Money talks when it comes to television coverage - and the $13 million that two big television stations have paid for the rights to the event in the United States means that smaller stations and affiliates over here won't even by able to use the word "Ryder" in their telecasts.

In fact, many local television stations in the States have reverted to using the word "Cup" in their reports, on the assumption that their viewers know exactly what cup they're talking about. The affiliate stations have also been restricted to using highlights inside news and sports updates rather than dedicated highlight programmes. "It is as tight as I have ever seen it," explained Mike Fernandez of the local Boston station Channel 5.

USA paid $200,000 for the rights to the first live coverage in the States in 1989 and that jumped to $2 million in 1991 when NBC got into the picture. This year, NBC and USA are paying $13 million for the rights to show 28 hours live action. NBC are projecting viewing figures of 40 million.