Golf News: - Posted 19th October 1998

Ballesteros voices his anger about World Golf points decision

Associated Press

Bordeaux, France - Seve Ballesteros is critical of the granting of Order of Merit and Ryder Cup points to the World Golf Championship events to be inaugurated next year.

"This is the most ridiculous decision the European Tour has ever made," the Spaniard said. "It is not fair. There's so much money to be won and only a few European players will be there. Ninety percent of European players are against this."

The World Golf Championships will consist of three events in 1999. A fourth will be added in 2000. Each event offers a $5 million prize, with the winner's share as yet undecided.

"A player could win one of these tournaments and win the Order of Merit," Ballesteros said. "That has to be wrong."

Next year's tournaments will be the Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship Feb. 24-28 at Carlsbad, Calif.; the NEC Invitational at Akron, Ohio, Aug. 26-29, and the American Express Stroke Play Championship at Valderrama, Spain, Nov. 4-7. The World Cup Team Championship will be added in 2000.

Only the Match Play Championship will count towards the Ryder Cup points next year.

Players will qualify for the Match Play through their World Rankings. The other limited-field events will use various criteria including World Rankings, Ryder Cup and President's Cup selections and Tour rankings.

"Something has to change," Ballesteros said. "These qualifications must not happen. They will not happen."