Lydia Ko could be defending her NZ Open title in an LPGA-sanctioned tournament with the national golf body close to completing a $5 million-plus deal.

It would be the first time an event sanctioned by the LPGA Tour had been held in this country and would attract many of the world’s leading golfers to battle the world No 1 on her home fairways in Auckland.

Sources have indicated that major cash injections from both Ateed (Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development) and Major Events NZ are being lined up to provide the bulk of the funding for New Zealand Golf’s bold bid to transform the Open into a legitimate international event.

It’s understood that about $5.5 million may be needed from the organisations to underwrite the cost of the event and enable it to be sanctioned by the LPGA.

The proposed windows are in either February or October when the tour has an Asian swing that could take in a New Zealand stop, and Ko’s presence is considered very much the driving force behind the potential upgrade.

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