Both the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, co-sanctioning partners this week, have given the thumbs up to the quality and presentation of the courses and the quality of the field for the $2million NZD tournament.
“This is one of the favourite tournaments of the year for our staff and our players. It’s a very exciting week for us. We have 51 players in the field this week with 17 different nationalities,” said David Rollo, the Chief Operating Officer of the Asian Tour.
The Asian Tour list is headed by its reigning Order of Merit champion Kazuki Higa, meanwhile the New Zealand Open will be a key event in the race to winning the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia’s 2025/26 Order of Merit, currently headed by Cam John.
“This is the one event that everyone wants to come and play – the favourite stop of the tour,” said Kim Felton, the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia’s Tour Development Manager.
“The field is exceptionally strong. It is one of the best presented events that we have, and every year it gets better and better. The attention to detail is first-class.”
The New Zealand Open Tournament Director, Michael Glading, is delighted with the quality of this year’s field and the challenge the courses at Millbrook Resort will present.
“We have always seen ourselves as a Pan-Asian event and with additional recruitment drive into Japan this year, we have nine of that Tour’s top 12 this year which is a real statement,” said Glading.
“Our relationship is very strong with the PGA Tour of Australasia and it is getting stronger with the Asian Tour. We couldn’t be happier with where we sit.
“The quality of the golf course and its presentation is first class but it will be the players who best judge that, not me.
“The rough is going to be a challenge. That is just through nature. They have had a summer here with lots of rain and lots of sunshine which has promoted enormous growth. In terms of presentation, it could not be better.”
One of the major attractions for players is a direct place in The Open Championship for the winner on Sunday.
“It is a great lure for us. The feedback from the R&A was that they were very happy with what we delivered. It is a huge thing for us,” Glading said.
“Also having Sir Bob Charles as a previous champion living here at Millbrook Resort is a factor.
“And we have Ian Baker-Finch coming in at the weekend – so we will have two champions with us.
“Giving the winner the chance to play in the Open Championship is very, very special.”
The 105th New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort, which offers a $2million NZD total prize purse, tees off tomorrow.
