European Tour, British PGA Settle Rift Over Ryder Cup Money, Site

A settlement was reached today in a dispute that threatened to keep Europe’s top golfers out of the Ryder Cup against the United States.

The PGA European Tour and the British PGA announced an agreement over the management, revenue sharing and site selection for the biennial tournament.

The two groups said the pact “safeguarded and strengthened” the European side of the event, which is run in conjunction with the U.S. Golf Assn.

The PGA European Tour wanted more say in where the European half of the event was held and how money was distributed. It warned earlier this month that it could withhold such stars as Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros unless agreement was reached.

If a unanimous decision cannot be reached on site selection, the agreement says, the tour and the PGA would alternate picking the European venue.

The split developed early this year when the British PGA decided to hold the 1993 Ryder Cup in England. The European pro tour wanted the 1993 cup to be held in Spain.