GOLF REPORT
All bets off for Kaua'i as Grand Slam home
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By Bill Kwon
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Follow the money.
And as you do, make travel arrangements for Kaua'i during Thanksgiving week to watch what figures to be the final PGA Grand Slam of Golf there.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the PGA Grand Slam, which features the winners of golf's four major championships, will move to Las Vegas starting next year, bringing an end to a 13-year run at the Po'ipu Bay Golf Course.
The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority approved a three-year, $4.5 million sponsorship to lure the event.
Apparently, they showed the PGA of America the money. Still, the organization that stages the PGA Grand Slam, hasn't taken the money yet.
"Don't believe everything you read," said Julius Mason, PGA of America's director of communications and media relations.
"Golf World ran the story they saw from the Las Vegas paper," Mason said. "I called them and asked them why they didn't check with me first. I told them that that was not accurate information and that we had only announced the 2006 PGA Grand Slam of Golf dates. We announced nothing in 2007 or beyond.
"Golf World said they would run a correction."
Craig Sasada, Po'ipu Bay's director of golf, added: "They jumped the gun on that. Nothing is finalized. We have a year-to-year contract (with the PGA of America) and we have an option to renew for next year."
One thing's for sure, Sasada said. "We're still in negotiations. There are other factors involved. But it won't take as long as it did last year."
It took the PGA of America nearly three months before announcing that the Grand Slam of Golf would return to Kaua'i.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the convention authority last November had approved the sponsorship of the event starting this year.
But because the PGA Tour hadn't finalized its 2007 schedule at the time, it delayed the move a year with the PGA of America opting to return to Hawai'i this year.
So, if you're a betting person — and who isn't when it comes to all things Vegas — it looks like the end of a happy relationship between the PGA of America and Kaua'i.
The Las Vegas package, which will boost the event's long-standing $1 million purse by a nearly a quarter-million dollars, is all but signed, sealed and delivered.
Interestingly, $250,000 is what the PGA Grand Slam of Golf receives in subsidy from the Hawai'i Tourism Authority's budget to promote sporting events.
Clearly, the Las Vegas convention authority can afford a lot more money, with the feeling that the made-for-television event is worth $8 million in media publicity for the city.
"This has always done well in the (television) ratings, and you're talking about the very biggest names in golf," a convention authority spokesman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
So while Phil Mickelson got the first leg of the PGA Grand Slam by winning the Masters, the first of golf's four majors, it's more than likely that the event is on its last legs here.
Too bad. It's probably the only time local fans get to see Mickelson, who shot a Po'ipu Bay record 59 in winning the 2004 PGA Grand Slam. Lefty has made it a habit lately of being a no-show at the winners-only Mercedes Championships at Kapalua, Maui, and has never played in the Sony Open in Hawai'i or the United Airlines Hawaiian Open at the Waialae Country Club.
"I hope we see him," said Gary Planos, Kapalua's president of resort operations and Mercedes tournament chairman.
It also means no more Tiger sightings on Kaua'i after this year. With three majors to go, no one's betting against him to earn his way back to Po'ipu Bay, which has been his personal playground with six victories in the seven years he qualified for the PGA Grand Slam.
You know he'll miss the place.
"I've always enjoyed playing Po'ipu. I always enjoyed coming here," Woods said after his seven-stroke victory over Mickelson, Michael Campbell and Vijay Singh last November.
"I don't see any reason why (it) should move because it is such a wonderful place."
Las Vegas apparently has been successful in luring the PGA of America, and Tiger, to the desert.
So folks, find a way to get to Kaua'i in November for the PGA Grand Slam's aloha ball.