BRITISH OR U.S. OPEN “Charles On Verge Of Big Win”

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31994, 22 May 1969, Page 13

BRITISH OR U.S. OPEN “Charles On Verge Of Big Win”

“Tne Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND.

R. J. Charles, the New Zealand golfer, at the moment is playing so well that with luck he could in the near future “crack one of the big ones”—the Open championships of Britain and the United States.

Charles’s business adviser, Mr Mark McCormack, a Cleveland lawyer who is the greatest entrepreneur .in sporting history, brought this cheering news with him when he arrived in Auckland on a three*day visit to New Zealand.

“Your Bob,” said Mr McCormack, “really is hitting the ball extreme* ly well right now.

“His putting is still among the best in the trade and on his recent performances, which have been most consistent, he looks to be on the verge of a great effort. “It certainly shouldn’t be forgotten that the British Open within a few weeks is to be played at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s. This was the place where Bob Charles won the championship six years ago. Negotiating Contracts “It also shouldn't be forgotten that the United States Open is to be played at Houston—and that was where Charles won his first American tournament “Bob Charles is undoubt-

edly one of the leading players of our circuit and if he could crack a big one, the effort would give a great many people a great deal of pleasure.” Mr McCormack, “Mister Ten Per Cent” of sport, is in New Zealand negotiating contracts for a number of the players he represents. Manages 15 Golfers

He now takes care of the business affairs of 15 golfers, including J. Nicklaus and A. Palmer, while such other celebrities as J-C. Killy, the Olympic ski-ing champion, R. A. Laver, the lawn tennis player, and Jean Shrimpton, the model, come within his purview.

, At the special request of Charles, who has a keen interest in improving the prizemoneys and world station of sponsored golf tournament in New Zealand, Mr McCormack is to meet representatives of the New Zealand Professional Golfers' Association.

An important subject for discussion will be the proposal, in which the P.G.A. is playing a leading part, that a City of Auckland open tournament with prize-money of at least $50,000, should be played on a local course, perhaps Remuera, in January of 1971. Mr McCormack was doubtful of January as a suitable month for enticing leading American golfers to the tournament. By that time of the year, he said, most Americans were already involved In their circuit. There would have to be

other inducements than prizemoney to attract the Palmers and Nicklauses of golf to Auckland. Travel and accommodation costs would have to be discussed and the prize-list, not forgetting last place on the money list, would have to compare to a degree with that of an American tournament. A curious feature of Mr McCormack’s golf stable is that nine of the 15 members are non-Americans. Charles is a New Zealander, B. V. Devlin an Australian, G. Player, R. Cole and H. Henning are South Africans, and T. Jacklin, P. Townsend, C. Clark and P. Oosterhuls are British. Mr McCormack will return home tonight.