KEY POINTS:
Michael Hill is taking much more than a passing interest in the New Zealand Open golf championship this year.
The tournament, starting on November 29, is being played on Hill's private course near Queenstown.
And today, New Zealand Golf (NZG) announced that the multi-millionaire jeweller is to be the naming rights sponsor for the event.
Under a three-year title sponsorship agreement, the event will be called the Michael Hill New Zealand Open.
New Zealand Open championship committee chairman Geoff Saunders said the arrangement was a positive direction for the tournament and for NZG.
"New Zealand Golf has worked hard to establish a sound platform for the future of the Open and the announcement of a new naming sponsor is a further step in the right direction," Saunders said.
Hill acknowledged he saw the Open, a co-sanctioned European and Australasian Tour event, as an opportunity to expand the brand recognition of his company.
"Michael Hill Jeweller has strong ambitions to become a global brand and sponsorship of the New Zealand Golf Open will give us global exposure through the worldwide television coverage," he said.
- NZPA
