Golf: Open bosses sit tight on Kiwis

Amid a flurry of European activity, officials have fingers crossed on how many top New Zealand players will be lining up in February's New Zealand Open at Gulf Harbour.

New Zealand Golf bosses have been inundated with entries from classy European Tour players, eager to make a strong start to their year in the $1.5 million co-sanctioned event.

Six Ryder Cup players and eight of the world's top 100 are on the initial entry list.

Even if some of the names are not exactly the household variety, the numbers point to a tough, high-quality event.

However, the New Zealand contingent is, so far, slim for the Holden-sponsored Open, which tees off on February 10.

In-form David Smail is a starter. The 2001 winner at The Grange, and world No 102 player, has had a fine year on the Japanese Tour.

Michael Campbell, who won at Paraparaumu a year earlier, has had a miserable year, and is down to No 82 on the official ranking list, but is expected to be in the field.

Three players - Waikato's Steve Alker, the Open runnerup in 2001 and 2002; rising Auckland professional Brad Heaven; and Manawatu lefthander Tim Wilkinson, who gave the final qualifying for the US PGA Tour a real nudge this month - have been given special exemptions into the event.

But there are question marks over the rest of New Zealand's leading players.

Stephen Scahill, who finished No 92 on this year's European Tour Order of Merit, is expected to enter, as are last year's winner, Mahal Pearce, and Gareth Paddison, who are both chasing starts in Europe next year.

But the prospects of the clutch of American-based players lining up are problematic.

The involvement of Craig Perks, Phil Tataurangi, Grant Waite and Michael Long depends on whether they are required for US events around the same time.

The popular Pebble Beach pro-am cuts right through the Open dates, running from February 6 to 13. Waite was in the field this year, missing the cut.

The FBR Open at Scottsdale, Arizona, is the week before, which may involve some of that quartet.

Perks missed the cut this year.

The week after Gulf Harbour is the Nissan Open in Los Angeles, which will draw the game's big names.

"We're having to wait and see how it stacks up," tournament director Phil Aickin said.

"We completely understand the American-based players' situation."

The field of 156 will be made up of 65 European Tour players, 65 from Australasia, qualifiers, special invitees and amateurs.