Golf: Winners galore tee up for NZ Open

In his own words, this year produced two life-changing experiences for rising British golf talent Scott Drummond.

His first child was born, then a few weeks later he collected his debut European Tour victory, winning the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth in May.

Drummond bagged a tournament record 19-under-par and that led to a Superman-like leap from No 396 to No 95 on the world rankings.

Yesterday he was confirmed as part of a formidable posse of 14 winners from the Tour this year who will contest the New Zealand Open at Gulf Harbour in February.

That is made up of 13 winners from the 2004 Tour and 20-year-old South African Charl Schwartzel, who leads the 2005 tour after winning the Dunhill Championship in the republic this month.

It is unquestionably the strongest field in terms of depth for an Open. That's largely down to the $1.5 million Holden-sponsored event being co-sanctioned with the European Tour, and players chasing early points before the heat goes on to retain their Tour cards later in the year.

Drummond, 30, finished the Tour 23rd on the Order of Merit and became the first player to win the PGA Championship at his first attempt since the legendary Arnold Palmer 29 years ago.

"I didn't have a particularly good start to the year," he told the Herald yesterday. "Over the first five months I felt I was playing nicely but not getting the results and really fighting to keep my spirits up."

That win at Wentworth gave his confidence a significant boost. New Zealand will be new territory for the Shrewsbury-born but Scotland-registered Drummond, but leading New Zealand player Michael Campbell has given him the inside oil on what to expect from Gulf Harbour: "He said it was a nice course, in a beautiful part of the country."

The biggest name announced yesterday was talented Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell.

The 25-year-old was ranked No 1 on the American Collegiate circuit, winning a stunning six of 12 starts.

This year he won the Italian Open and out of 32 starts had seven finishes of seventh or better.

Yesterday's collection of winners come from eight countries.

Six Ryder Cup representatives have entered and New Zealand Open tournament director Phil Aickin is delighted. "It looks like we'll have 35 to 40 players inside the world top 200 which is significant," he said.

About 120 European Tour players have entered, or are expected to, but only 65 will make the field of 156, which also includes 65 from the Australasian circuit, plus qualifiers, special invitees and amateurs.

There are eight European Tour players in the world top 100 entered, bookended by England's David Howell at No 43 and Dane Anders Hansen at 100. The Open entry cut-off is January 28. 

European winners

The 14 winners this year, with 2004 European Order of Merit placings:

Graeme McDowell Northern Ireland, 6
Stephen Gallacher Scotland, 15
Scott Drummond Scotland, 23
Barry Lane England, 24
Simon Khan England, 27
Miles Tunnicliff England, 34
Marcel Siem Germany, 39
Christian Cevaer France, 41
Thongchai Jaidee Thailand, 43
Christopher Hanell Sweden, 62
Richard Sterne South Africa, 70
Charl Schwartzel South Africa, 103, current No 1 on 2005 Tour
Gary Emerson England, 109
Philippe Lima France, 131