Top New Zealand golfers queuing up for national open

Michael Hendry

New Zealand’s top golfers are lining up to play the New Zealand Open in March.
Already confirmed are last year’s winner Michael Hendry, European Tour player Ryan Fox, PGA tour player Tim Wilkinson who is returning home for the first in more than a decade and United States-based Steven Alker.
The open will be held from March 1-4 at the Millbrook and The Hills courses near Queenstown and it will be the 99th staging of the event.
Hendry last year became the first New Zealander in 14 years to win the open and despite a potential second invitation to play in the World Golf Championship in Mexico at the same time he will be back to defend his title.
“It wasn’t really a hard decision,’’ Hendry said of the clash of dates.
``Mexico is an amazing event and the chance to play against the best players in the world is a big thing for a player of my stature.
“But you don’t just win it once (the New Zealand Open) and forget about it. You want to keep coming back and winning it. As far as I am concerned it is my trophy and I am not going to let it go.”
Hendry followed his playoff victory at Millbrook Resort with another outstanding year on the Japan Tour that included seven top-10 finishes including second in the Mizumo Open and third in the Mitsui Sumitoma Masters.
“I would give my year in Japan a seven out of 10. I was consistent, which is something that we strive for. I’ve played 26 events and only missed three cuts. The one thing that marks it down is not winning again in Japan.
“Winning the New Zealand Open was a great thing and something that was very special for me. But I play golf to win and I’ve come very, very close in a lot of golf tournaments this year so it’s been a great year but one tinged with a bit of frustration also.”
If he was to win again this year he would become the 12th person to win in consecutive years, a feat not achieved since American Corey Pavin did so 32 years ago.
“You never go into a tournament expecting to win, you go in hoping to win,’’ Hendry said.
`` I suppose now with my track record around those courses I know I am going to have a pretty good chance if I have a good summer in terms of preparation and get myself ready for the event properly. If I do that then I can put myself in a position to defend.
Fox, meanwhile, has a similar attitude to Hendry when it comes to the New Zealand Open.
“As a Kiwi it is the fifth major for us,” Fox said.
“My career would not be complete without winning a New Zealand Open. All the best Kiwi players over the years have this on their resume. I would like to join those guys at some point.”
Fox has had a very busy year and was delighted with what he had achieved in his first year on the European Tour.
“To play the (tour) final series, play in two majors and a WCG event in my first year on the European Tour is something I wouldn’t have dreamed of at the start of the year. I am very happy with how it turned out.”
He had modest goals stepping into unchartered waters in 2017, just wanting to retain his full playing rights for 2018. The highlight was his three-week run where he placed sixth in the French Open and a share of fourth at the Irish and Scottish Opens.
“I finally put it together at the French Open and from that point it took the pressure off the rest of the year. I played well at the Irish and Scottish where I gave myself an outside chance and felt pretty comfortable.
“I probably played a little too much golf. We play a lot all over the world and I’ve done a lot of travelling and the body and mind have felt that in the back end of the year. I will learn from that.
Fox finished sixth in last year’s and the 2014 opens and was 11th in 2016.