“Golf: Australia allocate time for NZ Open” plus 1 more |
| Golf: Australia allocate time for NZ Open Posted: 08 Jan 2011 09:15 AM PST  Expand The New Zealand Golf Open could have its best field in years in 2011 - if commercial hurdles can be overcome. While doubts continue on this side of the Tasman, the Australian PGA expects the NZ Open to go ahead and say it could be played the same week as the high-profile Presidents Cup. They also say timings and venue must be wrapped up by the end of this month. "There have been no discussions about it not proceeding," says Australian PGA CEO Max Garske. "We would have liked to have finalised things by now but it didn't happen. It seems things got very close a couple of times but didn't quite fall into place at their end." NZ Golf CEO Dean Murphy has maintained there are no issues around sponsorship or funding but Garske understands the ongoing delay was due to "commercial reasons". "Hopefully things will be confirmed within a week - it needs to be confirmed by the end of this month at the latest. We really can't wait beyond that." The Australian PGA have pencilled in December 8-11 for the New Zealand event. They have also offered a window that straddles Presidents Cup week (November 17-20) when the best golfers on the globe will descend on Australasia as the top 12 Americans take on the best dozen from the rest of the world (excluding Europe). "We have suggested they look at that week as an alternative. There would be a lot of logistics to sort out, especially with television commitments in both countries - but it offers the chance of a great field. Only the big guns play Presidents Cup; the others have a week off and will be looking for a tournament to enter." The NZ Open has recently struggled to attract world-class players, partly because of the timing. Its previous incarnation in January was not ideal for the top Aussies who were either playing in Hawaii or heading off for European Tour events. The proposed December date would offer similar problems, with players drained at the end of a long season. "They are so tired by the time they come home," says Garske. "We struggle to get them to enter our events in the last few weeks of the year and, by the end of the Australian PGA (November 24-27), they are looking forward to a Christmas break." A further bonus is the events either side of the Presidents Cup (Australian Open and Australian PGA) are both One Asia tour events, carrying minimum prize money of US$1 million ($1.32 million) and attract many top golfers from Asia. "It would be nice for them to have something more substantial to play in that week rather than a state-based event like the NSW Open." Garske has left the decision to NZ Golf, and it is a tricky one. Garske still feels the December 8-11 window is "most likely" for the New Zealand event. The juggling act around television is a vexed question. NZ Golf has to provide live coverage around the world, but how many international networks will pick it up when it is played at the same time of the Presidents Cup? It also depends on sponsorship commitments, which may have already been finalised. Garske hopes a solution can be found. "[The Presidents Cup] will be the biggest ever golf event in Australia," he says. "The rivalry is really building and its status is becoming something comparable to the Ryder Cup. It would become a really significant four weeks in Australasian golf." There still appears to be confusion at NZ Golf headquarters as Murphy told the Herald on Sunday their flagship event "could precede or go later than that date", when clearly there is no room beyond December 11. Murphy also stated there was still a chance the 2011 event could be a One Asia tour event, but Garske confirms this is "not an option". Garske is also unconcerned the venue is still up in the air. "That is up to them," he says. "At the end of the day golf pros love to play on the best courses around but they would probably play up the middle of the main street of Christchurch if the offering was right." By Michael Burgess | Email MichaelThis entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Woods, Golf Digest end 13-year relationship Posted: 06 Jan 2011 05:46 PM PST
KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) — Tiger Woods has one less endorsement deal, ending his 13-year relationship with golf's biggest magazine when they couldn't agree on how many hours he should devote to the job. Golf Digest, with a circulation of 1.65 million, announced Thursday the mutual end of a relationship that began at the 1997 Masters. He made his debut in the magazine in June that year, and the endorsement had been his second-longest, behind Nike. "We appreciate the insights Tiger has provided to our readers," Jerry Tarde, chairman and editor-in-chief of the publication, said in a statement. Woods' articles mainly were instructional tips. Golf Digest never disclosed terms of the deal, although it was believed to be among the smallest financially for Woods - no more than $2 million a year. The value came from exposure, along with some content provided for Woods' website. "The reality is his deal was up at the end of the year," said Mark Steinberg, his agent at IMG. "Because we're living in this digital world, they needed more time from him. He wasn't ready to commit to any additional time at this point with everything going on - trying to work on his swing and other things." The announcement comes two weeks after Gillette said it would not renew its contract, which expired at the end of 2010. That brings to five the number of endorsements Woods has lost since he was caught in extramarital affairs. The other three are Accenture, AT&T and Gatorade. Golf Digest put his column on hold last February while Woods took time off to sort out his personal life, resuming the column in September. Woods' last column will be in the February issue, an indication that both sides had been negotiating a new deal. Other playing editors at Golf Digest include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson. "I enjoyed my relationship with Golf Digest," Woods said in a statement released by the magazine. "But we have decided it's now time for a break. I wish my friends at Golf Digest continued success." This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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