Home
News
In Focus
Business
Metro
Nation
World
Sports
Feature
Opinion
View more »Opinion Columns
Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
Restaurants get off to a quick start thanks to game-changing policies
High service charges on event ticket refunds call for further regulation
Sunday
- Subscribe
Related News
Weak pound hurting British Open's prize money
Source: Agencies |
April 23, 2009, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
This year's British Open will struggle to live up to its status as the most lucrative major in dollar terms because of the fluctuating exchange rates, organizers said on Tuesday.
The Royal & Ancient Club, which administers golf's oldest major, gave details of the changes made to the Turnberry course since it was last played there 15 years ago. But, for the second year in a row, it was unable to give prize money details.
There have been reports that it is not likely to change much from last year's 4.2 million pounds. But because of the weakened British pound that would be just over US$6 million, compared to almost US$8.4 million last year in a tournament where Americans have dominated.
"The Open has been the most lucrative of all the four majors in dollar terms for some years now, but with the dollar exchange rate having swung back that's a position that is probably going to be difficult for us to maintain this year," said R&A chief executive Peter Dawson.
"We will be taking judgments about that in the weeks ahead. The Masters made no increase this year and we are aware of the pressures upon us and will make an appropriate decision."
Dawson said it cost the R&A between three and four million pounds (US$4.3-5.8 million) a year to govern the sport internationally and it also now had to calculate the effects the global economic downturn was having on sponsorship.
Meanwhile, organizers announced that the Turnberry course had been lengthened by 226 meters since it was last played there 15 years ago.
The new layout features six new tees, including a spectacular 182-meter drive over the bay near the famous Lighthouse at the 10th hole.The yardage changes include 123m added to the final three holes, with the par-5 17th stretched from 455 to 511m and the 16th changing from a 375m straight hole to a 416m dogleg right.
Tiger Woods, who has won the Open three times, plays the course for the first time. Padraig Harrington, winner at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale last year, is trying to become the first player to win the championship three years in a row since Peter Thomson in 1956.
Turnberry made its debut on the Open rota of links courses in 1977 when Tom Watson, who went on to win the Open five times, edged Jack Nicklaus in what became known as the "Duel in the Sun" over the last 36 holes. Although Nicklaus finished 65-66, Watson made 65-65 and third-place Hubert Green finished 10 shots back.
The Royal & Ancient Club, which administers golf's oldest major, gave details of the changes made to the Turnberry course since it was last played there 15 years ago. But, for the second year in a row, it was unable to give prize money details.
There have been reports that it is not likely to change much from last year's 4.2 million pounds. But because of the weakened British pound that would be just over US$6 million, compared to almost US$8.4 million last year in a tournament where Americans have dominated.
"The Open has been the most lucrative of all the four majors in dollar terms for some years now, but with the dollar exchange rate having swung back that's a position that is probably going to be difficult for us to maintain this year," said R&A chief executive Peter Dawson.
"We will be taking judgments about that in the weeks ahead. The Masters made no increase this year and we are aware of the pressures upon us and will make an appropriate decision."
Dawson said it cost the R&A between three and four million pounds (US$4.3-5.8 million) a year to govern the sport internationally and it also now had to calculate the effects the global economic downturn was having on sponsorship.
Meanwhile, organizers announced that the Turnberry course had been lengthened by 226 meters since it was last played there 15 years ago.
The new layout features six new tees, including a spectacular 182-meter drive over the bay near the famous Lighthouse at the 10th hole.The yardage changes include 123m added to the final three holes, with the par-5 17th stretched from 455 to 511m and the 16th changing from a 375m straight hole to a 416m dogleg right.
Tiger Woods, who has won the Open three times, plays the course for the first time. Padraig Harrington, winner at Carnoustie in 2007 and Royal Birkdale last year, is trying to become the first player to win the championship three years in a row since Peter Thomson in 1956.
Turnberry made its debut on the Open rota of links courses in 1977 when Tom Watson, who went on to win the Open five times, edged Jack Nicklaus in what became known as the "Duel in the Sun" over the last 36 holes. Although Nicklaus finished 65-66, Watson made 65-65 and third-place Hubert Green finished 10 shots back.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
