When the New Zealand Open Championship tees off in Queenstown this March, it will be for the 100th time as the tournament celebrates a century of great golf.

Over 150 players from New Zealand and around the world will take part in the co-sanctioned event on the PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour.

The two most successful golfers to come out of Korea – KJ Choi and YE Yang – have confirmed they will both play in the championship. Both have played in New Zealand before as young professionals.

KJ Choi is one of the top 25 players on the PGA Tour’s all-time money-list with earnings of over NZ$50 million in prize-money. The hugely popular Korean has 20 professional victories worldwide to his credit, winning eight times on the PGA Tour and taking the trophy at the prestigious Players’ Championship.

YE Yang is the first Asia-born player to win a Major and the 47-year-old proved he is far from a spent force in the game with an outstanding 2018 season on the Japan Golf Tour.

“New Zealand was important for me when I was starting in golf. I spent almost four years here playing and practising in Auckland, Christchurch and Taupo especially,” says Yang.

“Last year gave me the chance to return and play in Queenstown which is beautiful, so I was keen to return again and I would like to play well especially in the 100th New Zealand Open – it would be a special honour.”

They will be joined by fellow major winners Australian legend Geoff Ogilvy and Kiwi Michael Campbell who will be coming out of retirement to play.

This year the 72-hole tournament will be hosted alternately at Millbrook Resort and The Hills, with the final two rounds being played at the latter. Both courses are set in incredible landscapes with the backdrop of the Southern Alps threatening to draw spectators’ attention away from the great golf being played.

The 100th New Zealand Open programme will launch with a unique curtain-raiser, a Par 3 event that will take place on the newly-built course ‘The Farm’ at The Hills. The Par 3 will take place on the eve of the tournament (27 February), and this will be the first time anyone other than a few Hills members have played on Sir Michael Hill’s new private course.

About the 100th New Zealand Open

• The tournament is one of New Zealand’s leading sporting events with a long and prestigious history
• The tournament was founded in 1907 and will be played for the 100th time in 2019
• The tournament is a co-sanctioned event on the PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour schedules
• The tournament also has a partnership agreement with the Japan Golf Tour
• A professional field of 152 players will play the first two rounds alternately at Millbrook Resort and The Hills before the second round cut of 60 + ties
• The final 2 rounds will be played at The Hills
• The New Zealand Open Champion will be the leading player after 72 holes of stroke play
• The tournament also hosts 152 amateur players, each partnering with a Professional in a two-man best-ball event, competing for the NZ Pro-Am Championship.

Click here to view the Tourism New Zealand website with further information.

See also:

Applications for $25m NZ Tourism Infrastructure Fund to open 1 March 2019

New Zealand Tourism industry becoming more sustainable

New Zealand December visitor numbers reach new heights