LYTHAM ST ANNES - Michael Campbell has received support from Sir Bob Charles in his fight for a reduction in admission prices for next year's New Zealand Open.
Charles, the only New Zealander to win a major tournament, phoned Campbell to say he agreed with the world No 15's stance.
Campbell and
fellow New Zealanders Greg Turner, Stephen Scahill and Elliot Boult have threatened to boycott the event at Paraparaumu Beach in January if proposed ticket prices of $500 are not reduced.
"It was great of Sir Bob to phone and lend his support," Campbell said. "It means a lot to me and there's been no change in my decision. I'm not playing the New Zealand Open until the prices are reduced."
The inflated prices are proposed to cover the costs of attracting world No 1 Tiger Woods, whose appearance fee is around $4 million.
However, David Smail said he would return to defend the title he won at The Grange in Auckland in January.
"I'm going to be there to defend my title, because it was my first professional win and I would love to be there, no matter what," Smail said. "But I don't agree with the ticket prices - they're far too high.
"New Zealand is only a small country and maybe a small increase is justified, but nothing like $500."
Smail was commenting for the first time on the controversy after successfully qualifying yesterday for his first British Open. He and Turner will join Campbell and Charles in the tournament.
It will be Turner's 12th Open since finishing 35th at his first attempt in 1986. He recorded his best Open finish, seventh behind American Tom Lehman, in 1996, the last time the tournament was staged at Royal Lytham, in north-west England.
Meanwhile, Campbell has imposed a blackout on calls from New Zealand as he concentrates on improving his poor record in majors.
"This is an important week for me, and with that in mind I'm having a total media blackout," he said. "I'll talk to the guys who are over here from New Zealand, but I'm not taking any requests from back home. I need as little off-course distraction as possible."
- NZPA
