Golf: Mediation offer in ticket furore

Phil Aickin has offered to play a peace-broking role to save the New Zealand Open golf tournament.

Aickin, chief executive of the New Zealand Golf Association, wants to use his position and personal relationship with leading players to quell a player revolt over ticket pricing for the January 10-13 event.

New Zealand's leading player, Michael Campbell, is spearheading a campaign to convince tournament organisers to review ticket pricing for the event, which will feature world No 1 Tiger Woods.

World No 15 Campbell, Greg Turner, Stephen Scahill and former New Zealand Open champion Peter O'Malley, of Australia, have threatened to boycott the tournament at Paraparaumu Beach unless 2002 Open Ltd, which is responsible for the commercial side of the event, reduces week-long ticket prices.

Open 2002 Ltd general manager Steve Wilkins has admitted that reports of a week-long ticket to the tournament costing $500 were in "the ballpark," although prices will not be confirmed until late next month.

The players consider this exorbitant and far too expensive for many golf fans.

"We [NZGA] are in a position where we need to be a bit like a facilitator," Aickin said yesterday. "We are very conscious of keeping a good rapport with our overseas players.

"We have done that for years, and the one thing we hope when they turn professional is that they return home to play the New Zealand Open.

"We need to sit down with Open 2002 Ltd as soon as possible, as well as the International Management Group. The three of us are responsible for the tournament. It might be a week before that can happen."

Open 2002 Ltd's role in the tournament came about through its underwriting the appearance of Woods. It shares the organisational role with the NZGA and IMG, the latter an experienced and proven event manager.

Open 2002 Ltd is fully responsible for the commercial side of the tournament, the setting of ticket prices and the selling of sponsorship.

Aickin has had a long and harmonious relationship with all the New Zealand players threatening to boycott the tournament, as well as O'Malley.

"We have always made it very easy for people to see golf and I can understand where Michael and Greg are coming from," Aickin said. "We just need to talk to our partners and see where we fit in."

Week-long tickets to this year's New Zealand Open in Auckland cost $50.

Wilkins has defended the steep increase in ticket prices. He considered it good value for money, considering the appearance of Woods, a tournament purse which will at least be doubled to $1 million, and the presence of other high-quality players who officials believe will follow Woods' trail to New Zealand.

Bringing Woods here will cost organisers an estimated $US2 million ($4.99 million), based on what he is understood to routinely request as an appearance fee to play outside the United States.

- NZPA