The
Ryder Cup
in association with Genuity International |
| | | American
uncertainty keeps Ryder Cup in balance A
BOEING 757 carrying nine members of the European Ryder Cup team landed somewhere
in Britain yesterday, but that was as precise as the authorities were prepared
to be. The name of the airport was withheld as concerns over player safety continue
to rise. Tiger
Woods had already withdrawn from this week's Lancome Trophy, forfeiting an estimated
£2.25 million appearance fee, and he and his American colleagues continue
to deliberate over whether the event at The Belfry will go ahead in two weeks.
A final decision is expected in the next few days. Given
the possibility of an imminent military strike, the crucial issue is one of player
safety. The Ryder Cup board have issued a statement saying that they are reviewing
security arrangements, although whether that will be enough to quell American
fears remains to be seen. Significantly,
the head of security for the Professional Golfers' Association of America is Danny
Coulson, formerly a senior officer in the FBI with direct involvement at both
Waco and Oklahoma City. In assessing the terrorist threat, he has the necessary
experience. At
the moment the three organisations who run the event, the European Tour, the PGA
and the PGA of America, have each stated that they would like the Ryder Cup to
proceed. Many
European players, notably Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington, have also
expressed their support. The decision now lies with the 12 players on the American
team and the government in Washington. What
is clear amid all the uncertainty is that cancelling the Ryder Cup would have
serious financial repercussions for our own PGA, who are currently examining the
small print of their insurance policies. On
the first morning of this year's Open Championship, Sandy Jones, chief executive
of the PGA, told me that the members of his organisation had suffered from floods,
foot and mouth, everything but a plague of locusts. If the Ryder Cup does not
go ahead the PGA's potential financial shortfall of up to £5 million could
further devastate many who earn their living from golf. Understandably,
it is unlikely that the American players have had pause to consider the effect
that pulling out might have on the national and international efforts of the PGA
and other golf bodies, though it is clear that a cancellation would have a major
impact on the game. Two
months ago Jones said: "Let's say that the PGA's share [of Ryder Cup profits]
over the last 10 years has been £4 million. Of that £4 million we
have invested probably a million and a half into training programmes, the building
of a training academy and game improvement centres." The
list goes on. The Irish Golf Union have received £75,000 to build a centre
of excellence in Belfast. The Spanish Federation have had £400,000 to build
public courses in Madrid. The PGA have programmes in South Africa and Argentina.
They are even offering assistance to Cuba. The
PGA are also training more than 1,000 young people for a career in golf. They
have liaised with the government over financial aid and staged a pro-am to assist
all their members whose businesses have been affected by foot and mouth disease. The
PGA have already invested £1 million out of the anticipated profits from
this year's Ryder Cup in some of these causes. That investment is going to have
to be financed. Jones
insists it is too early to evaluate the precise effect of cancelling the Ryder
Cup, though he admits that the PGA, like the rest of the world, might have to
recast their plans. Jones
said in July: "You solve problems of the world by people coming together.
Sport can be the solution. I'm not into the politics of anywhere." But politics
is already at the heart of the current cross-Atlantic discussions. Some
of the Europeans feel that not playing the Ryder Cup would be giving in to terrorists.
Some of the Americans feel that it would be insensitive to the victims and their
families. Both views are passionately and honestly held. What
is certain is that if the Ryder Cup does go ahead, there will be none of the jingoism
that so marred `The War on the Shore' at Kiawah Island in 1991, played at the
height of the Gulf War, or the 1999 event at Brookline where Governor Bush, now
President of the United States, gave the team the "death or victory"
speech from the Alamo. While
Bush and his advisers weigh up the military options, the rest of America will
resume playing sport tomorrow. The baseball leagues will restart, the US Grand
Prix will then go ahead and the NFL resume. Sport is best at being sport. Is there
any reason for the Ryder Cup to stand apart? In
1939, Charles Roe, secretary of the British PGA, wrote to his American counterpart:
"When we have settled our differences and peace reigns we will see that our
team comes across to remove the Ryder Cup from your safekeeping." It
would be one cautious and welcome step forward if the current American team feel
able to come across for the Ryder Cup, confident of their safekeeping.
Genuity
International, in association with Ryder Cup, sponsors Golf Today
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