New Zealand Open carries plenty of storylines
The reconfigured hospitality and viewing venues at Millbrook’s closing hole
The 103rd New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport gets underway on Thursday at the Millbrook Resort near Arrowtown in the stunning Central Otago region of New Zealand’s South Island, the event now established as one of the most popular on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Since the event moved south from Christchurch in 2014 and took on a Pro-Am format along the lines of the Alfred Dunhill Links and AT&T Pebble Beach Championships on the DP World and PGA Tours, the New Zealand Open has increased its prizemoney from $850,000 to today’s $2 million, much of the extra funding generated from those so keen to play alongside professionals in a battle for one of the oldest ‘national open’ trophies in world golf.
The event has grown exponentially despite not attracting the absolute elite of the game, its success built on the the outstanding venue, the stunning region in which it is played, the quality of its management, the importance of its title, and the fact that even before one year’s event has had time to cool off, the pro-am field including entertainment and sporting celebrities, successful businessmen and women have already been signed on for the following year.
When a decision was taken to move to the current format there were those golfing purists who felt that a national open championship might be better served by being played in the traditional manner of such a championship but the tournament’s growth and unheralded popularity have provided proof that the concept is working and working well.
The event’s co-sanctioning with the Asian Tour and a close association with the Japan Tour has meant a wider television audience and interest in those regions along with the benefits a win can provide for a player to leapfrog onto the Asian Tour if not otherwise exempt.
A decision was made by tournament organisers from the outset that appearance money could not be and would not be paid as a means of attracting the elite of the game. That can become a vicious, unstoppable and costly circle. It would have been unrealistic for an event looking to build platforms and prizemoney each year to grow, to shelve out appearance fees to some of the game’s more recognised players.
While that has meant superstars have not been part of the line-up, many of its participants over recent years have gone on to enjoy rather significant success.
There are several examples but none more so than the engaging 17-year-old at the time, Tom Kim, who led the event into the final round in 2020 before finishing 4th behind the winner that year and two-time champion, Brad Kennedy.
Kim has gone on to become a three-time winner on the PGA Tour, a Presidents Cup player, and reach a world ranking high of 11th since his impressive display at Millbrook.
Tom Kim – Presidents Cup
Lucas Herbert, who played that same year and finished runner-up has gone on to win on the PGA, DP World and Japan Tours.
One of the great things about tournament golf is that by Sunday of an event it is not the players who aren’t participating that matter but rather those who are and last year we saw as many as a dozen players all with a genuine chance to take the title with nine holes to go.
It was fascinating viewing, but it would be long-time supporter and prolific winner of titles in Japan, Brendan Jones, who emerged to take the title.
Jones, who was questioning his desire to continue playing tournament golf just a couple of months before his win, has always nominated the event as his favourite tournament anywhere, his ongoing support, proof of just that but the satisfaction and joy he displayed when winning twelve months ago was there for all to see.
Defending champion Brendan Jones – photosport
In 2024 the focus may well be on New Zealanders who have enjoyed little success in the event in recent times.
Michael Hendry’s win at Millbrook in 2017 was the first by a New Zealander since 2003 and if he was able to repeat that success what an emotional victory it would be for the 44-year-old who since playing this event twelve months ago has undergone treatment for a life-threatening leukemia and come out the other side, not yet completely clear but back playing and playing well.
Hendry aside, however, the event sees the return of Steve Alker to New Zealand shores following yet another great season on the PGA Tour Champions.
Alker was invited to and played the New Zealand Open last year but was held back from playing at his best due to a slight illness but his involvement again this year will capture the attention of those who have marveled at his meteoric rise amongst those over 50.
Alker currently leads the Charles Schwab Cup standings after two events on the PGA Tour Champions in 2024.
But while the older New Zealanders have stories of their own it will be 22-year-old Kazuma Kobori who so many New Zealanders will be keen to see do well.
Kobori who at the age of just 17 won the New Zealand PGA Championship five years ago, has enjoyed an amazing last 13 months in world golf. He won the 2023 Australian Amateur Championship, the Western Amateur Championship in Illinois, the individual title at the Eisenhower Trophy and led the PGA Tour of Australasia Tour School.
Since turning professional in late October of last year Kobori has taken the PGA Tour of Australasia by storm, winning on three occasions and currently leading the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit. A win would cement his position atop the ranking and this earn the number one card for the 2025 DP World Tour, one of three handed out to the leading three players on the Australasian Tour Order of Merit.
New Zealanders witnessed the meteoric success of their own Lydia Ko a decade ago and it might just be that Kobori is headed to a significantly higher level than he has already achieved.
Kazuma Kobori – making a habit of winning – image AGM
Another New Zealander expected to do well is Ben Campbell who finished 4th on last year’s Asian Tour Oder of Merit courtesy mainly of a win at the lucrative Hong Kong Open and a 3rd place in Indonesia soon after but as a two-time runner-up at Millbrook he could well stake a claim for a breakthrough win in his national open.
Throw in the likes of the well-credentialed Australians Travis Smyth and last year’s Order of Merit winner, David Micheluzzi, and a host of highly credentialed Asian and Japan Tour players and there will be plenty for New Zealand and other golf fans to get excited about even without the game’s current superstars in the field.
