Golf: Charles tops star list for Open

Eight champions with 12 titles between them will line up for January's 88th New Zealand Open in Auckland.

Three of the four previous Open winners have confirmed they will return to the Grange for the event from January 15-18.

They are led by Sir Bob Charles, the four-time New Zealand Open champion, who will celebrate 50 years since his first Open title at Heretaunga in 1954.

He went on to win three more titles, including one in 1970, the first year it was held at the Grange.

Previous Open winners at the Grange who will return in January include 2001 winner David Smail and popular Australian Peter O'Malley, who won at the Manukau City course in 1995.

Other New Zealand winners who have confirmed their places include defending champion Mahal Pearce, the 1989 and 1997 winner Greg Turner, and 2000 champion Michael Campbell, the highest-ranked world player, at No 44, to enter so far.

The other Australians to win the Open championship who will play at the Grange include Peter Fowler (1993) and Lucas Parsons (1995).

"It's still early days, but we are delighted with not only the level of support, but the quality as well," tournament director Phil Aickin said yesterday. "To some degree this is about players supporting their own Open championship, and also in part recognising the special nature of this event with Sir Bob playing 50 years after winning his championship.

"What's more, several of those players who have entered have enjoyed success at the Grange, so they know their way around the course."

O'Malley, who missed last year's event, has enjoyed six tour victories in his career, in which he has amassed more than $9 million. His victory in 1995 was in a year when changes to the PGA Tour calendar meant two Open tournaments were staged.

He slipped to 64th on the European Tour earnings this year with two top-10 finishes - third at the French Open and ninth at the Italian Open.

Young New Zealand professionals to enter include Gareth Paddison, who missed his full European Tour card by just one shot this month, Richard Lee, Paul Devenport and Eddie Lee.

Aickin said he was continuing negotiations with other players, including leading New Zealanders Steve Alker, Michael Long and Grant Waite, whose involvement in the Open will depend on the outcome of the upcoming US qualifying school.