By BOB PEARCE
Tiger's coming in January, but who's he going to play against?
How about another star player of the calibre of South African Ernie Els?
News that Tiger Woods has signed the contract which will bring him to Paraparaumu Beach to play in the New Zealand Open has delighted local
golf fans.
They will be even more impressed if the brave organisers can attract a field to stretch the talents of the world's No 1 golfer.
Kiwis have never been too enthusiastic about sporting exhibitions, preferring the competitive element of real tournaments.
And the PlusFore group of Wellington businessmen from the start aimed for a revived NZPGA tournament for Woods to play in. The decision to opt for an enhanced New Zealand Open instead may have freed some funds to attract some other stars to New Zealand.
The International Management Group had apparently intended to boost the Open purse from $500,000 to $1 million even with no Woods in the field and that can now be expected to be a minimum.
But purses in New Zealand dollars are not much of a lure these days and the organisers can expect more success in attracting name players with well-targeted appearance fees.
Els may be too expensive but there are others who would fill the bill. One of the major attractions will be Michael Campbell, in the world's top 20 and back on the course where he won the Open in 2000.
He has vowed to play each year in the Open without an appearance fee, but it would be unfair to hold him to that when Woods will be paid over $4 million.
Organisers will have to cope with the pressure of such a big event on the Paraparaumu infrastructure.
The course has proved an ideal championship venue for the players and the club should resist any ideas of lengthening it significantly just for Woods. Better to provide some tigerish rough and rely on the wind off the sea to keep the scoring in check.
The par-five closing hole at Paraparaumu is perfect for a dramatic finish. Campbell won in 2000 with an eagle on the last. Grant Waite did even better, holing out in two on the way to his Open win.
