The Bermuda Open returns this weekend with PH Horgan III back to defend his title against what is expected to be a strong field of pros including the Island?s very own Michael Sims.

But Bermuda Golf Association president Bob Legere believes so much more can be done with the event and has urged Tourism Minister Ewart Brown to worry more about boosting the BGA?s flagship tournament rather than bringing in a LPGA Tour event.

In a thinly veiled attack on the ambitious and outspoken politician, Legere said that rather than create a ?$3.5 million golf commercial for Bermuda? by trying to woo major sponsors for an LPGA event, as Brown recently revealed he had been trying to do, Government should be more concerned with helping lift the Open up to North American tour standards.

?I have to applaud Dr. Brown for taking such an interest in golf,? Legere told

?But I fear that too much time and energy is being wasted by going in the wrong direction. I was there when LPGA representatives came here and it would take an enormous amount of money to get them to bring an event here, and it seemed to me from the discussions that it was simply not going to happen.

?You are looking at $1.75 million in prize money and the same again to put the tournament on and $3.5 million is an awful lot of money for what basically amounts to a golf commercial for Bermuda.

?We already have the Bermuda Open on the golfing calendar and that is our flagship event and should be supported as such.

?If we could get the prize money for that up to about $250,000 then it could be an event to be incorporated on either the Hooters Tour or the Canadian Tour with playing privileges for it earned in other events and playing privileges for other events earned through it.

?It would give a great boost to local players through wildcards and would bring Bermuda the international attention it deserves without having to put up vast sums of money.?

Legere, who admits that sometimes the relationship between the Golf Association and the Tourism Department is a little strained despite golf being the provider of the largest ?sports tourism? income, is also aggrieved that Brown is off the Island this weekend.

Brown, as part of his attempts to bring in an LPGA Tour event, is away at the Bighorn Golf Club this week for meetings at the Women?s World Championships while Legere thinks he should be here promoting the premier event on the domestic golf calendar.

The golf administrator also believes Government could do more to help attract sponsorship by adopting techniques used by the American Government, including allowing companies with a charitable arm to earn tax credits by ploughing cash into sporting events.

?There has to be something the Government could do in this regard,? said Legere.

?Big companies get tax credits to do it in the States and if the same sort of system could be applied here it would certainly give companies a great incentive to help sponsor events.

?I think it is something that needs to be looked into carefully.?

He also called for the Government courses to be upgraded, in accordance with promises he claims have been made over the past few years, and hinted there was a chance the Open could be moved away from its traditional Port Royal home in future years in an effort to improve the quality and size of the event.

It is understood a number of major sponsors are in discussions with the BGA but they are keen to see the event played at one of the private courses, nearly all of which have undergone alterations, refurbishments and upgrades in recent years.

Meanwhile this weekend Horgan, who has picked up around $15,000 on the PGA and Nationwide Tour this year, is returning to defend the title he has won the past two years and also back in 1986.

He will face stiff competition from 2003 and 2004 runner-up Frederick Mansson of Sweden as well as previous winners Tim Conley and Ian Doig.

Home pro Sims is making an appearance and Dwayne Pearman and Andrew Trott will also play.

Top amateurs including defending champion Leroy Burch will be contending alongside Dave Allison, who was joint leader after the opening round last year, Jarryd Dillas, David Buker (Canada) and Santo Lafoca (USA).