The New Zealand Open has confirmed defending champion Takahiro Hataji will return to the fairways of Millbrook Resort in a bid to retain his crown.
Also set to play is Queenstown local Ben Campbell is looking to make the most of his home-course advantage.
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Campbell hopes his intimate knowledge of the two Millbrook Resort courses will give him the edge to claim the championship.
Campbell, who competes on the Asian Tour and LIV Tour, has played some of his best golf at the New Zealand Open in recent years and says he’s hoping to lean on his past experiences and local knowledge to gain a competitive edge over the rest of the field.
“It’s great having the New Zealand Open here in Queenstown. It’s my home, and it’s a real honour to be able to play in an internationally recognised event on my home course,” he said.
“I’ve gone really close on a few occasions, which has really helped push my game, mentally and technically, to the next level. It’s now about preparation and leaning on my knowledge of the course to hopefully be in the running once again.”
Campbell was part of the dramatic three-way playoff in 2017 when eventual winner Michael Hendry became the first Kiwi in 14 years to claim the title. Since then, international players have dominated the top spot on the leaderboard, a streak that Campbell is looking to break.
“There is always a good local crowd out supporting me and I am really looking forward to teeing it up again next year. The goal is to have my name as the next Kiwi on the trophy and I will be doing everything I can to make that happen.”
Hataji became the first player from Japan to win the New Zealand Open in its 103-year history. He held off a persistent stream of challengers on the final day with his bogey-free round of 4-under 67 to win by a single stroke.
Since then, Hataji has stamped his mark on the golf scene winning both the Kansai Open in May and the Tokai Classic in September, his first-ever wins on the Japan Golf Tour. His 2024 record of playing on the Japan Tour is very impressive and has seen him break into the top 200 on the Official World Golf Rankings.
Hataji has fond memories of his time at Millbrook Resort and is looking forward to walking the fairways where he celebrated his first professional victory.
"I am thrilled to be returning to Queenstown for the New Zealand Open next year," he said. "Millbrook Resort holds a special place in my heart, and I’m looking forward to reliving the memories and seeing some of the fans who were there during that final round.
“Yes, my aim is to try and win the tournament again, I would love to have my name on the trophy back-to-back. Playing in Queenstown is pretty magical, so hopefully, the memories help me push on and I progress up the leaderboard.”
The 104th New Zealand Open will tee off at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown between 27 February and 2 March 2025.