Daniel Hillier on the edge of making the European Tour

New Zealand golfer Daniel Hillier needs another high finish on the Challenge Tour’s final event to ensure he makes his way onto the much richer European Tour.

Hillier, 23, won a Challenge Tour event in Spain last month to take his tour ranking to 18th.

Challenge Costa Brava - Day Four
GIRONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 22: Daniel Hillier of New Zealand celebrates with winners trophy after the final round of the Challenge Costa Brava at Emporda Golf Club on October 22, 2021 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

The top 20-ranked players on the Challenge Tour gain entry to the European Tour.

The last event of the Challenge Tour is the Challenge Tour Grand Final at Mallorca in Spain from November 4-7.

Most tournaments on the Challenge Tour carry a purse of 200,000 euros which is about $NZ320,000.

On the European Tour the minimum purse is one million euros, or about $NZ1.6 million.

But many of purses are much higher. For example the European Tour’s opening event in 2022 is the Abu Dhabi Championship in January. It carries prizemoney of $$US8 million. That’s $NZ11 million.

Hillier’s win in the Challenge Tour Costa Brava in Spain last month was his first on the Challenge Tour.

He won by a shot with a score of 19 under par. He had rounds of 71, 67, 62 and 65.

The Wellingtonian began the final round two shots behind the leader and got off to a good start with a birdie on the first hole.

He made a further four more birdies on the front nine but there was also three bogeys.

On the back nine, Hillier made birdies at the 10th, 12th and 14th holes and soon walked to the 18th tee in a share of the lead with his playing partner, two-time Challenge Tour winner Marcus Helligkilde.

After hitting a stellar approach to six feet on the par five last, Hillier held his nerve and drained the putt for victory.

Hillier was overcome with the win.

“I’m pretty overwhelmed at the moment to be honest,” he said.

“It’s been a pretty unreal week from the get-go. We had some tough conditions to battle with but I managed to battle through that and probably had the round of my life in round three (when he scored a nine under par 62).

“To follow that up today and to hole a nice put on the last is just unbelievable. I can’t really believe I’m standing here right now.’'

Hillier broke into tears as he continued.

“I’m shaking in my boots really, [the final putt] it was massive and just the fact that I’ve been over here since April away from family. I spent the first three months on my own and then my girlfriend came over and she’s been a massive help and has made everything a lot easier.

“It’s probably been one of the most mentally taxing years that I’ve ever had, so to get a win at the end of the season, I’m just more than grateful that I am standing here right now.”