Hong Kong Open Organizers Wait On $206,000 Sanction Fee

The Hong Kong Golf Association is "on tenterhooks" as a HK$1.6M ($206,000) sanction fee for hosting the Hong Kong Open "has still not been confirmed," according to Alvin Sallay of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. A "worst-case-scenario could see the HKGA left penniless" from the $2M event that begins Sunday, and HGKA CEO Iain Valentine said it would be a "tremendous blow" to the game's governing body. Valentine: "Our sanction fee, which is usually 10% of the prize money, has still not been agreed on." The Hong Kong Open is jointly sanctioned by the European Tour and the Asian Tour, while the HKGA also gets a sanction fee. Due "to the difficulties this year in finding a title sponsor," as well as other subsidiary backers, all three partners have decided to wait until Sunday "to divide any surplus kitty, if one exists" (SCMP 11/15).