GG

European Tour Officials are in talks with UK tax officers to try and change tax rules that could deter some golfers from playing in the Ryder Cup.

Recent tax changes mean that foreign sportsmen are now not just taxed on their prize money, but also endorsements connected to their performances here. It means that HMRC is now able to claim a proportion of a sportsman’s earnings, so if 50% of their appearances of in the UK, they would be taxed on 50% of their global endorsements.

It means that non-British golfers competing in the Ryder Cup would be even harder hit as they receive no prize money from the event.

Officials are hoping that the Ryder cup could be exempt from the tax rule, just as the Olympic Games are, and also next year’s Champions League Final, which only earnt the exemption after Wembley stadium lost the bid to host the event due to tax issues.

“Our aim is to attract the best players to provide the best entertainment for our audiences in the U.K. This tax rule is seriously hampering our efforts,” said Mitchell Platts, the tours director of public relations cooperate affairs. “Discussions continue to take place with the HMRC and these discussions include the Ryder Cup.”