Tiger's appearance pushes up NZ golf prices

Promoters of next year's New Zealand Open confirmed that entry prices would be the highest ever for a golf tournament in the country.

Speculation of high prices to cover the cost of the appearance of the world number one Tiger Woods led some New Zealand players to threaten a boycott of the tournament.

Promoters have seized on the huge popularity of Woods to raise entry prices for next January's tournament to NZ$450 ($195) for the entire tournament from NZ$50, slightly less than the NZ$500 first rumoured.

The world number one is being paid $2 million to take part in the event, which is being played at Paraparaumu Beach, 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of Wellington -- the home of Woods' caddy Steve Williams.

European-based New Zealand professional Greg Turner, a winner of two New Zealand Opens, threatened in July that he and his foreign-based colleagues would boycott the event, as they felt members of the public would be denied the chance to see their national open as well as the world number one.

However Michael Campbell, ranked 25 in the world and one of the players initially to threaten not to play, has since changed his mind after speaking to the tournament promoters.

A concession won by opponents of the high prices was free entry for one thousand junior golfers under the age of 16 years.

The NZ$450 price tag easily tops the highest ever season ticket cost for a New Zealand golf event when organisers charged fans NZ$220 for the 1998 World Cup of Golf at Gulf Harbour.

For the first time at a New Zealand golf tournament grandstands, capable of seating up to 15,000 spectators, will be erected around the links course.

In addition to Woods and Campbell, confirmed entries include defending Open champion New Zealander David Smail, U.S.-based ex-patriates Grant Waite, Craig Perks, veteran New Zealand left hander and former British Open winner Sir Bob Charles, and Australians Craig Parry and Peter O'Malley.

Tournament organisers were still talking to Turner about his participation, Open 2002 managing director David Pool said, adding: "We're still hopeful."

Total prize money for the tournament would be NZ$1 million ($436,000), about double the previous biggest prize fund for the tournament.

($1 = NZ$2.29)