? Scott Hoch's recently-signed five-
year deal with Yonex requires him to play in all four major
championships each year. Hoch, on his forced participation
in this weekend's British Open, a tournament he usually
skips: "If it hadn't been in my contract to be here, I don't
know whether I'd be here or not" (Mult., 7/16).
