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A14 sports
Wednesday 19 January 2022
Boost in Women's Open purse, are men's majors next?

By DOUG FERGUSON helps pay for the other 15
AP Golf Writer events the USGA runs this
HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. year, all of which lose mon-
Women's Open is nearly ey. It's no different with the
doubling its prize money to PGA of America or The R&A
$10 million, an announce- or even Augusta National,
ment that was celebrated which runs three amateur
across golf and genders. events and the Drive, Chip
The LPGA Tour this week and Putt for kids.
starts its 73rd season of run- Brandt Snedeker first start-
ning a league all on its own, ed beating the prize mon-
and no one begrudges the ey drum in a players meet-
players finally getting paid ing at Torrey Pines after the
big money for its biggest USGA's television deal with
major, or the plan for them Fox. He believes if PGA Tour
to play at storied courses. players are responsible for
"My first thought was, 'Good the majority of the USGA
for them.' It's great to see income, they should know
the women's game getting where it goes.
the attention it deserves," He isn't expecting a big in-
said Webb Simpson, who crease this year from any of
won the U.S. Open in 2012 $10 million, only $2 million ness model. As a player, tour — especially with The the majors, no matter how
when the purse for the more than when Simpson it makes us happy not so Players going to $20 million high the prize money at the
men was $8 million. "I think won. much that it's more money, — to motivate the majors PGA Tour climbs.
they're in a great spot. "My next thought was if but I feel like they're show- to raise their stakes. "That's been the tour policy
Even so, it wasn't long be- they're doing that, great," ing us respect." "They want to do that for so long," Snedeker said.
fore Simpson and other Simpson said. "But I think the It's not just the USGA, because it's our flagship "Instead of addressing the
men raised a question players have a general un- which is getting attention event, but I think what elephant in the room —
that has been brewing for derstanding of how much because of what it an- I've heard from the tour is four tournaments we have
several years and gained money they make at each nounced for the women. it also should continue to no control over — keep
renewed traction with the U.S. Open. I would like it go The U.S. Open purse last push the majors to match punching up The Players to
Women's Open deal. way up. I'd like to see ours year was $12.5 million, the us because of the caliber push them to keep up with
What does this mean for double. We're seeing The largest among majors. The of tournament they should us. They've always been
them? Players Championship at Masters and British Open be," Jordan Spieth said. lagging behind The Players.
The year after Simpson won $20 million this year. I think offered $11.5 million, while "The purse should represent I don't know at what point
his U.S. Open, the USGA the tour has put a healthy the PGA Championship that." they have to start catch-
signed a 12-year television pressure on the majors to purse was $12 million. The At the heart of the conver- ing up." The USGA annual
contract with Fox Sports increase as well. PGA Tour this year has sev- sation is how much money meeting is Feb. 19, which
worth just over $1 billion. "Here's the deal," he said. en events worth $12 million the majors are making from is the same week the PGA
The deal began in 2015, "We all know they have it, or more. PGA Tour players at their Tour is playing for a $12 mil-
and the prize money for the or the ability to do it without The announcement is a championships. lion purse at the Genesis In-
U.S. Open that year was compromising their busi- not-so-subtle way for the Income from the U.S. Open vitational. q

Olympic athletes urged by activists not to criticize China

By GRAHAM DUNBAR letes will have freedom of The IOC has not yet pub- Rights Watch researcher facing questions.
AP Sports Writer speech at next month's licly committed to how ath- Yaqiu Wang said, citing po- "That makes me upset and
GENEVA (AP) — Athletes at Winter Games when speak- letes who speak out would tential offenses of provok- I am scared for their safety
the Beijing Olympics were ing to journalists or posting be protected, activists said ing trouble or inciting sub- when they go to China,"
urged by human rights ac- on social media. However, in a briefing hosted by Hu- version. Hoffman said. "They can
tivists Tuesday to avoid criti- the Olympic Charter rule man Rights Watch. China's treatment of its speak out when they get
cizing China because they that prohibits political pro- "Silence is complicity and Muslim-majority Uyghur back."
could be prosecuted. tests at medal ceremonies that's why we have con- people and polices toward Activists cited the cases of
The International Olympic also requires "applicable cerns," said Rob Koehler, Tibet, Hong Kong and Tai- Peng, wrestler Navid Afkari,
Committee has said ath- public law" to be followed. the director general of the wan have come under in- who was executed in Iran
Global Athlete group. "We creased scrutiny ahead of in 2020, and the treatment
know the human rights re- the Olympics. China also of athletes by the authori-
cord and the allowance drew criticism following tarian regime in Belarus as
of freedom of expression in the near-total disappear- examples where the IOC
China, so there's really not ance from public view of could have done more to
much protection." tennis player Peng Shuai. protect athletes.
The IOC has not responded She wrote in a social media Amid concerns about data
to requests in recent days post that she was sexually privacy and spying in Chi-
to clarify how Chinese law assaulted by a former se- na, some Olympic teams in
could apply at the Beijing nior member of the ruling Europe have also advised
Games, which open on Communist Party. athletes not to take person-
Feb. 4. Two-time Olympic cross- al telephones and laptops
"Chinese laws are very country skier Noah Hoff- to Beijing. "Any person with
vague on the crimes they man said he knew the Unit- a sane mind who hears all
can use to prosecute peo- ed States team was now these things," Koehler said,
ple's free speech," Human shielding its athletes from "must have concerns."q