Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 19, 1994 TAG: 9411230041
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
``I would love to play in all of the projected World Cup events,'' Fred Couples said. ``But I definitely will not do it unless the PGA Tour is involved with the making of the World Tour. If it's not, I won't play.''
Norman has proposed playing eight tournaments worth a combined $25 million at various top courses around the world, with $600,000 set aside for the winner of each tournament, and a $1 million bonus for the top money winner.
``I think it is possible,'' Couples added. ``It would be great for all of the world's top players. I think that 4-6 tournaments would be possible but I don't know how we [PGA Tour players] could play more.''
Brad Faxon, Couples' playing partner in the Shark Shootout and a member of the PGA's Policy Board, had misgivings.
``Every U.S. player that grew up on the PGA Tour doesn't want to hurt the tour,'' Faxon said. ``We feel that we have the best tour in the world in one of the healthiest sports. There's no contention between players and owners, no apparent greed and a lot of money raised for charity. Greg's tour hasn't mentioned anything about charities.''
Norman's tour has drawn support from foreign players, including an endorsement via fax from Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal.
``I'm most excited about the World Tour you submitted to me last week,'' Olazabel said in a fax of Nov. 15. ``The idea and philosophy of a great project has got to me. It is the kind of step forward I have been dreaming for the last years with the best players competing in more tournaments around the world.''
Norman's tour would feature the top 30 players from around the world and would guarantee each $50,000 in travel expenses.
``I think Arnold Palmer said it best,'' Faxon said, referring to Palmer's statement Thursday when he said, ``The idea has been around 30 years. It will have to meet the PGA's tours rules and it has to take into consideration all of the hundreds of thousands of people around the country that have helped make the PGA Tour what it is today.''
``I'm not sure Greg listened to what Arnold had to say,'' Faxon said. ``It was a friendly meeting with the players [Wednesday] and everyone liked the idea. But I think I can speak for most of the PGA players and say that we are not going off to play on a world tour without the PGA's support.''
Veteran professional Lanny Wadkins said, ``I'm not opposed to the concept. But you can't just forget all of the people who have supported you all of these years and put you where you are now.''
Chip Beck, one of the stars of the United States' 1993 Ryder Cup team, said a world tour has possibilities.
``I do like the concept,'' he said. ``I'd like to play against the top players all the time. This is the free enterprise system at work. When you have a situation that benefits the players, the opportunity must be pursued. ... I'm not going to turn my back on the PGA Tour. But I would hate to see the PGA Tour take a hard line from the start. I think most of the players favor the concept and I hope a compromise can be worked out.''
by CNB