NZ’s Daniel Hillier wins 2nd Challenge title to get closer to DP World Tour card

stuff.co.nz news article

Last updated Sunday 26th September 2022.

The 24-year-old jumped up to 13th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings following his victory, with the top 20 players on the secondary tour at the end of the season gaining a spot on the DP World Tour (previously known as the European Tour) for the next year.

“That was pretty unbelievable,” Hillier told the official Tour website.

“I played really solid on the front nine and didn’t miss too many greens. I hit some of the best wedge shots I’ve hit in a long time and gave myself a lot of really good chances.

“I holed a couple of clutch putts to keep the momentum going and then managed to birdie five of my last six holes.

“It was a crazy day and I felt like I was in autopilot. I’ve been working on my short game a lot in the last couple of years and it’s something that has really let me down in the past.

JOHANNES SIMON/GETTY IMAGES

Daniel Hillier of New Zealand hits out of a bunker during his spectacular final round.

“To be able to hole those putts under pressure today just shows I am doing some of the right things and now I just need to keep my head down and hope the wins keep coming.”

Hillier won the 2021 Challenge Costa Brava tournament but prior to the Swiss event had just one top-10 finish in his last seven Challenge Tour starts.

“This is massive for me being towards the end of the season. I’ve moved inside the top 20 and now I’m in a strong position to get my DP World Tour card for next season.

“The job’s not done yet so I need to play as well as I can for the final few events.”