Wednesday, March 18, 1998

Poipu Bay still Grand

PGA Grand Slam will return
to the Kauai course for a fifth straight
year, but MasterCard
is out as sponsor

By Bill Kwon
Star-Bulletin

The PGA Grand Slam will return to the Poipu Bay Resort golf course on Kauai for the fifth straight year this November. But don't bring your MasterCard.

After sponsoring the event -- featuring the winners of golf's four major championships -- since 1995, MasterCard apparently is out as the title sponsor.

A release from the PGA of America office in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., noted the return of the event to the Garden Island. It is set for Nov. 17-18. However, there was no mention of MasterCard as the sponsor.

"It was definitely not an oversight," said a PGA spokesman. "A decision was not yet made by MasterCard and we had to get out the announcement that the Grand Slam would return to Kauai."

MasterCard also sponsors the Senior Tour Championship at the Hualalai Resort on the Big Island each January. There had been some concern several months ago that the company might not sponsor both events again.

Also not announced was the length of the new contract for the event between the PGA and Takenaka Corporation, owner of the Poipu Bay Resort golf course and the adjoining Hyatt Regency Kauai. The previous four-year contract ended with last November's event.

"We've extended the contract for another year," said Ron Kiaaina Jr., Poipu Bay Resort's director of golf. "We're just happy that we secured the Grand Slam for another year."

Both 18-hole rounds of the $1 million event will be televised for the eighth straight year by TBS on prime time on the East Coast, according to the PGA.

The 1997 Grand Slam, televised in more than 100 countries, drew its highest audience ever and its best TV ratings since 1992.

Last year, Ernie Els became the first U.S. Open champion to win the event since it was extended to 36 holes. He shot a final-round 65 for a record 36-hole 11-under-par 133.

Els defeated the trio of Masters champion Tiger Woods, PGA Championship winner David Love III and British Open winner Justin Leonard.

Also yesterday, EMC Corporation of Massachusetts was officially announced as the new title sponsor of the Kaanapali Classic, replacing the Hyatt Regency Maui. The 54-hole Senior PGA Tour event is scheduled for Oct. 23-25 at the Kaanapali North Course on Maui.

EMC's contract will extend through the year 2000, with a three-year option to continue through 2003.

"We have increased the prize money to $1 million for 1998, which makes the Classic one of a handful of major sporting events in Hawaii," said tournament chairman Dave Gleason of Amfac Maui.