Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Duval predicts Ryder Cup boycott

Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1999 | 9:48 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand's golf notebook appears Wednesday. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

It may not happen next month, or in two years, but David Duval sees it happening "certainly" by 2003.

A players' boycott of the Ryder Cup matches is imminent, Duval said, if the PGA of America does not begin to compensate the players.

To be fair to the PGA of America, the Ryder Cup's sanctioning body, American players who qualify or are chosen to compete in the matches are given a $5,000 stipend for expenses.

But several PGA Tour players, who have seen what the PGA Tour of America and the host site for the matches make off the event, want some of the action.

According to figures compiled by Golf Digest magazine, next month's Ryder Cup matches at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., will generate $63 million in gross revenues, with profits approaching $23 million.

The PGA of America is expected to net $16.5 million to $17.5 million from the event while The Country Club will net $5 million to $6 million.

And now the players, who are expected to be playing for the "pride of their country," want to be more fairly compensated -- even if the bulk of their salaries are donated to charity.

Duval, who will be competing in his first Ryder Cup Sept. 24-26, said it may come down to a boycott by the players, some of whom say they feel exploited by the PGA of America.

"What are we going to receive for the Ryder Cup in Boston next (month), a stipend of $5,000 each?" Duval told Golf Digest. "I might just take that money and retire. And we're not being used?

"The whole thing has become a little overcooked, but it's probably going to stay that way until the players choose not to play."

Asked if he thought a boycott might happen, Duval added, "I think it could ... probably not this time, although it could. It could happen this September. More than likely, though, next time, in 2001. Certainly within two more. It's imminent."

Duval, it should be noted, earned $400,000 Monday night for his runner-up finish to Tiger Woods in the made-for-TV "Showdown at Sherwood." Woods earned $1,100,000 for three hours of "work," although both players were to donate $200,000 of their winnings to charity.

Duval, who is the leading player in the American Ryder Cup point standings, is not alone in his belief that the PGA of America should share profits with the players.

"It's completely unfair the way it is now," Woods said. "I played in one and didn't enjoy it at all. It's like 'pros on parade' -- they take us to a bunch of functions that raise money, yet everybody is compensated except (the players).

"Let's take some of that money and spread it around to charity."

Even traditionalist Jack Nicklaus said he feels the players need to be more fairly compensated for their participation in the Ryder Cup matches.

"I suggest an increase in the stipend," Nicklaus said. "A nominal amount in this case could be $20,000, $50,000 or more -- nominal compared to a player's ability to go out and win $400,000 or up to $900,000 in a PGA Tour event.

"The players should then be able to do with the money what they want, including giving it to charity. It's an honor to represent your country, but still, they should not be exploited."

Jim Awtrey, PGA of America's chief executive, said the PGA Tour is capable of paying the players through its share of Ryder Cup television money it receives from the PGA of America.

"The Ryder Cup is the Olympics of golf, it's not about the money," Awtrey said.

Awtrey added that the PGA of America contributes a quarter of its television rights fee -- this year's cut is $2.5 million -- to the PGA Tour.

"If the players want the money, it's there," Awtrey said.

Justin Leonard, a member of the 1997 Ryder Cup team, said the lure of a big payday is not what motivates him to qualify for and compete in the Ryder Cup matches.

"Being paid isn't what it's all about," Leonard said. "If they want to send me a check after it's all over, fine. But that's not what drives me to make the team."

U.S. team captain Ben Crenshaw agreed with Leonard, and added that part of the Ryder Cup's appeal is the fact the players aren't in it for the money.

"If people would only consider that it's part of the thing that sets the matches apart from every other competition -- that's why people are watching," Crenshaw said. "They know that everything is stripped away. They know what they're playing for ... it's the heart and soul here."

* LOCALS UPDATE: Ted Oh, who left UNLV after his sophomore season to turn professional, finished tied for 17th place at last weekend's Nike Tour Dakota Dunes Open in South Dakota.

Oh shot 12-under-par 276 for the tournament and earned $4,207.

Edward Fryatt, a 1994 graduate of UNLV, finished tied for 28th place in the same tournament and earned $2,281. Fryatt slipped one place to fourth on the Nike Tour money list with $107,932.

* JACKLIN RETIRES: Former U.S. Open and British Open champion Tony Jacklin cited his failing putter as the reason he is retiring from tournament golf at the age of 55.

In addition to his two majors, Jacklin won two Senior PGA Tour titles, played on seven European Ryder Cup teams and captained four others.

He announced his retirement after finishing in a tie for fourth place Sunday in the European Senior Masters in his native England.

"The problem is in the putting," Jacklin said. "The message from the brain doesn't get past the elbows, you lose your sense of distance and the feel goes. You can't win at this game if you can't hole putts, and I find I'm nervous all the time on the greens."

* LVI VOLUNTEERS: The Las Vegas Invitational is seeking volunteers to assist in a variety of areas, including tournament scoring, with this year's event. Call Michele at 242-3008 for additional information. The 17th annual LVI will be played Oct. 11-17 at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin, the Desert Inn Golf Club and the Las Vegas Country Club.