Rory's Asking Price: $750,000

Martin Blake reports that not only is he a nice guy, but Rory McIlroy's price to show up at a tournament where such enticements are allowed is far lower than you-know-who. IMG is exploring options to get McIlroy to Perth for October's new European Tour event there.

The $2 million Perth International at Lake Karrinyup from October 18-21 has emerged as the most likely tournament to draw the new world No. 1, since it is co-sanctioned by the European tour. Although his asking price is estimated to be at least $750,000, IMG, the new tournament's promoter, says it would love to have the Northern Irishman.

''We haven't had any discussions with him, but there's no tournament in the world [that] wouldn't love to have him,'' David Rollo, IMG's head of golf, said yesterday. ''It's difficult with scheduling, but we'd be stupid not to explore it.''