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SPORTS Thursday 30 January 2020
A new tour without Tiger is no tour at all

Continued from Page 18 day afternoon for those
who weren't at Torrey Pines,
Talk was renewed late last or those who had never
year when the British-based heard of the concept un-
World Golf Group began til a question was raised at
making the rounds in the the end of the meeting.
Bahamas and Australia, this In the memo, obtained by
time with an influx of capi- The Associated Press, Mo-
tal from various sources, pri- nahan says no one from
marily Saudi Arabia. World Golf Group has con-
Its idea is to invigorate golf tacted the PGA Tour. The
by putting together 12 four- tour's information is from
man teams that would be players who were, and
required to play 18 events from golf industry partners.
— 10 of them in the U.S. — Monahan mentioned
that feature 54 holes, no the PGA Tour's finan-
cut and a shotgun start to cial strength and stability
fit a five-hour broadcast through longtime sponsor-
window. Total prize money ship and television deals
would be $240 million, and that it will honor, and he
the top player could earn reminded players of the re-
as much as $50 million. leases required to play oth-
More pertinent were a few er tours. And then he made
missing details. it clear the PGA Tour would Tiger Woods watches his tee shot on the second hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf
Is there a broadcast part- not be working with Premier Course during the final round of the Farmers Insurance golf tournament Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in
ner? Corporate sponsors? Golf League, as the group San Diego. Associated Press
Any commitments from suggested was its intent.
players? "If the Team Golf Concept Sports Business Journal the top performing player the idea he's opposed to
And the biggest question or another iteration of this pegged at a 60% increase. would soon be bringing in change.
of all: Does it have Tiger structure becomes a reality One player was asked what upward of $40 million. "I love the PGA Tour," he
Woods? in 2022 or at any time be- came out of the meeting. Rory McIlroy said the group said. "But these guys have
Because without Woods, it fore or after, our members He smiled and said, "How first approached him in exploited a couple of holes
doesn't stand a chance. will have to decide wheth- much money we're going 2014. He didn't sound in- in the system, the way golf
Publicly, the PGA Tour and er they want to continue to to be making." terested, talking about his at the highest level is now-
European Tour said they be a member of the PGA Another player, speak- traditional view of the tour, adays and how it's sort of
would not comment on Tour or play on a new se- ing on condition of ano- what it has meant to him transitioned from a compe-
any tour, real or imagined, ries," the memo said. nymity because it was a and how much he would tition tour to entertainment,
except their own. Talk about risk and reward. private meeting, said the hate to lose a heritage built right? It's on TV. It's people
Monahan, however, found The PGA Tour is wrapping tour outlined estimates on up over decades. coming out to watch. It's
it worthy enough to send his up negotiations on a new increased purses and bo- Don't expect to see McIl- definitely a different time
players a memo late Mon- broadcast rights deal that nus pools and projected roy involved. Just don't get than what it was before."q

U.S. women defeat Haiti

4-0 to open Olympic qualifying

HOUSTON (AP) — Christen Lindsey Horan came off Stadium. The United States
Press scored the opening the bench and scored on looked rusty at the start
goal off a shoeless assist her first touch in the 73rd and Haiti appeared to tie
from Lynn Williams and the minute and Carli Lloyd the game with a goal in
United States beat Haiti 4-0 capped it off with a stop- the 18th minute, but it was
on Tuesday in its opening page-time goal. called back.
match of the CONCACAF It was the first competitive Then top-ranked Ameri-
Women's Olympic Qualify- match for U.S. coach Vlat- cans simply wore down
ing tournament. ko Andonovski, who took their opponents in the sec-
The U.S., which won the over when Jill Ellis stepped ond half.
Women's World Cup last down last year. Eight teams are playing in
summer, extended its un- Lloyd made her 15th start the tournament, with the
beaten streak to 24 straight in Olympic qualifying, title match set for Feb. 9 in United States defender Becky Sauerbrunn, left, heads the ball
games dating back to a passing Abby Wambach Carson, California. as defender Abby Dahlkemper (7) is pulled by Haiti forward
loss to France a year ago. for most in team history. The top two finishers will Sherly Jeudy, right, as she goes for the ball during the first half
of a women's Olympic qualifying soccer match Tuesday, Jan.
Press' goal came in the Rapinoe, the reigning Bal- earn berths to the Tokyo 28, 2020, in Houston.
second minute on a cross lon d'Or winner and FIFA Games this summer. Associated Press
from Williams, who had lost World Player of the Year, The United States and Haiti
her cleat in her run up the played off the bench in were in the same group women's soccer was intro- Japan, Brazil, Great Britain,
field. It was the 52nd inter- the second half. with Costa Rica and Pan- duced in 1996. the Netherlands, Sweden
national goal for Press. An announced crowd of ama, who played in the The team has five consec- and New Zealand.
Williams added a goal 4,363 attended the game, early match Tuesday. Cos- utive titles in the qualifying Haiti advanced to the
in the 67th minute on a which was hit in the first ta Rica won 6-1. tournament. tournament by winning its
header off a corner kick half by a sudden down- The U.S. has qualified for Six teams have already qualifying group in the Ca-
from Megan Rapinoe. pour at BBVA Compass every Olympics since made the field for Tokyo: ribbean region.q