NZ Open News Article.
Last updated Wednesday 25th February 2026.
This year, there are a bunch of New Zealand golfers coming in with strong credentials for success, but none more so than in-form Wellington professional Daniel Hillier, who has broken inside the top 100 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
The 27-year-old would like nothing more than to claim the title which would top off a wonderful two weeks in Queenstown after he married partner Siobhan at the weekend.
This adds to a superb start to the DP World Tour season with three top-10 finishes, including runner-up at Dubai, and winning around NZ$1million in the process over his last six events.
“It was nice to get off to a good start and take a bit of pressure off the back end of the year which is always nice,” said Hillier.
“And then I had the best day of my life on Saturday finally becoming a married man. We celebrated that really well. It is not often you can get your nearest and dearest in one place at the same time. It was pretty awesome to have everyone there.
“I am still buzzing at the moment but obviously have a job to do this week.
“It would mean the world obviously if I could cap it off with my name on the Brodie Breeze Trophy. I speak for all Kiwis. It is our childhood dream.”
The list of home country contenders includes a fellow DP World Tour member in 24-year-old Kazuma Kobori, the Japan-born Christchurch-raised young player, who already knows success at Millbrook Resort, winning the Bledisloe Cup as best amateur at the 2023 New Zealand Open.
Kobori claimed two top-three finishes last year at the British Masters and BMW International, along with 12th in the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and says he leans on the likes of Hillier for support.
“When we are on tour, we are isolated a little bit and we move within the golfers. I’ve learned a lot from the likes of Dan over the past year. It has been good to learn from him and see what he does and what he doesn’t do as well. We have a good thing going out there.
“If I don’t win then it would be nice for a Kiwi to win but it is obviously not controllable. I am just going to go out there and do my job and see what happens.
“There are a lot of good Kiwis out there so as long as it is one of us lifting the trophy it would be good.”
There are 24 New Zealanders in the professional ranks to tee off tomorrow chasing a slice of the $2million NZD prize purse along with the coveted Brodie Breeze Trophy for the winner.
