Recession unleashes pain on Spanish sports

With its array of courses and short-sleeves climate, Spain made a natural home for professional golf. In 2011, the land of Seve Ballesteros hosted seven European Tour tournaments, more than any other country.

Next year, that could plummet to just one, the Spanish Open.

Deep in recession, with unemployment near 25 percent, putting up purses to entice golf's big names is a luxury Spain can ill-afford. Government tourist boards that once bankrolled tournaments to sell Spain as a destination and companies that provided sponsorship often no longer have the money or do not want to be seen spending it on golf when Spaniards are so squeezed financially.