Golf: Rivals eye NZ Open

Auckland has several rivals for next year's New Zealand Open, but there is still a good chance it will retain the tournament.

The Grange stepped in to stage last week's event at a late stage last year, when protracted negotiations with Gulf Harbour broke down during a change of ownership.

Originally, New Zealand Golf had hoped to honour Sir Bob Charles on the Heretaunga course where he won his first Open in 1954.

But television fees of about $300,000 in Auckland were touted to rise to $400,000 in Wellington and the amateur body, which took a financial hit from the Tiger Woods Open at Paraparaumu, had to weigh that against the better corporate support in Auckland.

Since then, television rights have moved from TVNZ to TV3 and apparently the fee structure does not discriminate against courses away from Auckland.

Into the mix has come the new course at Cape Kidnappers in Hawkes Bay, developed by millionaire American Julian Robertson. He is keen to have the open and would make a contribution to cover the expense of staging the event there.

But whether that would be attractive to sponsors and corporate clients is open to question. And while crowds would be attracted from Hawkes Bay, they are unlikely to match numbers at The Grange and Middlemore in the past two years.

Two years in a row would be asking a lot of members at The Grange and, while Gulf Harbour could again be considered, travel to the Whangaparaoa course remains fraught.

Remuera, where a successful Open was staged in 1994, appeals as a good venue. It is 10 years better as a course and is very central.

One thing is certain. New Zealand Golf will want to confirm its choice much earlier than it was able to last year.

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Golf has always been a mind game and nothing reinforces that more than a big professional tournament.

More than 150 players tee off on a Thursday and they all have great skills or they wouldn't be there. Along the way all will play some remarkable shots, some will have remarkable rounds but only a hardcore have the mental strength to win over four rounds.

And only the very best win tournaments more than once a year. The greatness of Tiger Woods is emphasised by the fact that everyone EXPECTS him to win every time he tees off.

At The Grange last week, Lucas Parsons played the perfect shot for an ace on the par-three fourth. Hawkes Bay professional Richard Squire produced a round of 63 on Friday and Auckland teaching pro Stu Malcolmson shot a 64.

But when the cheques were handed out on Sunday, Parsons earned $4000 for 33rd place, Malcolmson earned $2000 for 48th and Squire $1400 for 60th. Winner Terry Price had four rounds of par or better for $126,000.

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New Zealand professional Richard Lee suffered a blow when he lost his card by the narrowest of margins on the Japanese tour.

The 30-year-old, originally from the Pupuke Club, had a best placing of fourth during the season and went into the final event with his card secure. But he missed the cut and two other players overtook him to condemn him to the qualifying school, where he played poorly.

He will complete the Australasian tour before heading for the US and third-level tour play.