Mongrel Rift

GOLD COAST

Rumours are circulating the golfing world that a rival Super Mongrel Golf Tour will be formed by disgruntled Queensland golfers with the financial
backing of media magnate Rupert Murdoch.

It is understood that the canetoads are disenchanted with the Mongrel Tour administrators parochialism and insistence on staging all tournaments in New South Wales.

Mr. Murdoch is alleged to have seized upon that rift and made offers to the players to conduct his own tour, which encompasses not only Queensland, but the whole world. He is said to have thought that the concept of 'the worst of the worst" in golf would be the perfect product for his world pay television interests.
 

An undisclosed source has reported that huge two figure cash incentives are being made to lure other members of the Mongrel Tour to the rebel Super Mongrel Tour.

It is believed that 1992 Mongrel Masters Champion Johno Johnson has defected to the rebel tour and is actively recruiting as many players as possible. Here recently visited Sydney with the sole purpose of signing up renegades. No fewer than twenty players have been approached, however, it is unclear how many have committed.

In other body blows for the Mongrel Tour, it is thought, Milton Daley will soon announce his resignation from the ElanoraPost Office and will become the Chief Executive Officer for Super Mongrel, while the company of 1994 Mongrel Masters runner up and Rookie of the Year, Robo Johnstone will be appointed consultants to the rebel tour. It is believed Johnstone's company conducted the feasibility study, which convinced Murdoch that Super Mongrel was a viable proposition.


All of these events have come as a surprise for Mongrel Tour Executive Director, Noni Scanlon.
" I had discussions with representatives of the rebel tour in February" said Scanlon when asked for his response to the Super Mongrel Tour. "They presented a proposal long on promises, but short on detail, that capitalised on the success of the Mongrel Masters."
 

" In essence they wanted to expand the number of events, but limit them to a select number of golfers. This meant that, what they called 'the worst of the worst', would compete regularly against each other. It was to be the showcase of golfing mediocrity,” explained Scanlon.

He continued, "I told the rebels that we already had the showcase of golfing mediocrity with the present Mongrel Tour and did not see the need at this stage to change the format. I stated that we had to demonstrate loyalty to all those competitors who had stuck with the Mongrel Tour over the years and to discard these would be totally unfair."

When asked what theSuper Mongrel representatives response to his comments were, Scanlon stated "They appreciated my comments and gave me an assurance that should they continue with their Super Mongrel proposal, they would approach us (the Mongrel Tour) first, before doing anything else. It was their wish that the Super Mongrel Tour would be under the administration of the Mongrel Tour. It seems that someone's word isn't worth the paper that it's written on."
 

It is uncertain what the Mongrel Tours response will be to the rebels’ recent movements. Some believe that all members will be asked to sign loyalty agreements with the Tour, while others think that they will respond with chequebook diplomacy and take the Super Mongrels head on in a mongrel dog fight for supremecy.
 

All those thought to be involved with the rebel Super Mongrel Tour were unavailable for comment at the time this article went to press.


Click here for 1995 Results

Click here for the 1995 Mongrel Masters in Photographs
 

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