Daniel Hillier celebrates winning the 105th New Zealand Open. Photo / Photosport
Finally, a Kiwi dons the winner’s kākahu – Daniel Hillier is the 105th New Zealand Open champion at the Millbrook Resort.
“This is something I’ve dreamt of as a young kid,” Hillier said of his win.
The newlywed declared it the “second-best day” of his life after getting married last week. Drinking champagne one weekend, showered in it the next.
“I think this is gonna be the best eight days of my life forever.”
Hillier’s final-round 67 looked a lot like his previous two rounds – patiently waiting for his putter to warm up. In truth, it never really let him down. Seemingly, every putt he needed to make, he did.
“The blood was pumping, the adrenaline was going, but I’m really proud of how I sort of stuck with it today. The theme of the week – stayed patient,” Hillier said.
Still, it was a slow start. Hillier didn’t hole a birdie putt until the seventh hole – and that was a tap-in after an exquisite bunker shot. That took him to 19-under-par and a two-shot lead over Australian Lucas Herbert. He narrowly missed back-to-back birdies but picked up another shot on the uphill ninth hole.
Hillier was aware that Herbert was close behind him.
“I mean Herbie’s obviously a class player and saw him up there towards the end.”
Herbert, in the group ahead of Hillier, had bogeyed the hole after finding the long rough – meaning Hillier then had a three-shot lead as he headed for home. But that two-shot swing was reversed on the par-3 10th hole.
Hillier’s round looked to be unravelling when he dropped his driver in disgust on the 11th tee, fearing the worst as his drive drifted left.
“That tee shot, I slipped and hit it way out of the toe, didn’t feel great off the face, so yeah, that’s why the club went.”
Perhaps to his surprise, it found the fairway – and his second shot found its way inside 2m of the pin. The Kiwi favourite made his birdie putt and regained his two-shot lead over the chasing Herbert.
Herbert drilled an incredible second on the 17th to set up an eagle putt. The pin placement was front right, bringing the water and green-side bunker into play. He couldn’t manage to convert the 4m putt, but he did walk away with birdie, keeping the heat on Hillier and narrowing the lead to one shot.
If Hillier was feeling the heat, it wasn’t showing in cool conditions, making a birdie of his own on 17 and restoring his lead.
When Herbert could only manage par on the par-3 18th hole, the title was Hillier’s to lose. He sensibly kept his tee shot dry on a closing hole that is surrounded by water, leaving three putts for the win. He only needed two to send the thousands of spectators surrounding the green into raptures.
“Those are the best crowds I’ve played in front of, hands down.”
After being congratulated by friends, family and most importantly, his wife, Hillier was drenched in bubbles – a soaking he welcomed.
“My hands are still shaking; it’s just been incredible. It’s obviously a dream come true. Ever since I started playing it was the one I wanted to get, and, yeah, I’m lost for words.
“It’s pretty hard to describe, but everything that came out afterwards was just pure emotion. When I’m thinking about it, it gets me a little choked-up again,” Hillier told a packed media room.
After the on-green celebrations came the handing over of the Brodie Breeze trophy and the ceremonial presentation of Māori golf’s kākahu. The cloak was worn by Māori champion Mike Toeke before it was presented to an emotional Hillier.
The tradition began in 2019 and New Zealand has not had a winner in that time. Until now. Hillier is the first homegrown champion since Michael Hendry won the title in 2017.
Lucas Herbert’s score of 20-under secured him entry to The Open at Royal Birkdale later this year, due to the fact that Hillier had already qualified. The LIV golfer fell short of the title but after starting his tournament by dropping three shots in the first three holes, being as close as he was showed incredible resolve.
Hillier collected more than $334,000 in prizemoney for his win. The leading amateur was 20-year-old Kiwi Yuki Miya, who finished 10-under after sensationally leading through 36 holes. Hillier has previously won the leading amateur trophy – now he has the set.
“It’s pretty cool seeing Yuki get that trophy this year, he was impressive when we played together. He’s got a lot of talent for sure, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he gets the set along the way as well,” Hillier said of Miya.
Mike Thorpe is a senior multimedia journalist for the Herald, based in Christchurch. He has been a broadcast journalist across television and radio for 20 years and joined the Herald in August 2024.