The tournament works like this: The top 125 players on the Tour qualify for the initial tourney.

FORBES: The Richest Sporting Events In The World

Customers seemed to like the skis--K2 was selling 125, 000 pairs a year in the U.S.--but prospects for growth were meager.

FORBES: Ski, Fish And Pitch

For a lavish country-club-style atmosphere set in an urban forest of oaks and pines, plus athletic extras like a running track, three large outdoor pools, a 125, 000sqft fitness centre, tennis courts and a climbing wall, check out the 289-room Houstonian Hotel Club and Spa near the Galleria on the west side of town.

BBC: Business trip: Houston

"Fifty-five million years ago when we had an event like this (and that took over 10, 000 years to occur), it took the oceans over 125, 000 years to recover, just to get the chemistry back to normal, " he told BBC News.

BBC: 'Jacuzzi vents' model CO2 future