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Rough Ryders

Paying U.S. team members not as tricky as you think

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Posted: Monday September 20, 1999 05:45 PM

In an effort to end all controversy, I've been trying to think of ways to pay the members of the United States Ryder Cup team without actually paying them. It is an unseemly idea, paying golfers to play for their country, so I've been trying to figure out how to get a few extra bucks into these boys' pockets. You know, just to help out.

I think I have a few solutions:

Suppose, during the PGA year, we paid the players some money to play a certain ball on the tour? Or to use a certain set of irons or fairway woods? The players might have to wear a stupid hat or something, advertising the product and their golf bags might look like billboards, but that would be a way of slipping them a buck or two.

Suppose we gave out some money for wearing clothes. You know, brand names like Dockers or Tommy. Suppose we gave more money for wearing certain shoes? For driving a certain car? Suppose we gave out some money for making instructional videos? Or writing instructional books? Or designing golf courses? Or simply for giving exhibitions, maybe in a foursome with a few captains of industry? Suppose we set up a special exhibition on television for the best players -- say, David Duval against Tiger Woods -- a million bucks to the winner?

I know all this sounds crazy -- and much of it probably is unworkable -- but there has to be a way to help out the struggling stars of professional golf in the United States. They shouldn't have to suffer to play for our country.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Leigh Montville appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated.

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer.

 

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