Does Rory deserve 'public money' for defending title?

[joekelly]

Some brouhaha in Hong Kong about the government Tourism Bureau paying out a goodly sum to get Rory back to HK next month to defend his HK Open Title.  Seems that until the appearance fee was guaranteed, Rory would not commit and only the gov had sufficient funds, no private sponsor could be found.  The gov is not short of money, that's not the issue. But should gov support such elite sports events and players when public sports facilities, like soccer fields and swimming pools, are not forthcoming for the local folk? In HK there are only 3   public golf courses, all on one island, all operated by same mgnt and quite costly.

[newtogolf]

I'd guess the Tourism Bureau believes it's a good investment to pay him the appearance fee.

There are a lot of costs in sponsoring such a tournament and without the biggest names in golf, no less the defending champion, it might limit the attendance and attention the event receives.

[LuciusWooding]

Hong Kong is pretty affluent, it's not much like the rest of China. It's a lot more westernized due to occupation for so many years, and has historically been pretty independent.

It's like complaining there aren't enough soccer fields in Manhattan. Where do you put them? It would cost a couple million just to get the land, and taxes and lack of revenue wouldn't let them stay open. On the other hand, if the city was trying really hard to seem like a legitimate soccer city with an elite club, they'd pour in public money to build a stadium because of the revenue down the road.

China wants to have some world class golf courses and attract international attention from the stars of the game, just like the Olympics with billions invested. You can't have a legit tournament and attract good attention without big purses, good venues, and a great field. Rory is #1 and the champ of this event; without him it scuppers the whole thing and Rory knows he has them over a barrel. Why travel all the way to China for a non sanctioned event unless you were getting paid like crazy?

[crayputter]

The Melbourne government paid for Tiger to show up in Kingston Heath back in 2009.... I recall a big hu-ha during that time too.....but guess what, Tiger won that event AND whatever $$$ that was spent on him was well recouped....and then some. Ray