Tiger Woods: Middle East appearance influenced by fee

[Auggie]

espn.com / 1-24-12

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Tiger Woods acknowledged Tuesday that being paid an appearance fee played a significant role in deciding to open his 2012 season in the Middle East instead of California, where he had traditionally started his golf year.

SNIP

The tournament purse (Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship) of $2.7 million is less than half of what is being offered this week on the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, but only slightly more than what Woods is believed to be receiving just for showing up, 12 time zones away.

Asked if the payment of appearance fees influences his scheduling decisions, Woods said, "I'd have to say yes, it certainly does. That's one of the reasons why a lot of the guys who play in Europe, they do play in Europe, and they do get paid. I think the only tour that doesn't pay is the U.S. Tour."

The PGA Tour prohibits the payment of appearance fees. While the subject is not officially discussed among European Tour officials, it is a widely accepted practice. It is perhaps the biggest reason this tournament has attracted the best field of the year to date.

MORE: http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/7496256/money-played-role-start-tiger-woods-2012-season

If Woods were to win in Abu Dhabi, he still earns more from the appearance fee than the first place prize, which is around $400,000. This sounds bass-ackwards to me, but I guess it's the way things are done now.

So, should the PGA Tour start paying pros to show up at their events? I don't think they have a choice.

[trumad]

1. It is the way it is now in a lot of sports events.

Hell---the Triple Crown series for Horse Racing had to kick in more money or horses would bypass the Preakness and Belmont for better paying venues.

[Auggie]

3. There's more to be earned in broadcast revenue with a top field

so I guess it'll happen on the PGA Tour -- eventually. At first I was wondering about the incentive to win, but those who do can demand top dollar in appearance fees, just like a ballplayer can get a big three to five year contract based on one breakout year.

[MaineDem]

2. I've always assumed appearance fees played a big part

Is this something new?

[Auggie]

4. Not on the PGA Tour

[MaineDem]

5. How about the lower tier tournaments?

I'm sure I read of a Massachusetts event that paid appearance money. But I don't really follow golf so I'm not sure.

[Auggie]

6. I don't know

it just feels so screwed up from a value standpoint: the lavish compensation packages given to sporting figures and celebrities, and especially the amount of press it receives and how much we -- the 99% -- like to discuss/bitch/argue about it.

[MaineDem]

7. I know it happens in racing

Promoters pay big money to get "big name" drivers to come to their races. And then the regular drivers are blown away by these pros. It's a shame. But it puts fannies in the seats and sells french fries and tee shirts.

The money is sports is totally ridiculous. As well as entertainment.

[rocktivity]

8. The only thing that surprises me about this

is that they think Tiger is worth that much! What kind of appearance fees was he getting BEFORE the sex scandal?


rocktivity