The PGA of America said
today it would distribute $2.6 million from its Ryder Cup profits to the charities
and colleges of the American players' choice, finally putting an end to a debate
that nearly divided the U.S. team last year.
"I think it's a good thing,
and I believe that in the end it was worth it," said David Duval, who first raised
the idea of players getting a piece of the estimated $23 million in Ryder Cup
profits for their charities.
The charity plan was first
reported in December. The PGA wanted to wait until the players selected their
charities before announcing the details.
Each player and captain
Ben Crenshaw designated $100,000 to various charities, plus another $100,000
to the university of their choice for a PGA of America program to acquaint students
with opportunities in golf.
"I'm happy the PGA of America
has chosen this way to continue its growth of the game on behalf of our team,"
Crenshaw said.
Crenshaw was furious when
Ryder Cup money became an issue just one month before the matches were played
in September.
Duval, Tiger Woods, Phil
Mickelson, and others questioned the amount of revenue the Ryder Cup generated
-- an estimated $63 million -- and why they had no control over how the profits
were allocated.
"When you can't just show
up and play for your country ... It burns the hell out of me to listen to some
of their viewpoints," Crenshaw said during the PGA
Championship.
The PGA of America, which
runs the Ryder Cup along with the British PGA and is separate from the PGA Tour,
agreed to come up with a charity plan involving the players that week. A month
later, the Americans staged the greatest comeback
in Ryder Cup history to defeat Europe.
Duval was the strongest
critic, suggesting players might not want to participate in the Ryder Cup in
the future. He advocated a plan similar to the Presidents Cup, in which players
directed $100,000 of the proceeds to their own charities.
"I don't think anybody
was ever looking for the PGA of America to give up all the money," Duval said
today. "They were the ones that put up the risk and took the hits when it (the
Ryder Cup) wasn't doing any good.
"It's nice to be able to
direct some of the charitable money to where you can feel it can be a benefit
back home."
The family of the late
Payne Stewart also received $200,000 for charitable causes. Half went to SMU,
his alma mater, and the other half to the Stewart Family Foundation.
The next Ryder Cup Matches
will be held in 2001 at The Belfry in England.
