Money talks O'Meara riled by Ryder Cup debate, wants to be paid Click here for more on this story Posted: Thursday July 15, 1999 10:36 AM   Mark O'Meara wants profits from the Ryder Cup granted to charities or used to develope the game of golf. AP CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) -- Mark O'Meara, two-time British Open titlist and last year's Masters champion, believes that players should be paid for playing in the Ryder Cup, and now he's annoyed that his opinion was questioned. After O'Meara began the debate, tour colleague and friend Tiger Woods backed him up last week. Other players, such as Tom Watson and Colin Montgomerie, are firmly against the idea of getting paid. When the subject was raised again on the eve of the British Open, O'Meara, a veteran of four Ryder Cups, wasn't happy. "My views have changed a little bit from the standpoint that the majority of players don't want to speak about it because they're going to maybe get crucified in the press," he said. "As long as the PGA of America and the European PGA Tour feel like the money is going back to further the game of golf or is going back to good charities, I have no problem not being paid. "But all of you, as media people, you should come and donate your money to a charity that week, too. You guys don't mind doing that do you? Give your salary that week. "Either that or they shouldn't charge the spectators to come and watch." O'Meara is concerned that virtually everyone appears to be making money except the players. "All I am saying is that there's a lot of money being made somewhere, and if it's going back to further the game of golf, I have no problem with it," he said. "But some of the stuff I read in the media, that I'm going to boycott or Tiger is boycotting or demanding this, demanding that ... I've never demanded anything. "You asked me a point of view, I gave you a point of view," O'Meara said. "Some people agree with me. Some people don't agree with me. That's life. I don't claim to have all the answers. I could be wrong. "The European team has been very strong and they've played some great golf and are very deserving of winning the Ryder Cup. "I lost a couple of matches. I lost a couple of matches. I won my individual match. And I come home and the media laid into the American players that we're spoiled millionaires, and that's why we can't win the Ryder Cup. "I didn't lose any sleep over the fact that I lost the Ryder Cup," O'Meara said. "My wife and kids still like me. "I didn't get paid to play in the Ryder Cup at Valderrama and I don't think that I should be crucified because our team didn't play any good. Who cares? So what? Move on. Forget it. It is not the end of the world."   Related information Stories 1999 British Open O'Meara reaping rewards from major breakthrough Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV. Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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