Golf: Waite plans to tee off in NZ Open

The American-based Grant Waite plans to take part in next month's New Zealand Open at Middlemore.

The Manawatu professional told organisers that he wants to return home to compete at Middlemore from January 16-19.

His appearance makes it the strongest field of New Zealand players since the Holden-sponsored Open was last played at Middlemore in 1997, says tournament director Phil Aickin.

Waite's entry is with the proviso that he does not get a late call-up to the US PGA Tour event in Hawaii in the same week.

The Florida-based Waite missed out on his Tour card after finishing 152nd on the money list this year, his lowest finish for eight years.

He failed to get a sponsor's invite to the Hawaiian Tour event, and would need a spate of withdrawals to be elevated to a start based on his ranking position.

Aickin said Waite's entry meant that 17 of New Zealand's top 20- ranked professionals would play at Middlemore.

Waite will join Frank Nobilo, Sir Bob Charles, Michael Campbell, Phil Tataurangi, David Smail and Michael Long as confirmed starters.

European Open champion Campbell, ranked 19th in the world, is the top-ranked player to compete in Australasia this summer.

Tataurangi picked up his first PGA Tour victory in the United States this year, and Smail won twice on the Japan Tour, including the Japanese Open.

The 38-year-old Waite finished the year with earnings of $645,000, but finished outside the top 150 for the first time since 1994, after two very strong years.

Waite, who won the Kemper Open in 1993, had his best finish when he tied for sixth at the Canadian Open.

The 1992 New Zealand Open champion has career earnings in excess of $8 million.

Aickin expects to finalise entries from Australia this week, and although all of the 16 Australian players with US Tour cards are expected to play in Hawaii, there are a number of topline players who have expressed interest in playing at Middlemore.

- NZPA