Sabbatini-Australian PGA controversy continues

On November 1, John Coomber of Fox Sports reported that some US-based Australian golf professionals were boycotting the Australian PGA Championship at Coolum in December due to an unconfirmed appearance fee of $200,000 for world No. 8 Rory Sabbatini (pictured above).  Paul Gow (pictured below), an Australian PGA Tour player, said, "There are many unhappy Aussies...it's all about Rory.  We all know (Sabbatini) personally and we know he's not worth 200K."  Other Australians that were said to have been unhappy with the move included Stuart Appleby and Robert Allenby.  Allenby's manager, David Rollo, said that his client was not happy about the appearance fee.  But tournament promoter Tony Roosenburg disputed the $200,000 figure.  In an article on November 14 from Fox Sports, Max Garske of the Australian PGA said that the rumored size of the appearance fee was not accurate.  Garske said, "They (the pros) should be thanking us, not taking pot shots at us."  Gow and Appleby still stood by their feelings about Sabbatini's appearance, while Allenby said that he was in support of the Australian PGA.