Confirmation of NZ Open’s fate today
NEW Zealand Open organisers will today clarify the fate of next year’s proposed golf tournament, but it seems ‘‘unlikely’’ to take place.
The Open organising committee met last night to discuss the February 27 to March 1 event, and tournament director Michael Glading later said a statement would be issued today.
Earlier yesterday, he said it was ‘‘looking unlikely’’ the Open would take place.
He said he did not want to preempt any decision, ‘‘but you’d have to say at the moment it’s looking unlikely.
‘‘We’ve left the decisionmaking as late as we possibly can but we’ve now reached the point where we have to make a decision because the longer it goes on, the more difficult it gets.’’
To commit to next year’s Open with no certainty of a transtasman bubble was a huge risk and could result in a $4 million loss for tournament host Millbrook Resort alone should Covid19 force its later cancellation.
Cancellation would also mean the loss of millions of dollars to the local economy.
‘‘It’s very difficult,’’ Mr Glading said.
‘‘If we could guarantee the Australian border was open, that . . . would be a great outcome, but as it stands, right at this minute, we still don’t know.
‘‘We’re very unhappy about the situation we’re in, but at the end of the day there’s not much we can do about it.
‘‘It is a big call either way, absolutely.’’
Millbrook golf director Brian
Spicer was yesterday waiting to hear back from the Government about whether there were ‘‘any safeguards or certainty’’ to enable them to plan the event.
‘‘We need the Australian border to be open and I’m not seeing anything that says that’s going to be the case.’’
Sir Michael Hill, instrumental in getting the Open to Queenstown, said ‘‘it’s not looking good’’.
‘‘It’s a major concern and it’ll be quite disappointing if it doesn’t go ahead, but nothing’s very predictable here at the moment, is it?’’