2016 Ryder Cup Pitch Comes Up Short with Minnesota Officials

ST. PAUL (AP) — Organizers of golf's prestigious Ryder Cup have encountered skepticism from Minnesota state officials as they seek logistical assistance and sponsorships for the 2016 event at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

The private pitch and internal response surfaced in documents obtained by The Associated Press. The request ran from $600,000 to $2 million depending on the state's involvement and willingness to absorb security costs. Potential benefits would range from the use of a private chalet for tourism and business promotion to Minnesota-themed ads run on international TV to hundreds of event tickets.

One state tourism official said Ryder Cup promoters needed to "get real" in their expectations and that it wasn't worth a significant state investment.

The Ryder Cup features top U.S. and European golfers squaring off in a team match-play format.