Tour officials hampered by UK tax rules

LONDON (AP):

European Tour officials are in talks with the British government to change tax rules which could deter leading golfers from playing in the Ryder Cup in October.

"These tax rules are discouraging leading sportsmen and sportswomen from competition in Britain," Mitchell Platts, the tour's director of public relations corporate affairs, said yesterday.

Players competing in the match between Europe and the United States at Celtic Manor, Wales, could be seriously affected by recent rules issued by the customs and revenue agency, known as HMRC.

The agency can now tax foreign sportsmen and women not just on prize money earned but on sponsorship and endorsements connected to performances in Britain.

Landmark case

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is among the sportsmen who have opted against competing in certain British events because of the rules implemented after HMRC won a landmark case four years ago against American tennis player André Agassi. Endorsement payments subsequently were liable for tax.

Non-British players competing in the Ryder Cup - from other European companies and the United States - would be harder hit since they receive no prize money from the event, and with just two months left before the match, the European Tour said it was concerned.

"Our aim is to attract the best players to provide the best entertainment for our audiences in the United Kingdom. This tax rule is seriously hampering our efforts," Platts said. "Discussions continue to take place with the HMRC and these discussions include the Ryder Cup."

The Ryder Cup could yet be made exempt from the new rules, as the Olympic Games are. Next year's Champions League final at Wembley was also accorded similar status in March but only after the stadium had lost out on a bid to host last season's final because of tax issues.

Bolt, the Olympic and world champion in the 100 and 200 metres said he would not be competing at the Crystal Palace meet this weekend because of the tax rules, which also are known to limit Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia's appearances in Britain.