Golf: Parry's no pay no show ultimatum falls on deaf ears

Officials will not bend to demands to pay defending champion Craig Parry an appearance fee to contest the New Zealand Open golf championship in January.

Australian Parry wanted US$35,000 ($71,340) to play the tournament in Auckland on January 16-19, a request the New Zealand Golf Association (NZGA) will not agree to.

Parry has threatened to skip the tournament and play in Hawaii instead, something officials are willing to wear, although they haven't given up hope of enticing him to Auckland.

NZGA chief executive Peter Dale said the matter of appearance fees was one of principle and he would not make an exception for Parry.

"We'll pay his airfares and accommodation and even toss in a fishing trip and get him out to the America's Cup. I'd even find him a bach in Queenstown to holiday in if he wants to.

"But we just can't pay appearance fees. We never have and if we do, what are we going to say to all the touring professionals from New Zealand who come home free of charge?

"We can't make an exception. We'd love to have him."

Parry doesn't seem likely to back down but Dale said negotiations would continue nevertheless.

"We'll still try to get him to come but it is a business decision and I guess we just have to live with it.

"It is a matter of principle. We can't pay Parry something and not the New Zealand players. We've made the decision and it's tough.

"Anyone who has won a New Zealand Open is a cherished person but it'd be unthinkable for us to pay him to appear."

World No 1 Tiger Woods was paid a reported fee to $5 million to play the New Zealand Open at Paraparaumu this year, but that sum was met by the corporate sector as the NZGA loosened its control over the championship in a one-off arrangement.

Parry's triumph at the 2002 New Zealand Open opened doors for him and gained him entry to the US$5million NEC-WGC Invitational, which he subsequently won.

Parry's discontent with the tournament organisers was aired for the first time today in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

He told the newspaper his manager Tony Bouffler had on four occasions contacted NZ Open organisers IMG and the NZGA about his attendance at next year's tournament.

"We've heard nothing," Parry said.

"Normally a tournament would at least reply. We weren't asking for much, just a small fee, a gnat bite compared with what they paid Tiger and an airfare and accommodation.

"I would have played but, by their silence, they're saying, 'No, we don't want you'."

Dale said he was unaware of any talks between the NZGA and Parry's management.

"We treat anyone who has won the New Zealand Open like royalty. It's unthinkable that we would snub him."

- NZPA