Golf: Tournament merger an unlikely solution

A merging of New Zealand's two premier golf tournaments to reflect a tightening commercial market would represent a failure on the part of administrators, according to Garth Stirrat.

Organisers of the New Zealand Open and PGA Championship are both scouring the marketplace to find financial backers for the two tournaments next summer.

Stirrat, chief executive of the New Zealand Professional Golfers' Association (NZPGA), which runs the PGA Championship, is loathe to consider the "one tournament" concept.

It has been argued that New Zealand does not have the corporate resources to stage the two tournaments each summer, and their resources should be pooled to offer one combined event instead.

Stirrat is wary of accepting such a proposal, fearful that "if we say that enough it will become a reality".

The NZPGA is looking for a principle sponsor to replace ING, a finance services provider, which has opted out after two years supporting the PGA Championship, co-sanctioned by the Australasian PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour which this year offered prizemoney of $920,000.

Its predicament is similar to New Zealand Golf (NZG), which has conducted a lengthy and so far fruitless search for financial backing for the Open, being staged in November.

The Open, co-sanctioned by the Australasian and European tours, boasts a purse of $1.5 million.

Stirrat said the two tournaments fulfilled one of his organisation's goals to "provide as much tournament golf at the highest level possible".

"If that means both events need to be restructured so they are financially viable, then so be it, and we need to get on and do it," he told NZPA yesterday.

"If it means we can only have one event then I think that'd mean we (Stirrat and NZG boss Larry Graham) have both failed in our jobs.

"We should, and could, have two events."

The PGA Championship's future status has been thrown into serious doubt after the withdrawal of ING, which this year fronted with an estimated $350,000 for the tournament in Christchurch.

The championship was revived only four years ago after a 17-year absence from the domestic calendar.

Stirrat is adamant the championship will still be held but he cannot give a guarantee about its future status, although Australasian and Nationwide officials have confirmed the co-sanction status for 2007.

He said the championship might well be downgraded and evolve into a stop on the second tier Australasian circuit, the Von Nida Tour, carrying a minimum prizemoney of A$110,000 ($133,140).

"Regardless of what happens the PGA Championship will continue to be an event on our annual calendar.

"At what level that event is has yet to be determined."

Stirrat said a decision needed to be made by the end of August, and experienced Australasian tournament promoter Bob Tuohy was working to find a replacement for ING.

"One possible option is that we take it back to a Von Nida event, but it will continue to ensure we are providing a pathway (for players)."

Stirrat said such a scenario was not an ideal solution.

"We want to continue the event at a Nationwide Tour event carrying prizemoney of US$600,000, but it can only be that if we can fund it to that level."

The PGA Championship has had a colourful history.

It was first staged in 1920 and past winners have included Australian great Peter Thomson, Japan's Jumbo Ozaki and Englishman Tony Jacklin, as well as some of New Zealand's finest players, among them Bob Charles, John Lister, Frank Nobilo and Greg Turner.

- NZPA