Read this first. It was found on The Golf Channel.

Notes: Women’s Open Prize Money Half of Men’s
By Associated Press - June 28, 2006

NEWPORT, R.I. – The prize money at the U.S. Women’s Open is $3.1 million, by far the largest purse on the LPGA Tour, but not even half as much as the $6.8 million the USGA doled out to the men two weeks ago at Winged Foot.

That’s not about to change.

USGA executive director David Fay said Wednesday that the market dictates the size of the purse, noting that the men’s U.S. Open draws a larger audience, has more entries and more press coverage.

“In an ideal world, they would be equal,” Fay said. “When you’re dealing with an athletic competition, that’s also an entertainment product. You really pay what the marketplace drives. I would like to believe the WNBA should have the same salary structure as the NBA, but it doesn’t happen that way.”

The question arose because of a renewed push at Wimbledon that men and women get paid the same. The latest to endorse equal pay was British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Fay, however, said golf and tennis don’t compare because the U.S. Open is held on different courses at different dates. He said it was not clear whether fans were going to watch Roger Federer or Martina Hingis, Andy Roddick or Venus Williams.

“If you had the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open on the same facility the same week, certainly there would be equal prize money because how would you know why you’re coming to the event?” he said. “Would you be coming to see (Annika) Sorenstam or would you be coming to see (Tiger) Woods? But that’s not the case here.”

David Fay, you bowtie-wearing, old-time-preppie son-of-a-gun, you’re a genius. “If you had the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open on the same facility the same week …” Wow, can you imagine?! Everybody at the same place and the same time with equal pay and equal time.

David, I can hear you now. Call me.

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