Golf: Parry pricing himself out of Open

Officials will not bend to demands to pay defending champion Craig Parry an appearance fee to contest the New Zealand Open in January.

Australian Parry wanted US$35,000 ($71,340) to play the tournament in Auckland from January 16-19, a request the New Zealand Golf Association will not meet.

Parry has threatened to skip the tournament and play in Hawaii instead, something officials are willing to wear, although they have not given up hope of enticing him to Auckland.

NZGA chief executive Peter Dale said the matter of appearance fees was one of principle and he would not make an exception for Parry.

"We'll pay his airfares and accommodation, toss in a fishing trip and get him out to the America's Cup," Dale said.

"I would even find him a bach in Queenstown to holiday in if he wants to.

"But we just can't pay appearance fees.

"We never have and if we do, what are we going to say to all the touring professionals from New Zealand who come home free of charge?

"Anyone who has won a New Zealand Open is a cherished person, but it would be unthinkable for us to pay him to appear.

"We can't make an exception."

Parry does not seem likely to back down, but Dale said negotiations would continue nevertheless.

World No 1 Tiger Woods was paid a reported fee of $5 million to play the New Zealand Open at Paraparaumu this year, but that sum was met by the corporate sector as the NZGA loosened its control over the championship in a one-off arrangement.

Parry's triumph at the Paraparaumu event opened doors and gained him entry to the US$5 million NEC-WGC Invitational, which he subsequently won.

- NZPA