2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner John Catlin, rising stars Dominic Foos and Taichi Kho, Miguel Tabuena, who made a fine debut on the LIV Golf League last week, plus leading Australian players from the Asian Tour, Wade Ormsby and Travis Smyth, will head up the 33-player strong field all making their way to Millbrook Resort to chase the Brodie Breeze Trophy.
Wooyoung Cho, winner of the Philippine Golf Championship at the weekend, has also entered. The event opened the season on the Asian Tour and saw Smyth claim third place.
Tournament Director Michael Glading said the depth of quality coming from the Asian Tour continues to elevate the New Zealand Open’s international reputation.
“Dominic Foos had an outstanding 2025 season, finishing top 20 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and having his first win on tour, so he is clearly a player to watch out for,” Glading said. “He’s someone who has proven he can win and is one the crowds will really enjoy watching. We’re excited to see him at Millbrook this year”
“John Catlin’s return is equally exciting. He’s a past Order of Merit winner, knows how to win, and is always likely to be in contention come Sunday. When you add in the likes of last week’s winner in the Philippines, Wooyoung Cho, Pavit Tangkamolprasert, Miguel Tabuena, Wade Ormsby, Taichi Kho and Travis Smyth, it speaks volumes about the strength and depth of the Asian Tour players coming to Queenstown this year.”
For Foos, his win at the 2025 SJM Macao Open opened the way to his qualification to play in the New Zealand Open this year, in what will be his debut appearance at the tournament.
“I’m really pleased to be coming to Queenstown, it’s going to be my first time in New Zealand and it’s one of the events I have really been looking forward to playing. So yeah, I’m pumped,” said Foos, whose win in Macau saw him become the first German to win on the Asian Tour since Bernhard Langer in 1996.
“I’ve heard from a bunch of guys on tour that the course is amazing and the area is beautiful. I’m told it’s also a really well-run tournament, so yeah, I can’t wait to experience it myself.”
Catlin, meanwhile, will be making his fourth appearance at the New Zealand Open and says the pull of Queenstown keeps bringing him back. “I absolutely love coming back to the New Zealand Open,” Catlin said.
“Queenstown is my favourite place in the world – the people, the scenery, the course – everything about it is special. It’s a tournament I always look forward to, and I can’t wait to get back and compete again.”
Other Asian Tour players to look out for are Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who finished runner-up in the Philippines, Malaysia’s up-and-coming star Ervin Chang and South African Ian Snyman, who both tied for fifth last week.
Snyman is another of the Asian Tour members who considers the New Zealand event to be one of his favourite stops. He tied for second last year and was equal sixth the year before.
The New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook will be played at Millbrook Resort from February 26 to March 1, with a world-class international field competing in one of the world’s most scenic settings in golf.
