Australian Peter O'Malley will be back to defend his title at the $1.2 million Clearwater Classic in Christchurch from March 6-9.
O'Malley has just completed a good year on the European circuit where he earned $1.3 million from 20 starts.
Although the Clearwater Classic was his only title win, he had three
top-10 placings in Europe, including a second in the Heineken Classic, eighth in the British Open and fourth in the Volvo Masters.
He is sitting second on the Australasian order of merit with A$423,000 ($478,020).
Classic general manager Mike Godinet said a clearer indication of the field would have to wait until early in the New Year once the Australasian order of merit had been decided and the results from the qualifying school in the US were known.
"We do know it will be top quality. The fact 12 of the 15 players who won promotion from the Buy.Com tour to the PGA Tour played at this year's Clearwater Classic indicates the depth of competition."
- NZPA
