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At the JGTO's Casio Open, which starts this week promising total prize money of 100 million yen, the Korean-American golf sensation Michelle Wie is reportedly responsible for an economic effect of up to 2 billion yen, according the Sankei Shimbun daily.
The paper said Wednesday the Visitors and Convention Association in Kochi-ken, the location of the Kuroshio Country Club, estimated that if Wie passes the first round of the tournament, the so-called ¡°Wie effect¡± including the PR boost for Kochi-ken would probably amount to 1-2 billion yen for the nine days. Wie competes in the men¡¯s tournament.
Some 180 reporters from 81 domestic and foreign media outlets applied for rights to cover the event, and the spectators are expected to number around 35,000, up from an initial estimate of 20,000. A parking lot for 20,000 cars is now in preparation.
Kochi-ken is famous for its Japanese professional baseball camp. Two years ago, when three clubs including the Hanshin Tigers and Seibu Lions set up camp, they brought 3.25 billion yen into Kochi¡¯s economy for a month.
The paper said Wie, who turned pro last month, stands a good chance to pass the first round, which would be her first success in the men's league.
The daily said along with endorsement contracts with Nike and Sony, Wie is likely to outdo not only top woman golfer Annika Sörenstam but also ¡°Tennis Princess¡± Maria Sharapova, who is currently at the top with US$167 million in terms of the payments from commercial contracts.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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