Ford opens can of worms with `corporate outing'.

Publication: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service)

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COPYRIGHT 2005 South Florida Sun-Sentinal

Byline: Randall Mell

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ The Ford Championship at Doral's stunning turnaround is troubling tournament brethren.

The spectacular field the Miami-based PGA Tour event will feature this week is raising eyebrows among tournament directors who wonder if the Ford Division automaker didn't buy some of its top stars with PGA Tour approved backdoor appearance fees.

Section VI-A of the PGA Tour Player Handbook forbids tournaments from paying appearance fees to players, but corporate outings are considered distinct and separate events.

"This is a gray area," one tournament director said.

The concern prompted board members on The PGA Tour Tournaments Association to request that the matter be explored in the Designated Representatives Session of the association's meeting at The...

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