Fully kitted up – image Photosport NZ
I would be the last person to suggest the role of on-course commentator at a televised golf tournament is rocket science, but some aspects of the role make the task a lot more demanding and extensive than many might think.
I have been involved in on-course commentary since first invited to perform the role by the ABC at the 1995 Canon Challenge in Sydney, my latest involvement being at the recent New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport near Queenstown in New Zealand’s Central Otago and thought it might be of interest to outline a day in such a role.
The New Zealand Open has developed into one of the must-play events on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule, and the same could be said for those involved in covering the event for Sky Sport in New Zealand. It is an event and region we welcome the chance to be involved in the broadcast.
A team of around 90 people are involved, most of those coming from other parts of New Zealand and, in the case of the commentary team, from the Gold Coast of Australia in my case and the newest member of our team Anthony Kang who is a regular on the Asian Tour’s coverage of their events (Singapore). Phil Tataurangi (Auckland), Greg Turner (Arrowtown) and interviewer Storm Purvis (Auckland) are the New Zealand-based members of the commentary team.
The Sky Sport Crew at a recent New Zealand Open
For me, the week typically begins with the Steve Williams caddy clinic and BBQ the tournament managers have adopted to provide information and entertainment for the many caddies the 300 or so amateurs and professionals lining up in the 72-hole event require.
Many caddies are regulars and very experienced but there are those who are caddying for the first time and the caddy clinic and BBQ provides an opportunity for all to meet others, get a few tips, listen to some caddying stories, and settle into the week.
The Caddy Clinic carries the name of Steve Williams, seen by all as the game’s most successful ever caddy with 151 wins worldwide with players such as Greg Norman, Raymond Floyd, Tiger Woods, and Adam Scott, 14 of those wins in majors.
It is my role to MC the event while Steve adds his thoughts and presence. We also include a player to give his thoughts on the role of the caddy and add colourful stories and this year it was Australian Anthony Quayle who provided a humorous take on what he sees as important for a caddy to not only do a good job but to enjoy the experience also.
This year nearly 100 or so caddies turned up to the sausage sizzle and beers put on by the tournament .
Steve Williams and Anthony Quayle – passing on tips at the caddy clinic – image Photosport NZ
On Wednesday my focus switches to the on-course role, a morning meeting with the production and commentary team to determine the direction for the coverage, and any new thoughts the team had.
A rehearsal is scheduled for the afternoon to ensure we are all familiar with the systems and equipment being used and while this seldom throws up any real issues it is an important means of getting those involved to shake off a bit of rust, isolate any issues and prepare for the opening day’s coverage on Thursday.
Each day of the tournament I really enjoy getting out to the golf course early, grabbing a golf cart and heading out ahead of the early play to investigate the hole locations cut for the day, roll balls around the holes to determine any subtle breaks and to get an overall feel for how the course has been set up and how it is likely to play for the day.
For me, in the majestic backdrops that are such a feature of Wakatipu Basin and everywhere you look around the Queenstown / Arrowtown region, getting out onto the golf course early is such a treat and one I love doing for the good of the inner sole never mind the information it provides.
On-course early morning research
The flip-flop nature of the two courses on the opening two days meant that the course and pin positions remained the same on day two so a sleep-in back at the hotel was possible on Friday as there was no need to repeat the due diligence of day one.
By 9.00 I am looking for breakfast and with another 5½ hours before our coverage starts there is plenty of time to catch up with old friends, talk to players and others in trying to gain as much knowledge as possible about little titbits that might be useable in the telecast.
A production meeting is normally scheduled for 11.00am each day of the event to determine final angles for coverage, interviews for inclusion, guests for commentary box appearances, and in my case, just who I would be following later in the day, typically a marquee group of the leading players in the field.
On day one it would involve the recently crowned Australian PGA Champion Elvis Smylie and two-time winner already this season Jack Buchanan of South Australia and their two amateur playing partners.
The inclusion of a composite layout made up of nine holes from each of the Coronet and Remarkable courses at Millbrook Resort for the weekend play would result in a spilt focus for the opening two days due to camera availability and so I would be with Smylie and Buchanan for the holes between the 6th and 9th of the Remarkables layout at which point I would then be driven the higher areas of the Coronet Course to walk with Lucas Herbert and Curtis Luck.
On day two I was with Travis Smyth and Ian Snyman, initially, then Ben Campbell and Steve Alker as they played the final nine of the Coronet layout.
Despite being driven to the top of the course the Coronet Nine involves a rather lengthy walk over significant changes in elevation and having recently had a leg operation I was pleased to get through without any consequences.
Let’s fast-forward to Sunday and the final round where I was assigned the final group involving the eventual winner Ryan Peake from Perth and the four-shot 54-hole leader, Guantek Koh of Korea.
While our coverage did not begin until 2.30pm I like to walk with my assigned group from the time they hit off around 1.00pm which allows me to get a feel of how things are progressing and whether there is any chink in the armour of the leader.
Once coverage starts, then there is a greater need for awareness as to what is happening on course and in the commentary box.
In the on-course role, it is not just a case of saying what you want when you want but rather fitting into a rhythm with those in the commentary box.
This year we had three commentators in the booth plus regular guests and so it was important for me to not talk over those already talking, some of whom were not always aware of my presence on air and I had to pick my moments to contribute without embarrassing them or myself. Once or twice I did !
There were plenty of moments when I wanted to make a comment but couldn’t although I did have the luxury this year of being able to put myself to air when I felt appropriate via a switch on my pack which allows me to speak on air or talk to or hear from the broadcast truck rather than wait to be put to air.
The role itself involves getting the information on distances, lie, wind direction, strategies, danger areas to avoid etc and any other information or thoughts I feel relevant before stepping away from an area where I could possibly be overheard by the player.
The thin air in the Wakatipu Basin, given it is around 1000 feet above sea level and areas of water around the course which carry voices, makes being discreet more important than perhaps elsewhere and so putting yourself in a position to talk freely is important.
While many of the shots I comment on are live, some are off-tape due to congestion and clashing of shots at any one time and advertisement breaks and while I have successfully negotiated calling such shots in my years in the role, the preference for the producer and director at Millbrook was for me to comment only when coming live to my group.
A device I now carry and which has proven invaluable is a mobile phone on a clipboard (see picture) which provides instantaneous vision of what is being shown on-screen with no delay. It was devised by the brilliant sound manager we had for the tournament and allows me to comment on what is being shown without second-guessing. If only I had this years ago!
As the final stages of the event developed it became clear that Ryan Peake was on track for a surprise but welcome victory. His well-documented backstory garnered a great deal of support from the spectators and while I carried a certain amount of sympathy for the four-shot overnight leader, Koh, who had been brilliant over the weekend, the victory by Peake and what it meant for his future was heartwarming.
It capped off yet another very enjoyable week in one of the nicest parts of the world.
Millbrook’s tournament course finishing hole – image Photosport NZ
Fox and Lee best of the Australasians at Players Championship
Ryan Fox – an improved showing early in his second PGA Tour season
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox has finished as the equal leading Australasian at the Players Championship, recording his best finish in three starts at the TPC Sawgrass.
Fox shared 20th place with West Australian Min Woo Lee who had led through 36 holes but struggled to rounds of 78 and 73, although a homeward nine of 34 recovered some of the ground lost earlier.
Fox finished 27th in the event on debut two years ago but missed the cut in 2024, his final round of 70 today improving his overnight position some 13 places.
Fox and Lee were the only two of the six Australasians entered for the event to make the cut although Jason Day was forced to withdraw on Thursday morning due to illness.
Having missed the cut in his two previous PGA Tour starts this season and finished 63rd in Phoenix, it was an encouraging week for the 38-year-old Fox in his second full season on the PGA Tour.
Both he and Lee will earn US$240,000 for their ten-way share of 20th place.
Fox will tee it up again at this week’s Valspar Championship in Tampa.
Leaderboard
Min Woo Lee shares Players Championship lead
Min Woo Lee – continues liking for TPC Sawgrass
Minwoo Lee has a share of the halfway lead at the Players Championship, the 26 year old West Australian looking to improve on his 6th place finish on debut in this event two years ago.
Lee added a second round 66 to his opening 67 to bet at 11 under par and along with Akshay Bhatia one ahead of J.J Spaun.
Other than a missed cut at last week’s Arnold Palmer Championship Lee has been in solid form in PGA Tour starts this season and with the benefit of an impressive debut over the demanding TPC Sawgrass two years ago he produced seven birdies before making a mess of his final hole (the par 5 9th).
When asked why he plays so well at the TPC Sawgrass when so many of the game’s leading players often struggle Lee repied; “I think I’m not sure why, but I think my 2-iron, I’m using that a lot and it’s a pretty good weapon of mine.
“So I can kind of draw it and hit it straight and it goes a long way. When I hit it good it goes, ends up going a long way. That helps. Then you have short clubs into holes, so, yeah I would love to hit 2-iron everywhere but obviously you can’t, some holes and, yeah, I think that’s it. The 2-iron.”
Lee knows the conditions over the weekend are expected to be tough with gusty winds up to 30 m.p.h.
“It will be tough. We got the text message yesterday from the TOUR saying that they’re going to adjust the course to it. It is, again, it’s a tough course even without wind, and it’s intimidating. There will be holes where obviously it will be downwind and some that are into, so there’s going to be holes that could be easier, but holes that could be a lot harder. Again, just hopefully keep playing good golf and see how it goes.”
With the withdrawal of Jason Day just ahead of the tournament due to illness, the remaining five Australasians suffered mixed results.
Ryan Fox made his second cut in now three starts in the event but Adam Scott missed the weekend by three, last week’s winner in Puerto Rico, Karl Vilips, by seven shots and Cam Davis by a massive 13 shots.
Pre-tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler is at 5 under par and six from the lead, but former winner Rory McIlroy is just two from the lead and appearing rather threatening as the closing 36 holes approaches.
Leaderboard
Six Australasians tackle the demands of TPC Sawgrass
Jason Day, the winner in 2016 is playing well at present – image PGA of Australia
Six Australasians, two of them previous winners of the event, will face the starter at this week’s Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course.
The event has been relatively good to Australasians with Jason Day, Adam Scott, Cam Smith, Greg Norman, Steve Elkington (twice) and New Zealand’s Craig Perks having won previously
Jason Day, Adam Scott, Cam Davis, Min Woo Lee, Ryan Fox and PGA Tour rookie Karl Vilips each get the chance to shine in the US$25 million event, the largest purse on the PGA Tour where the winner will earn US$4.5 million.
Day and Scott have both won the event previously. Scott claimed just his second PGA Tour title when defeating Padraig Harrington by one shot in 2004, and Day was the winner in 2016 when home by four shots over Kevin Chappell.
In 19 starts since, Scott has recorded just three top tens and in the last few years has finished well down the field while Day has recorded two top tens in seven starts since his win.
Day is certainly beginning to play well, finishing 8th last week after contending late into the final day and with his game looking increasingly good shape then his chances of contending and finishing as the leading Australian appear very good.
Scott is perhaps not in the same form he was late in 2024 but he is playing solidly. It is however hard to imagine him contending for the title.
Scott did however describe his love affair with the event and the layout.
“Yeah, this is an event I look forward to every year. It’s one of my favorite golf courses on TOUR. It’s one of the best events that we play in every year.
“The event that I tell all my friends outside of the majors obviously I think they should all come and experience it. I think it’s a great atmosphere to play in. It’s a great atmosphere for people to watch. So it’s a real buzz to be here.”
Cam Davis has played the event on four previous occasions and while has missed the cut in three of those he did finish an impressive 6th in 2023.
Davis’ game is somewhat of a roller coaster at present, having missed his last two cuts but also finishing 5th at Pebble Beach a month ago.
Min Woo Lee finished a very impressive 6th in this event when on debut in 2023 and made the cut but finished well back last year. Other than a missed cut last week in Orlando, Lee has played very well to date this year and might well feature.
Ryan Fox will play the event for the third time having finished an encouraging 27th on debut in 2023 before missing the cut last year. Fox is now into his second PGA Tour season but having missed two of three cuts this season it is hard to get excited about his chances.
Karl Vilips will play the event for the first occasion but there is little doubting the significant talent he possesses. His win last week in Puerto Rico will have him playing the event with a lot of confidence and while it is hard to see him figuring at any stage this early in his professional career there will be a lot of interest in just how he follows up such a big win a few days ago.
The likely winner is the man who has won in each of the past two years but players worth a look at longer odds are Hideki Matsuyama, Brian Harman and Sepp Straka.
First round draw
Great week for Australasian golfers worldwide
Karl Vilips – secures his first PGA Tour victory – file image USGA
It has been a sensational weekend for Australasian golfers in several golfing arenas.
On Sunday, Minjee Lee finished runner-up and Cassie Porter 4th in an LPGA Tour event on the island of Hainan off Southern China.
In New Zealand a local, Tyler Hodge, won the New Zealand PGA Championship to record his first PGA Tour of Australasia victory.
In Hong Kong, Lucas Herbert finished 4th behind Sergio Garcia in a LIV Golf event.
Then this morning things got even better.
In Puerto Rico the highly talented US based West Australian, Karl Vilips, won the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open, the alternative event to the Arnold Palmer Championship but a great boost for Vilips who gained access to the PGA Tour via the Korn Ferry Tour last year.
Vilips, a former student at Stanford University, won by three and earned US$720,000 in just his third PGA Tour event as a cardholder, having made the cut in each of his previous two starts in Mexico and Florida.
“Trying to soak it all in at the moment,” said Vilips. “I don’t know, just thinking ahead to next week already, PLAYERS, I’m getting ready for it. It’s been a bit busy, but I’m sure when I’m in my hotel room later I’ll be thinking about something
“Last night that was about the only thing on my mind was everything that comes with a victory here. I had a hard time getting to sleep. But on the course it was just staying in the present, doing what I can do and I think I did a really good job of that because it is tough to not think about everything. Once I hit that wedge close on 18, those thoughts definitely started flowing in my head.
“If you told me less than a year ago when I was at Stanford that I would be a PGA TOUR winner at this point in my career, I think I would be a little surprised. But I think I’ve just been so true to the process and everything that my team has me doing that it shouldn’t be a surprise when I make the putt on the last hole. But we’ve got to keep moving forward and try to win at an even higher level.”
At the Arnold Palmer Championship, Jason Day, a former winner of the event, finished in 8th place after a stuttering finish but after returning to his coach of earlier years, Colin Swatton, earlier this year he will no doubt be pleased with his progress ahead of next week’s Players Championship, yet another event he has won previously.
“We (Day and Swatton) stopped working together and then it was just trading texts on and off,” said Day over the weekend. “He was going on with his own life, and obviously I was trying to play competitive golf. We’ve got a lot of history together, so it’s nice to be able to pull the old-school team back.
“I’ve got Jason Goldsmith who is my performance coach, we got to No. 1 together. Cole, we got to No. 1 together. I got a new trainer, an old trainer from my injury days. Luke is doing a good job on the bag. So I feel like I got a really solid team, everyone’s kind of pulling in the right direction, which is great.
“That’s kind of the hardest thing is you, when you’re the leader of the team, you got to kind of nudge everyone where you want ’em to go. Everyone has to kind of pull their equal weight, and then if it doesn’t work out then you got to look elsewhere. So it’s nice to be able to have a team that really cares about what I’m trying to achieve out on the golf course.”
And then to top it all off, New Zealand’s Steve Alker produced a final round of 66 and eventually won a playoff over Jason Caron at the Colourguard Classic in Tucson in Arizona to win his 9th PGA Tour Champions title and move to #2 on the Charl Schwab Cup list for the season.
Despite winning the Charl Schwab Cup last season, this week’s win was the first for Alker since January last year, highlighting his amazing consistency in the period since. In fact, there had been six runner-up finishes since his last win.
“Yeah, I mean, just got to keep knocking on the door, Cookie,” said Alker when asked about the frustration of not winning. “You know how it is, you just grind away. I’ve been top-10s, top-5s, just been in the hunt, so it’s just being patient, just working hard on the body this pre-season.”
Australian Greg Chalmers led into the final round and eventually finished tied for 3rd with fellow Australian Rod Pampling.
Minjee Lee runner-up – Rookie Cassie Porter 4th in China
Minjee Lee has finished runner-up and her fellow Australian and LPGA Tour rookie, Cassie Porter 4th at the LPGA Tour event on Hainan Island off the coast of southern China.
Lee, a former winner of the event, finished a massive six shots behind Japan’s Rio Takeda but alone in second position and earned $US230,000 for her best finish on the LPGA Tour since her win at the BMW Ladies Championship in nearly eighteen months.
Porter is in her first season on the LPGA Tour after qualifying via the Futures Tour in 2024 and after missing the cut in her opening event in the Founders Championship last month, the impressive finish and the cheque for US$129,000 will be a great boost.
“Yeah, there is a lot of emotions right now,” said Porter. “Yeah, from Bradenton obviously having a rough week and then coming out here and doing well, just shows how crazy this game is; also like how awesome it can be as well.
“Big week for myself and my coach, caddie, Dan on the bag. Just really proud of us this week.”
Results
Tyler Hodge claims New Zealand PGA Championship
Tyler Hodge – with the spoils of victory – image Australian Golf Media
The New Zealand PGA Championship has been won by 30-year-old New Zealander, Tyler Hodge, who won his first Australasian Tour event with a one-shot victory over fellow New Zealander Kerry Mountcastle and Queenslander Tim Hart at the Bridge Pa Golf Club in Hastings today.
With four missed cuts in his last five starts before arriving in Hastings, Hodge was struggling with his game and perhaps his future but an opening nine of 32 in today’s final round after beginning the day just one off the pace of Cameron Harlock had him clear in the lead and although he faltered with two bogeys over the closing nine he had done enough to hold off the strong finishes of Mountcastle and Hart.
Queenslander Anthony Quayle improved his standing on the Order of Merit to 6th place with his share of 4th place this week with former PGA Tour New Zealander Tim Wilkinson and Queenslander Shae Wools Cobb.
Quayle has kept alive his chances of securing one of the three DP World Tour cards for next season, a win and a top ten placing in the two remaining events likely good enough to earn his way to the DP World Tour for the first occasion.
For Hodge, who turned professional at the relatively late age of 28 and actually gave the idea of playing professionally away for a year or two, he led by four after a birdie at the 10th before dropping shots but hanging on to win.
Results
On course at the New Zealand Open
Fully kitted up – image Photosport NZ
I would be the last person to suggest the role of on-course commentator at a televised golf tournament is rocket science, but some aspects of the role make the task a lot more demanding and extensive than many might think.
I have been involved in on-course commentary since first invited to perform the role by the ABC at the 1995 Canon Challenge in Sydney, my latest involvement being at the recent New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport near Queenstown in New Zealand’s Central Otago and thought it might be of interest to outline a day in such a role.
The New Zealand Open has developed into one of the must-play events on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule, and the same could be said for those involved in covering the event for Sky Sport in New Zealand. It is an event and region we welcome the chance to be involved in the broadcast.
A team of around 90 people are involved, most of those coming from other parts of New Zealand and, in the case of the commentary team, from the Gold Coast of Australia in my case and the newest member of our team Anthony Kang who is a regular on the Asian Tour’s coverage of their events (Singapore). Phil Tataurangi (Auckland), Greg Turner (Arrowtown) and interviewer Storm Purvis (Auckland) are the New Zealand-based members of the commentary team.
The Sky Sport Crew at a recent New Zealand Open
For me, the week typically begins with the Steve Williams caddy clinic and BBQ the tournament managers have adopted to provide information and entertainment for the many caddies the 300 or so amateurs and professionals lining up in the 72-hole event require.
Many caddies are regulars and very experienced but there are those who are caddying for the first time and the caddy clinic and BBQ provides an opportunity for all to meet others, get a few tips, listen to some caddying stories, and settle into the week.
The Caddy Clinic carries the name of Steve Williams, seen by all as the game’s most successful ever caddy with 151 wins worldwide with players such as Greg Norman, Raymond Floyd, Tiger Woods, and Adam Scott, 14 of those wins in majors.
It is my role to MC the event while Steve adds his thoughts and presence. We also include a player to give his thoughts on the role of the caddy and add colourful stories and this year it was Australian Anthony Quayle who provided a humorous take on what he sees as important for a caddy to not only do a good job but to enjoy the experience also.
This year nearly 100 or so caddies turned up to the sausage sizzle and beers put on by the tournament .
Steve Williams and Anthony Quayle – passing on tips at the caddy clinic – image Photosport NZ
On Wednesday my focus switches to the on-course role, a morning meeting with the production and commentary team to determine the direction for the coverage, and any new thoughts the team had.
A rehearsal is scheduled for the afternoon to ensure we are all familiar with the systems and equipment being used and while this seldom throws up any real issues it is an important means of getting those involved to shake off a bit of rust, isolate any issues and prepare for the opening day’s coverage on Thursday.
Each day of the tournament I really enjoy getting out to the golf course early, grabbing a golf cart and heading out ahead of the early play to investigate the hole locations cut for the day, roll balls around the holes to determine any subtle breaks and to get an overall feel for how the course has been set up and how it is likely to play for the day.
For me, in the majestic backdrops that are such a feature of Wakatipu Basin and everywhere you look around the Queenstown / Arrowtown region, getting out onto the golf course early is such a treat and one I love doing for the good of the inner sole never mind the information it provides.
On-course early morning research
The flip-flop nature of the two courses on the opening two days meant that the course and pin positions remained the same on day two so a sleep-in back at the hotel was possible on Friday as there was no need to repeat the due diligence of day one.
By 9.00 I am looking for breakfast and with another 5½ hours before our coverage starts there is plenty of time to catch up with old friends, talk to players and others in trying to gain as much knowledge as possible about little titbits that might be useable in the telecast.
A production meeting is normally scheduled for 11.00am each day of the event to determine final angles for coverage, interviews for inclusion, guests for commentary box appearances, and in my case, just who I would be following later in the day, typically a marquee group of the leading players in the field.
On day one it would involve the recently crowned Australian PGA Champion Elvis Smylie and two-time winner already this season Jack Buchanan of South Australia and their two amateur playing partners.
The inclusion of a composite layout made up of nine holes from each of the Coronet and Remarkable courses at Millbrook Resort for the weekend play would result in a spilt focus for the opening two days due to camera availability and so I would be with Smylie and Buchanan for the holes between the 6th and 9th of the Remarkables layout at which point I would then be driven the higher areas of the Coronet Course to walk with Lucas Herbert and Curtis Luck.
On day two I was with Travis Smyth and Ian Snyman, initially, then Ben Campbell and Steve Alker as they played the final nine of the Coronet layout.
Despite being driven to the top of the course the Coronet Nine involves a rather lengthy walk over significant changes in elevation and having recently had a leg operation I was pleased to get through without any consequences.
Let’s fast-forward to Sunday and the final round where I was assigned the final group involving the eventual winner Ryan Peake from Perth and the four-shot 54-hole leader, Guantek Koh of Korea.
While our coverage did not begin until 2.30pm I like to walk with my assigned group from the time they hit off around 1.00pm which allows me to get a feel of how things are progressing and whether there is any chink in the armour of the leader.
Once coverage starts, then there is a greater need for awareness as to what is happening on course and in the commentary box.
In the on-course role, it is not just a case of saying what you want when you want but rather fitting into a rhythm with those in the commentary box.
This year we had three commentators in the booth plus regular guests and so it was important for me to not talk over those already talking, some of whom were not always aware of my presence on air and I had to pick my moments to contribute without embarrassing them or myself. Once or twice I did !
There were plenty of moments when I wanted to make a comment but couldn’t although I did have the luxury this year of being able to put myself to air when I felt appropriate via a switch on my pack which allows me to speak on air or talk to or hear from the broadcast truck rather than wait to be put to air.
The role itself involves getting the information on distances, lie, wind direction, strategies, danger areas to avoid etc and any other information or thoughts I feel relevant before stepping away from an area where I could possibly be overheard by the player.
The thin air in the Wakatipu Basin, given it is around 1000 feet above sea level and areas of water around the course which carry voices, makes being discreet more important than perhaps elsewhere and so putting yourself in a position to talk freely is important.
While many of the shots I comment on are live, some are off-tape due to congestion and clashing of shots at any one time and advertisement breaks and while I have successfully negotiated calling such shots in my years in the role, the preference for the producer and director at Millbrook was for me to comment only when coming live to my group.
A device I now carry and which has proven invaluable is a mobile phone on a clipboard (see picture) which provides instantaneous vision of what is being shown on-screen with no delay. It was devised by the brilliant sound manager we had for the tournament and allows me to comment on what is being shown without second-guessing. If only I had this years ago!
As the final stages of the event developed it became clear that Ryan Peake was on track for a surprise but welcome victory. His well-documented backstory garnered a great deal of support from the spectators and while I carried a certain amount of sympathy for the four-shot overnight leader, Koh, who had been brilliant over the weekend, the victory by Peake and what it meant for his future was heartwarming.
It capped off yet another very enjoyable week in one of the nicest parts of the world.
Millbrook’s tournament course finishing hole – image Photosport NZ
Teenager Cooper Moore amongst NZPGA leaders
Cooper Moore in action today – image Australian Golf Media
From Queenstown in New Zealand’s south to the east coast of the north island, the PGA Tour of Australasia is playing its third to last event on its schedule at the Bridge Pa Golf Club in Hastings where the Wallace Developments New Zealand PGA Championship has reached the halfway stage.
Four golfers are tied in the lead through 36 holes, including 16-year-old Cantabrian Cooper Moore, fellow New Zealanders Chang Gi Lee and Tyler Hodge and Queenslander Anthony Quayle.
That group is one shot ahead of Sydney’s Austin Bautista but with 15 players within four shots of the lead, the weekend promises to be yet another shootout following on from last Sunday’s final-round rush for contention at the New Zealand Open.
Moore is threatening to repeat the brilliant performance of then 17-year-old Kazuma Kobori at the 2019 New Zealand PGA Championship in Christchurch, the teenager having finished runner-up just two weeks ago behind Mike Hendry at a domestic event near Hamilton.
Moore, not 17 until mid-June, is the current New Zealand Amateur Champion and last October finished as the leading Australasian at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship just a few months after finishing runner-up at the R&A’s Junior Open Championship.
After missing the cut at last week’s New Zealand Open when under a deal of expectation, Moore has bounced back with a second round of 66 today, setting the scene for an intriguing battle over the final two rounds.
Anthony Quayle is currently in 7th place on the Order of Merit and if he was able to find a way to win the closing three events of the year he could well earn one of the DP World Tour cards available to the leading three players at season’s end in late March. Much will also be dependant on who takes up a card.
Last week’s New Zealand Open winner, Ryan Peake, missed the cut by two.
Leaderboard
Brendan Jones makes PGA Tour Champions debut
Jones celebrates his most recent at the 2023 New Zealand Open – image Photosport
Canberra golfer Brendan Jones will add to the ranks of Australians competing on the PGA Tour Champions in 2025 when he tees it up in this week’s Cologuard Classic in Tucson in Arizona.
In December, Jones produced a barnstorming finish to secure one of the five cards available at the Final Stage of Qualifying for the 2025 PGA Tour Champions. Jones birdied six of his last ten holes and now has full playing privileges for the tour for the over-50s.
Jones turned 50 on Monday just a day after competing at the New Zealand Open in Queenstown, an event he won two years ago although he finished only midfield last week.
Jones, a former Australian Amateur Champion and runner-up in the 2012 Australian Open, has been a prolific winner of money and titles in Japan since first joining that tour in 2001, winning 15 events there including flagship tournaments such as the Crowns and Visa Taiheiyo Masters.
Importantly for Jones is that he has continued to play, admittedly without a lot of success, over the last two years ahead of his departure for the US and given his performance just to get his playing rights for the PGA Tour Champions it would appear he has a good future there.
Jones spent the two years during COVID’s impact on world professional golf, working for a landscaping company in Canberra but returned with renewed enthusiasm for the game in 2023.
Jones played the PGA Tour for a year in 2006, finishing runner-up at the BC Open and winning on the then Nationwide Tour in the process of gaining his playing rights for the PGA Tour.
Amongst fellow Australians Jones will join on the PGA Tour Champions are Richard Green, Mark Hensby, Rod Pampling, Greg Chalmers, Cameron Percy, Michael Wright, David Bransdon and Steven Allan.
Ryan Peake – composure beyond his golfing experience
Checking out some pretty impressive names on an iconic trophy – image Photo Sport / NZ Open
The final round of the 2025 New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport resulted in one of the truly great stories of redemption in modern sport.
The backstory of winner Ryan Peake has been documented many times since his narrow but impressive one-shot victory over a group of three players at Millbrook Resort near Arrowtown in Central Otago but I thought I might share some thoughts, in my role as the on-course commentator, about that final day and such a special victory.
Peake had been a promising junior golfer many years earlier, representing Australia in junior teams events before turning professional in 2012.
The road in professional golf has never been plain sailing however and soon after he made the decision to head to the mines in Western Australia to provide income although turning to the dark side and forming connections to the Rebels bike gang before eventually falling foul of the law.
Jailed for assault, he would spend five years behind bars but under the guidance of West Australian coaching guru Ritchie Smith his passion for the game he loved returned and he returned to professional golf in 2023.
He gained his playing privileges for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia in 2023 and slowly started putting together a series of reasonable finishes before finishing 80th in the 2003/2004 Order of Merit.
It was not enough, however, to retain his playing privileges but he would regain those rights at the Qualifying School in April of 2024 where he finished 10th.
In the current 2024/2025 season there had been four top tens before heading to the New Zealand Open in Queenstown but although getting into the event was guaranteed, getting to New Zealand was not.
Initially turned away from the airport in Australia on Monday of tournament week when his previous trouble with the law reared its ugly head, he was advised by immigration authorities that the visa he had been advised was bonafide was not and so Peake, tournament officials, and connections in New Zealand’s immigration department went into overdrive.
Despite the agonising uncertainty of not knowing his fate for 24 hours, he was eventually legally approved to fly out on Tuesday afternoon resulting in a late arrival into an event which he had not played previously or even seen either of the two courses in use at Millbrook.
Peake and caddy Matthew Fitzsimons – image Photosport / NZ Open
Things continued to go right for Peake when he was assigned a caddy from the available caddy ranks who would prove to be a godsend. Matthew Fitzsimons was from Northern Ireland and has spent time in New Zealand caddying at the exclusive and very high-end Tara Iti north of Auckland but, importantly, he was a very good player and the pair seemed to gel very quickly.
Fitzsimons had attended a golf college in Scotland and as the week progressed it was clear Peake was leaning heavily on the input from his new bagman.
In my role as on course commentator, I was advised by the director for Sky’s televised coverage of the event that the final pairing of Guantek Kho and Peake would be my assigned group for the final day but, while that was not unusual, there was the possibility that should a run come from one of the more recognised players starting ahead of the final group, then I might well be asked to move ahead to cover that challenge.
Even though our coverage did not start until 2.30, I joined Kho and Peake at the first hole when they teed off at 1.00pm to get a feel for how things would progress over the opening few holes before we went to air.
Peake began the final round four shots behind Kho, but, by the turn, he had reduced the gap to just two courtesy of birdies at the 2nd, 5th and 9th, superb iron shots leading to those birdies and although unable to capitalise on the driveable 7th and a shortish birdie opportunity the 8th, a stunning approach to the 9th to 4 feet behind the hole set the tone for the remainder of the round.
As Kho began to drop away through the middle of the back nine, Peake converted a birdie opportunity from a tricky spot just short of the near driveable par 4 12th, but perhaps one of the most important shots came when somehow saving par from a dangerous position just right of the par 5 14th green.
His second shot approach downwind from 260 metres finished on the hill to the right of the green, leaving a near impossible shot just to find the green and it was all he could do to make par and keep himself ahead of Kho by two and a chasing pack who were closing in.
Peake parred the 15th and 16th, executing a delicate up and down from just off the back of the green at the 15th and then missing very makeable putt for birdie at the 16th.
The par 5 17th has often proved crucial over the closing stages at Millbrook and, knowing a good drive would ensure the green was very reachable, his tee shot measured over 340 metres and left just 175 metres downhill to a front flag.
Perhaps pumped up with adrenalin and emotion, his 8 iron second found the back right of the green but again he was up to the task with a beautifully measured 45-foot putt down the slope which came to rest just two feet from the hole.
When converted Peake was one ahead of South Australian Jack Thompson who was in the process of putting together a final round 63 and who needed a 12-foot birdie putt at the last to draw level but, when he had missed, the leader strode to the potentially dangerous par 3 last, knowing a par would seal a life-changing victory.
The hole was playing 155 metres which given the helping wind told both Peake and his Fitzsimons that a 9 iron would do the trick. They spent some time deciding on which line to take as, given the one-shot lead, there was no need to get too aggressive to a back left flag.
Peake would miss the green right but not so far right to find the penalty area and was left with 45 foot pitch and run across the green. It was made all the more difficult by the gentle undulation between him and the hole and when he finished 9 feet short he was left with a nerve-racking but crucial putt to win.
That he made it is now history and the emotion he showed after holing the putt told the story of full redemption for a roller coaster past and potentially an outstanding future.
Not only did Peake pocket the $$NZ335,000 for the victory but the win ensures full status on the Australasian and Asian Tours over the next two years, a start at the Open Championship, and with his standing in the top three of the Order of Merit now all but assured, he will have DP World Tour playing rights beginning later this year.
In a week that began with the uncertainty of not knowing whether he could even get to Queenstown, Ryan Peake opened up a range of options for his playing future with a beautifully composed final round which will change not only his playing career but his life.
Being up close and personal to a large degree on that final day is one I will never forget and the growing support of a crowd who got behind a young man who overcame a chequered background made an emotional and spine-tingling final day even more so.
Hopefully, Matthew Fitzsimons will be justly rewarded for the very significant role in keeping his man focused and calm on a day when challenges were coming from everywhere.
Peake handled the pressure like a far more experienced golfer than his relatively young professional career would suggest.
I guess the pressure involved in coming from four shots off the pace and holing a 9 foot putt at the last to win pales in comparison to the horror of five years behind bars with no real direction.
As his mother reportedly said earlier ‘at least I knew where he was when he was in jail’. She will also know where he is in the years ahead but for sure it is a much better place.
Hard to imagine what is going through his mind at this point – image Photosport NZ / NZ Open