Golf: Campbell will not boycott the NZ Open

Michael Campbell yesterday withdrew his boycott threat and confirmed that he would contest the New Zealand Open in January.

The world No 14 had threatened to sit out the tournament in protest against a steep increase in ticket prices for the event at Paraparaumu Beach from January 10 to 13.

New Zealand's leading player attracted widespread support from fellow players, notably compatriot Greg Turner, in his stand against organisers charging $500 for week-long tickets, a tenfold increase on course entry costs.

The presence of world No 1 Tiger Woods at the Open will cost organisers an estimated $5 million in appearance fees.

Campbell yesterday reiterated his opposition to fans being charged "what I feel to be an unreasonable admission price," but confirmed he had committed himself to appearing in the Open.

He felt he had achieved a "minor victory" by convincing tournament organisers to at least waive any charges for children under 16, as had been the case in the past.

This was confirmed by Steve Wilkins, the general manager of 2002 Open, the company helping to stage the event.

"We are more than happy to accommodate that," Wilkins said.

Campbell admitted that the controversy had been a distraction for him during the Scottish Open and British Open tournaments in the past fortnight.

His agent, Andrew Ramsay, said in London that Campbell's stand had been a matter of principle.

In the end, though, Campbell felt an obligation to contest his own national Open in front of fans who had supported him throughout his career.

To underline that, Campbell pledged to donate all his earnings from the Open to the development of junior golf in New Zealand and to one of his favourite charities, Ronald McDonald House.

"He felt very strongly in what he believed, but unfortunately it has been a distraction to him in recent weeks. All he wants to do now is play his best golf," Ramsay said.

"Although he threatened to pull out, that was never anything he really wanted to do. He wanted to make a statement to show his support for the New Zealand public."

Tournament organisers do not expect to confirm ticket prices until the end of next month, but Wilkins has defended raising week-long admission fees to $500.

Along with the estimated $5 million in appearance fees for Woods, organisers also plan to raise the tournament purse from $500,000 to $1.25 million.

While Wilkins welcomed Campbell's backdown, it remained unclear whether Turner, who has been even more vocal in speaking out against the ticket pricing structure, would follow suit.

Turner has described the ticket prices as a "corporate wank."

Wilkins said he remained confident of attracting the best field ever assembled for a New Zealand Open.

Meanwhile, Woods has been busy doing his homework on the Paraparaumu course.

Woods, enticed to the Open by his New Zealand caddy Steve Williams, has studied video footage of the links.

Williams and Alan James, who is a partner in 2002 Open, are close friends.

James shot the footage and travelled to the British Open last week where he watched it with Woods between rounds at the Royal Lytham and St Annes course in Lancashire.

James said Woods was impressed by the Paraparaumu course, which has been revamped and lengthened.

"He actually said it appeared a lot like St Annes," James said. "He liked the look of it and said he was really looking forward to seeing it in person."

James said the sneak preview had whetted Woods' appetite for victory at Paraparaumu.

"He definitely wants to win when he comes. He's the type who plays to win when there is a title on the line because he's so competitive."

- NZPA