The magnificent NZ Open set-up surrounding the 18th at Millbrook

The news today that the 2021 New Zealand Open Presented by Sky Sport would be yet another golf event to fall victim of the Covid 19 pandemic was inevitable but disappointing.

The event, scheduled to be held in the last week of February in 2021, has developed into arguably the most popular amongst players on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule and tournament organisers, John Hart and Michael Glading, along with the event’s underwriter, Millbrook Resort, have held off making the tough decision for as long as possible.

With such a significant commitment both logistically and financially on the line if a decision had been made to push forward with the event, however, the volatility and uncertainty still remaining with the issues surrounding Covid 19 have resulted in it being called off in 2021 and having it back on the schedule in late February of 2022.

Held in the stunning adventure capital region of New Zealand, Queenstown, and played over both the Millbrook Resort and the Hills Golf Clubs near Arrowtown 20 minutes outside of Queenstown, the event has grown from strength to strength since a decision was made in 2014 to adopt a pro-am format and bring it to one of world tournament golf’s most scenic venues.

In the years leading into 2014, the event was under pressure for survival as a Tier One PGA Tour of Australasia event and while the decision to adopt this new format proved controversial at first, it has been the making of one of world golf’s oldest running championships.

Each and every year since its inception in this format, the New Zealand Open has attracted not only a diverse field of Australasian and Asian professionals but has also proven a significant success in attracting a field of amateurs who get to play in a national open championship with those same professionals, some in the heat of the battle in the event’s final round.

The event has established strong ties with both the Asian and Japan Tours, ensuring a growing audience for its televised coverage and increasing the depth in its field.

Tournament Chairman John Hart- photo Photosport

Tournament chairman Hart, along with his colleague and Tournament Director, Glading, have been the driving forces in the tournament’s establishment and growth over the past seven years. Hart was disappointed as any in a decision which eventually became a no-brainer.

“We are extremely disappointed to have had to come to this decision,” said Hart today. “But the effects of the pandemic, borders being closed, and the financial risk associated with a potential later cancellation due to any further Covid-19 outbreaks means we have no other alternative other than to cancel this event now.”

“With up to 300 international participants coming from offshore (including professional players, amateur players, caddies, and officials of our Tour partners (the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour), we need absolute certainty now in terms of accessibility to New Zealand and this is clearly not possible” said Hart.

“We would like to thank Millbrook Resort (the tournament underwriter), The Hills, Government, the Queenstown Lakes District Council, and our many commercial partners, both domestic and international, led by our presenting sponsor Sky Sport for their support and understanding. Further thanks go to our Tour partners, New Zealand Golf, our professional players, our sold-out amateur field, and our amazing volunteer force.”

“This is not a decision we have made lightly, and we are particularly disappointed for the Queenstown region who have suffered many setbacks during this Covid-19 era.”

“We are very proud of what we have created with the New Zealand Open becoming one of New Zealand’s most recognised and applauded international sporting events.”

“We remain very committed to once again showcasing the very best of Queenstown and New Zealand in February 2022 at a time when hopefully we will all be operating in a more certain and safer environment.”

Australian Brad Kennedy is the current New Zealand Open champion and will now reign for two years having won the 2020 version in March of this year when defeating rising Australian star Lucas Herbert by two shots at the Millbrook Resort.

The news comes on top of recent cancellations of major golf events in Australia including the Australian Men’s and Women’s Opens, The Australian PGA Championship and the Vic Open, leaving a huge gap in professional tournament golf in this region this summer.

The 10th hole at The Hills – spectacular everywhere you look

Adam Scott and Jason Day have injury and health issues to overcome ahead of the Masters beginning on November 12th, but the pair who enjoy fine records in the event appear on track to extend their love affair with Augusta National.

Scott’s recent diagnosis when testing positive for Covid 19 will mean a disrupted preparation ahead of the Masters while Day has bounced back just a few days after succumbing to one of the many career injuries he has faced to record a solid opening round of 68 at the Zozo Championship in California.

Scott is required to self-isolate and will therefore have only the Houston Open the week before Augusta National to prepare for a tilt at a second Masters title, seven years after his first.

Scott has played only four events since a return from a lengthy break in Australia as world golf sat out a Covid 19 enforced layoff.

He has played solidly since, but has yet to record a top ten and the break in continuity of play comes at an awkward time for the 40 year old.

Day was forced to withdraw with a neck injury when contending for last week’s event at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas but after a 4 birdie, no bogey round of 68 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks today he appears to have at least partially overcome that disappointment.

Day indicated after his round that that while still not fully recovered he is attempting to manage his injury.

“I mean, it’s fine,” said Day post round. “Just obviously not 100 percent, but I’ve got to just keep pushing through it. It’s a quick turnaround, you know what I mean?

“So, I understand kind of what I need to do, so I’ve got to just keep getting treatment and keep moving on. I think overall I’m glad that I got through today, which was good.”

In eight starts in which he has played at least 18 holes at the Masters (he withdrew after round one in 2012) Day has been three times inside the top five, one of those when runner-up on debut in 2011.

In that same period, Scott has been four times inside the top ten including his playoff victory in 2013.

And so these next three weeks ahead of the delayed Masters Tournament are crucial for both players if they are to be as well prepared as possible ahead of the final major title of 2020.

Scott and Day are two of five Australians in the field for Augusta National. Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman and Victorian amateur Lukas Michel, who won the 2019 US Mid Amateur make up the numbers.

Adam Scott – winning in 2013. Courtesy of Getty Images

Hannah Green – awarded the Greg Norman Medal in 2019 for her major breakthrough

The LPGA Tour will this week play the third of its four 2020 major championships when the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is contested at the Aronimink Golf Club in Newton Square in Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.

Only the US Women’s Open in early December remains in terms of major golf for the LPGA Tour but this week’s event, which carries a purse of US$4,300,000, offers yet another chance for one of seven Australasians to add a major to their list of victories.

For New Zealander Lydia Ko and West Australian Hannah Green that feat has already been accomplished, of course, but for the likes of Minjee Lee, Katherine Kirk, Sarah Jane Smith, Su Oh and Sarah Kemp they get the opportunity, at least, to join the elite of women’s golf with a first victory at this level.

Green arrives at the historic Aronimink Golf Club as the defending champion but with only average form since her return to tournament golf in mid-August her chances or retaining her title appear slim.

In her defence, however, was an encouraging week in Portland two weeks ago when she contended through 36 holes in an event, where she was also defending a title, before a struggle in her final round eventually saw her finish 12^th.

“I think because we had such a long time off it was hard to get your competitive drive back,” said Green when asked about her current form. “It was especially hard starting in Scotland where it’s such tough conditions.

“I was in a winter weather when I was back at home, so I at least kind of knew to expect some cold and windy weather, but the British Open this year was really brutal, so that was a bit of a shock to the system. So yeah, just being competitive again, and as much as you try and practice to put pressure on yourself, it’s really hard until you actually get in that moment.

“That’s probably been the biggest thing, but then also not going back to Australia; I won’t be back home until maybe after Christmas, which is probably the longest I’ve ever been away from home, so I’m hoping that I can have a win in the next few events and just book any ticket back.”

Green was asked what she was able to learn about herself as a result of a win in such an event last year.

“I think just the mental toughness. I didn’t really think I was capable to go wire-to-wire in an event, let alone a major championship, just hanging in there, and even though I was kind of crashing a little bit on the back nine, I was trying to give myself as much positive thoughts as possible and worked really well with my caddie to make sure that I knew that I was still in it.”

Hannah Green with her 2019 KPMG PGA Trophy – David Cannon Getty Images

Ko of course has 15 LPGA Tour titles to her name, two of those majors, but this is one that has eluded her considerable talents to date.

There has been glimpses on occasions that the work she is doing with noted coach Sean Foley is beginning to show its benefits having finished 6^th at the recent ANA Inspiration and runner-up a few weeks earlier in the Marathon event.

“I had a couple weeks off prior to coming into this week, so hopefully I’m well rested,” said Ko. “I think we’re — obviously this is later than when we normally play this event but I think we’re all super grateful to be able to play and play at this amazing golf course with a lot of golf history. KPMG and PGA of America have taken us to a lot of great golf courses, so I think it’s going to be another great test for us this week.”

West Australian Minjee Lee has displayed some encouraging form since the LPGA returned from their enforced Covid break. She is a proven LPGA Tour event player, but a major title is what she needs to advance to the elite of the game. There is little doubting her consistency and skill will get there at some stage and it may be that on a demanding traditional American golf club layout it could be this week.

Queensland’s Katherine Kirk appears to be playing some of the best golf she has produced in a long while, her last three starts resulting in top tens and there appears little reason that another good week is not beyond her.

Queensland’s Sarah Jane Smith has made only one cut in 2020 and appears unlikely to do much better this week. Smith is attempting a return to a competitive level following the birth of her and husband Dwayne’s first child last year.

Victorian Su Oh is a shadow of her former self at present having missed seven of eight cuts in 2020 and any hopes of contention here appear to be forlorn and New South Wales Sarah Kemp is another who appears to be a long way from where she needs to be to have any chance of performing with distinction.

Maverick Antcliffe – file photo courtesy of China Tour 

27-year-old Queenslander, Maverick Antcliffe, might not be a name well recognised in Australian professional ranks but it is fair to assume it won’t be long before it is.

Antcliffe, today, earned his biggest cheque in professional golf when he finished in a share of third place at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in Ballymena in Northern Ireland.

Antcliffe, in his rookie season on the European Tour, finished three shots behind the American John Catlin who won his second event in recent weeks having won the Andalucia Masters two starts ago.

Antcliffe arrived on the European Tour this season courtesy of his standing on the China Tour in 2019 where he won three times and recorded numerous other top tens to take the top honours in what is a feeder tour to the European Tour.

Antcliffe actually had a share of the lead halfway through today’s final round but consecutive bogeys early in his back nine cost him a winning chance. To his credit he was able to birdie the last to finish in a share of third with Asian superstar, Jazz Wattenanond.

The share of third place earnt Antcliffe a cheque for €66,000 ($A108,000) and moves him 63 places to 83^rd on the Race to Dubai standings.

Antcliffe is from just south of Brisbane and like his fellow Queenslander, Jason Day, attended the Hills International Academy in Jimboomba, then playing golf at Georgia State in the USA before turning professional in 2017.

He played the China, Australasian and Asian Tours before focusing on the China Tour in 2019 where he dominated proceedings with an outstanding season.

Making eight of his 15 cuts to date on the European Tour he is beginning to find his feet and now has earnings of €130,000 and appears to have well and truly established himself in Europe.

Lucas Herbert fresh from his performance as the leading Australian at last week’s US Open also had a good finish when he tied for 7th and improved to 7th in the Race to Dubai rankings.