KEY POINTS:
Moves are afoot for a new $2 million tournament involving 10 of the world's prominent players at Cape Kidnappers in conjunction with the New Zealand Open.
The plans are part of a concerted effort to attract a quality field to the Open - the venue for which will be announced this week but which will be at the Michael Hill-owned facility near Queenstown, as first revealed by the Herald on Sunday on March 18.
However, it is understood negotiations are under way to hold a 36-hole, made-for-TV event at Cape Kidnappers two days after the New Zealand Open, with some serious money on offer. Julian Robertson, the American owner of the magnificent Hawke's Bay course, is keen to host the two days as long as a quality field can be assembled.
Talk has been of an elite field of 10 competing for up to $2 million, as long as the players appear in the New Zealand Open first.
Michael Campbell is the key to this happening. He wants his home Open championship to be a memorable event on the European Tour - and he wants some of the best players in the world taking part.
As a recent winner of a major championship who competes on the European and US PGA Tours, he has the standing and connections to entice other achievers Downunder.
Among names mentioned as possible starters in New Zealand this summer are striking young Florida-based Colombian Camilo Villegas - regarded as a talented up and comer on the US PGA tour - and brawny Argentinian powerhouse Angel Cabrera.
Negotiations with players for a visit to New Zealand for the Open and an event at Cape Kidnappers can't be concluded until the PGA Championship at Tulsa, Oklahoma in August.
That's when the bids from off-season tournament promoters start getting serious. Having completed the major championships for the year, players have a fair idea of their market value and where they might accept the big money invitations to play in the off season.
The big competitor for star quality in November and December is the outrageously rich Nedbank Challenge at Sun City in South Africa which offered US$4.4 million last year for a 10-player field, with the invitations based on world rankings.
New Zealand can never hope to match that money but can still be in the market for high quality and charismatic players who could immeasurably increase the lustre of the New Zealand Open and of this country as a golfing destination.
Meanwhile, it is understood the Open's financial arrangements mean New Zealand Golf will not face any significant risk for the tournament. The last two have cost the national body around $1 million, including the shock loss of $695,472 announced on Friday, and depleted reserves by a third.
The move to the South Island's tourist mecca is radical but it's being widely applauded in the golf industry.
Taking the tournament to Queenstown means crowds will be smaller and corporate hospitality opportunities more limited. But the upside will be a spectacular-looking tournament amid some of the world's most stunning scenery on a golf course which has been highly praised by some of our best players, such as Sir Bob Charles, Greg Turner and Campbell.
Campbell has made a flying visit to the course in the past fortnight and is enthusiastic about the prospects for the tournament.
Now comes the task of trying to entice some top players from the world rankings to Queenstown in late November.
