The "lurid" gold jacket has been a part of the Australian sporting landscape for more than 30 years but the Australian Masters "now faces an uncertain future after officials decided to cancel this year’s event as they look to reinvigorate the tournament," according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. Tournament promoters IMG announced the '16 event had been scrapped as IMG begins a process of "reimagining" the event, its long-term goal to return the Masters to "its halcyon days." IMG Australia & New Zealand VP-Dir of Golf David Rollo said, "As part of IMG’s ongoing evolution of its golf events business, the company is in the process of reimagining its Australian Masters event to ensure the delivery of a world-class experience. IMG will unveil its new plans for the event in the coming months" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 3/31). REUTERS' Patrick Johnston reported the A$750,000 ($574,00) Masters was "last held in November at the Huntingdale Golf Club." The Masters void leaves 14 events on the 2016 PGA Tour of Australasia calendar this year "with the seventh stop scheduled for Papua New Guinea next month" (REUTERS, 3/30). In Melbourne, Russell Gould reported after "luring Tiger Woods to Melbourne twice" in '09 and '10, with unprecedented crowds "flocking to the event, Masters organisers have struggled to attract the big names needed to keep the momentum of the event going." This year it was "rocked by the tournament-eve withdrawal of drawcard Ernie Els, before two-time champ Adam Scott returned, with his major sponsor Uniqlo, to help keep the event afloat." The Masters were first played in '79 (HERALD SUN, 3/30).
