Prize money for the Island's golf showpiece - the Bermuda Open - has been slashed in half and comments by a three-time Open champion are said to be the cause.

However, Kim Swan has no regrets about criticising the $60,000 purse which was up for grabs last year and has reiterated his call for increased cash and rewards for top finishers.

Such statements during the 2002 Open are believed to have triggered XL Capital's $20,000 sponsorship withdrawal.

President of the Bermuda Golf Association Bob Legere confirmed yesterday that XL is no longer involved with the event and that prize money has been substantially reduced this year, despite the fact that several new sponsors have come on board.

"This year we're giving a guarantee of $35,000 and it could possibly be boosted up to around $45,000," he said, explaining that fund-raising events could enlarge the purse.

"It hasn't really affected the international players. We already have 45 international players registered and 20 local players."

Still, Legere took umbrage with Swan's words, saying he was ashamed by the suggestion that companies which had been generous were, in essence, being called cheap.

"It's disheartening when a politician comments negatively about purses for our Open. I was embarrassed that Mr. Swan said what he did last year.

"It put some of our sponsors in a difficult frame of mind, you might say. It painted a picture that they could do more but weren't willing.

"I think Mr. Swan was completely out of line for saying it in the manner that he did."

An unmoved Swan scoffed at the charge that he was the source of XL's discontent, terming it a "cop-out" and stressing his comments were "in the best interest of the sport he loves".

"The Bermuda Open is an event I hold in the highest esteem. It's our national championship and it's the event that opened the world of golf to me. I won the Open in 1978 as an amateur and it opened doors for me.

"I hope that any young Bermudian - after winning his national championship - would have the same opportunities that I was afforded. Unfortunately, that's not the case today and whoever is responsible for the tournament must take ownership of that.

"When I won the Bermuda Open it afforded me invitations to world-class events, memberships on Tours. The event, unfortunately, has not kept pace with the status that it had 25 years ago when I won my first championship.

"I'm sorry people would use my comments as a scapegoat," he said.

Stressing his views were not meant to disrespect past, present or potential sponsors but were for "short-sighted persons who are in positions to persuade people", Swan declared the Open should command "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in cash prizes.

The former pro, who played on the European PGA Tour from 1981 to 1983, said he feels "duty-bound, having had the experience" to speak out when things concern him.

"If you're not exposed to golf at that level sometimes you will settle for mediocrity but I see far greater for Bermuda in the world of golf than what I am witnessing.

"You have to look forward. That's all I try to do in golf - to get Bermuda to look a little bit further forward."

Legere maintained Swan could have been more constructive in his criticism, noting the BGA is undergoing "a major rethink of what this tournament should represent".

"This is our premier championship and even though we're a country of only 60,000 residents - and people have to keep that in perspective - in order to attract larger purses we need to give something back to the contributors.

"What the BGA is trying to do now is find a way we can give something back to these major sponsors."

The national sports-governing body, he revealed, is in discussions with two international sports marketing companies - IMG and Octagon - about revamping the Open and is also talking to the Golf Channel and ESPN 2 about having the tournament televised.

The BGA is also liasing with other golf associations to see if the Open winner could be eligible to play in other tournaments.

"We're trying this as another avenue to attract better players and make our Open more than what it's been in the past.

"We want to see our Open possibly be a qualifier for a British Open, whether it's a British amateur, junior amateur or mid-amateur or a US mid-amateur. We would like to see that.

"If Mr. Swan had these ideas I can assure that we're thinking along the same lines from that perspective but I don't agree with his comments on the funding. I don't think he understands the generosity that some of our sponsors have already contributed," said Legere.

When asked if XL explained why they were severing ties as one of the Open's main sponsors, the president replied: "They were looking for a better return on their investment."

However, other sources disclosed that the firm's hierarchy was peeved by Swan's remarks. A spokesperson for XL yesterday denied that company was responsible for pulling the sponsorship, instead laying the blame on the Bermuda Angle group.

"Whatever the decision that was taken regarding the Bermuda Open it was not a decision made by XL. XL cannot comment on behalf of the Bermuda Angle companies. The decisions of the Bermuda Angle are taken as a group.

"However, we understand this decision was taken jointly by the Bermuda Angle participants. We understand further that the reason this decision was taken was because the event dates no longer coincided with the Bermuda Angle conference dates."

The Bermuda Angle conference was to be held here last month but, following Hurricane Fabian, has been rescheduled for early December when it will be held in the USA.

The Open is from October 16-19 at Port Royal Golf Club.