Three-time champion Kim Swan has labelled the Bermuda Open's $50,000 purse “peanuts” and urged organisers to take steps to have it increased to around $200,000.

With the first round of the 72-hole Open scheduled for Port Royal tomorrow, there's no chance of a boost in prize-money this year. But Swan believes that in order to make the event more attractive to overseas professionals a cash injection is desperately needed before the 2003 championship.

“If you are going to put on a professional event you have to have an appreciation for what it takes to run it,” said Swan.

“I hear too many excuses about all of the expenses and about the economy, but if Bermuda wants to be taken seriously in the professional sporting realm it needs to adopt the type of mindset that appreciates professional sport.

“It's not good enough to say we are going to have professionals and then pay them peanuts. The Open is our national championship and it provides a vehicle for any successful golfer to introduce themselves to the higher echelons of golf, so it can be a very useful stepping stone.

“Certainly the purse is not comparable to the stature of the tournament, it's been $50,000 for too long.”

Swan, who isn't competing this year, said that if money was scarce then perhaps the tournament could survive with a purse of $100,000 - but that would be the bare minimum.

He referred to the Jamaica Open, an event in which he has participated on several occasions, that offered $150,000 in prize money ten years ago.

“Yes, even down in Jamaica their purse was attractive way back then when I was out there playing competitively, and that event is run by the Jamaica Golf Association just like ours is run by the Bermuda Golf Association,” he added.

“But I think the difference is that Jamaica has hosted far more professional events than Bermuda and they see the value in having a responsible purse to attract a high level and quality of player.

“While there was a time when a $50,000 purse seemed attractive, the day has come for the player who fits just below the tour ranks, the aspiring player or the player looking to resurrect their career, to have sufficient $200,000 events floating around the world to attract them.

“I really do think that's the range where the Bermuda Open should position itself. It's been sitting there for so long, the purse hasn't progressed. It was 12 years ago when I boycotted the event because they wanted to raise entry fees to an outrageous level, and I think people play within a reasonable entry fee level because of stands like that. I took the stand on principle.”

Swan said he felt it was reasonable to offer the winner of the Open between $25,000 to $50,000 which would be a considerable improvement over the $12,000 currently on offer.

“I don't expect a current player to say these sort of things, but I am prepared to say them. I was prepared to say them when I was a player and I am just as prepared and willing to say them now when I am not playing regularly.

“The players need to be properly compensated, packages need to put in place to help them offset their expenses and then players would be able to take it more seriously and participate.”

Swan said his recent life had taken him away from professional sport and he missed it, but he said his heart and spirit remained with the players currently competing and he intended to do his part in another way by being objective from the outside.

“I have been a long-time advocate for Bermuda stepping up to the plate with regards to professional golf and I will continue to play this role. We simply have to make a greater commitment in this regard.”