O’Meara Wants Pay In Ryder Cup

Mark O’Meara has an idea how to make the Ryder Cup even more exciting - put money on the line.

“My feeling is it’s become big business,” O’Meara said Wednesday at the Lancome Trophy tournament. “I don’t know the numbers but I think the European PGA and the U.S. PGA should look at this aspect, even if some seem afraid the Cup will lose its special feeling if players are paid.”

The Ryder Cup was first played 70 years ago and the players have never been paid, except for expense money. The honor of selection was its own reward.

But in the last 10 years, the Ryder Cup has grown into one of the most anticipated events in golf and a series of very competitive matches since Europe gained its break-through victory in 1985 has greatly increased ticket sales and what TV networks pay to televise the event.

Some players have pointed to that increased revenue and say they have to give up two or three weeks of tournament paychecks to compete.

“I’ve already taken some heat for suggesting this,” O’Meara said. “But I’m only trying to be honest. This is not about greed, only about the right thing to do,” he said. “Other players feel the same way but haven’t spoken up.”

O’Meara is the only American playing in the Lacome Trophy. Seven members of the European team are here fine-tuning their games for Spain.

The Ryder Cup is at the Valderrama course in Sotogrande, Spain Sept. 26-28.