The veteran will be among a group of New Zealanders who could be contenders for the title at Millbrook Resort in Arrowtown. <\/p>\n
Leading the pack is the field\u2019s top-ranked player and bookies\u2019 favourite, Dan Hillier. <\/p>\n
New Zealand’s Michael Hendry after winning the 2017 NZ Open. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would mean the world, obviously. Winning your national Open is something you dream about as a kid. But there\u2019s obviously a lot of good players out here,\u201d says Hillier. <\/p>\n
As big as it\u2019d be for Hillier, it wouldn\u2019t even be the best thing to happen to him over the past week. He got married last Saturday. <\/p>\n
\u201cJust had the best day of my life on Saturday, finally becoming a married man. We celebrated that really well. It\u2019s not very often you get all your nearest and dearest in one place at one time, so that was pretty awesome. Still buzzing at the moment.\u201d <\/p>\n
The honeymoon is on hold while he takes care of business at Millbrook, where he\u2019ll have a few friendly wedding crashers to contend with. <\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like there\u2019s a lot of Kiwis that are in pretty good form at the moment. I feel like we\u2019ve all got a pretty good chance, and hopefully I\u2019ll be one of those guys up there at the top near the end,\u201d says Hillier.<\/p>\n
Daniel Hillier and Ryan Fox celebrate after winning the 2025 Chasing the Fox event. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
Among the likely locals is Steven Alker. At 54, Alker has found tremendous success on the PGA Champions Tour. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had good preparation. I\u2019m feeling good. I think it\u2019s just timing, but I think really seriously, we\u2019ve got the talent to actually get a winner, at least really contend this year,\u201d says Alker, echoing Hillier\u2019s belief that 2026 could feature a Kiwi winner again. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a little bit of luck, a bit of everything that goes into winning a golf tournament. It is just getting harder to win tournaments now, it\u2019s as simple as that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steven Alker likes the chances of a Kiwi winner at the NZ Open in 2026. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
Luck may come in the form of a change in the weather. After two sweltering practice days, Millbrook is expecting cold, wet conditions that will separate the pretenders from the contenders. The wet doesn\u2019t worry one of New Zealand\u2019s brightest stars, Kazuma Kobori. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think it weeds out the field nicely. Honestly, we played in that much rain last year on the DP World Tour, so I\u2019m kind of used to it,\u201d says Kobori. <\/p>\n
The young Cantabrian has impressed former champ Hendry. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe [Kobori] managed to keep his card full status on the European tour last year. He could win this in a heartbeat,\u201d says Hendry.<\/p>\n
Kazuma Kobori at the 103rd New Zealand Open. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
The 2017 winner also likes the chances of Millbrook member and LIV professional Ben Campbell. And he agrees the weather could tilt the title in favour of the Kiwis. <\/p>\n
Another local name to look out for on the leaderboard is teenage amateur Cooper Moore. <\/p>\n
Hendry is clearly impressed with the next generation of talent in New Zealand golf. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a really strong group of young players and they\u2019re all hard workers, good lads. There\u2019s no arrogance. They just get on with their work and they\u2019re all really impressive players and really impressive young men. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think as long as we\u2019re patient with them as a nation and don\u2019t put too much pressure on them, I think we\u2019re going to have a great few years,\u201d says Hendry.<\/p>\n
New Zealand’s Cooper Moore during the final round of the 104th NZ Open golf tournament at Millbrook. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
While Hillier, Campbell, Alker and Kobori all have their eyes on maiden NZ Open titles, Hendry is trying to break another drought \u2013 becoming the first Kiwi to win a second national title since Greg Turner in 1997. <\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I\u2019m aware of that. He keeps reminding me. I won two PGAs though, he\u2019s only won one,\u201d says Hendry with a grin. <\/p>\n
The first round gets underway from 7.40am on Thursday morning. <\/p>\n