GOLF
Martin Gillingham and Andy Capostagno
Details of thing being reviewed
Next year’s President’s Cup is poised to become the first South African sporting victim of last week’s terror attacks in the United States.
Sunday’s decision to postpone next week’s Ryder Cup until next September is almost certain to create a knock-on effect with the President’s Cup. Those matches are scheduled for The Links at Fancourt in November next year but the sanctioning body, the United States Professional Golfers’ Association (USPGA), is poised to tell local officials to schedule the event for 12 months later.
Were the President’s Cup to retain its place on next year’s calendar, from November 7 to 10, then it would follow just five weeks after the Ryder Cup. Several top American golfers have already expressed their concern about the travelling involved for the Fancourt event. Golfing officials have been quick to anticipate the reaction from players were they asked to play two sets of competitive matches, both involving transcontinental air travel, in the space of five weeks.
Dennis Alpert, tournament director of the President’s Cup, says he spoke to USPGA tour officials soon after they announced the postponement of the Ryder Cup to see what impact it might have on his own event. “No decision has yet been made. We’re speaking to the PGA daily and they are in the midst of discussions with the board of directors, the tour staff, the commissioner and the players about the status of the event.
“Until we hear anything from them we can’t really say what’s going to happen. But at the moment the advice has been to keep plugging away and plan for 2002 and until we get word of a change of plans that’s what we’re going to do.
“The PGA has given us no time line on a decision. There are a lot of things that are in play on this including television negotiations that were settled here and logistical considerations. It’s a large-scale event that costs a lot of money to put on so I think they want to take their time in coming up with a conclusion.”
Alastair Roper, tournament director of the Nedbank Challenge, says he is preparing for the President’s Cup to be postponed. With a view to increasing the pulling power of both his event and the President’s Cup, Roper had moved the Nedbank Challenge forward from its traditional dates to the week following the Fancourt event. That would have meant the tournament being held on November 14 to 17, but on Monday Roper booked the Gary Player Country Club and the necessary accommodation for early December.
In the meantime, Roper is hoping his plans for this year’s event don’t fall apart. Although contracts have been signed committing 12 players to the 2001 Nedbank Challenge, there must be concern that some players, particularly the Americans, will pull out. A press conference to announce the field is scheduled for October 11. Meanwhile, Roper has revealed that three players are from the US. “Obviously we are concerned,” Roper says, “but we are hoping normality will soon return and that our concerns will disappear.”
It’s a cruel blow for Roper who is under pressure to deliver after last year’s event. Despite doubling the winner’s cheque from $1-million last year, the top Americans opted to stay away. This time around the lure of a rival event in the US doesn’t exist. However, some of the big US names Roper had been hoping to attract are unlikely to play.