Tour News (posted 15th July 1998)

World Series winners to get $1 million

Southport, Lancashire - The new World Golf Championship Series, comprising three tournaments in 1999, will each offer minimum prize money of $5 million with winner's cheques of at least $1 million.

The first event will be an expanded version of the Andersen Consulting Match Play Championship in Carlsbad, California, from 24th - 28th February. The field of 64 will come from the top of the World Rankings.

The NEC Invitational, from 26th - 29th August  in Akron, Ohio, will consist of Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams.

The American Express Championships, in Valderrama, Spain, from 4th - 7th November will have about 60 players from the world's five tours.

In December, 2000, a fourth event will join the series, an expanded World Cup, the two-man team event that has been a fixture on the international calendar since 1953. Changes in the format will be announced later, organisers said on Wednesday.