New Zealand Open Won't Be Played This Year But Moved To An Early '14 Date

The New Zealand Open men's golf tournament "will not be played this year," according to Matt Richens of FAIRFAX NZ NEWS. While nothing "has been confirmed by any of the parties involved, all the evidence suggests the flagship tournament will not be held at the Clearwater Golf Course like originally planned." Rumors "have surfaced of the tournament moving" altogether, but Fairfax Media understands it will stay at Clearwater, but move to an early '14 date. A contractor charged with finding sponsorship for the tournament in the past "had not yet been contracted and the club itself has not had the dates for this year's event confirmed." New Zealand Golf is holding a press conference in Auckland next Tuesday which it is believed "has been called to confirm a change of date for the event." There are still currently dates free on the PGA Tour of Australasia calendar at the end of October and start of November, but hosting the 106-year-old tournament then -- as scheduled -- "poses major problems" (FAIRFAX NZ NEWS, 7/6).