Golf: NZ Golf Open working to become part of Japanese Tour

Matthew Griffin celebrates with the New Zealand Open trophy. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand Golf Open officials will fly to the land of the rising sun this week in search for a brighter future for the tournament.

They'll meet with Japan Golf Tour officials to further discussions about being co-sanctioned.

Tournament director Michael Glading says it's an important step in their long journey.

He says they've been building a relationship with Japan for the past few years and hope to be co-sanctioned either next year or 2018.

Michael Glading says the Japanese Tour is their priority over the European Tour who recently aligned themselves with the Fiji International.

He says if someone won the New Zealand Golf Open then they'd get a card to play on the Japanese Golf Tour which is the third biggest circuit in the world.

Glading says their TV ratings in Japan were huge this year and hope to use that as a big draw card.