It has taken a year but New Zealand Golf is expected to finally make an announcement on its flagship tournament today.
The organisation has called a press conference for this morning at - spoiler alert - the exclusive Clearwater course near Christchurch.
The location is a fair giveaway that the next New Zealand Open will be played at Clearwater, as revealed for the first time in the Otago Daily Times as far back as July, and not at The Hills, the incumbent Arrowtown venue.
What will be interesting is whether it is a one-off deal or some sort of longer package.
The Press reported on Saturday it would be a three-year deal at Clearwater, with BMW to be the naming sponsor.
This year's tournament would be played on December 1-4.
It has been a drawn-out process since the last Open was held at The Hills in January last year.
NZG has consistently argued the complications of arranging sponsorship and co-sanctioning deals were behind the delay.
But that has held little weight with The Hills, which hosted three memorable Opens and was widely credited for playing a significant role in rescuing a troubled event, and for providing the most spectator-friendly course in the country.
"We still haven't heard anything from New Zealand Golf at all," The Hills general manager Sam Gent said when contacted yesterday.
"It's really disappointing. We feel we've negotiated in good faith and they haven't communicated with us.
"It's slightly embarrassing for Michael [Hill] and everyone here. People ask us what is happening with the Open and we are completely in the dark."
Gent said she "presumed" the rumours were true and that Clearwater was going to be unveiled as the next Open venue.
She doubted the deal would be for anything less than three years.
