Kiwis Daniel Hillier and Sam Jones are returning from a year in Europe to Queenstown next month, aiming to lift the Brodie Breeze Trophy at the New Zealand Open.
Hillier and Jones are the latest homegrown talents to stake their claim for the 104th Open, to be hosted at Millbrook Resort from February 27-March 2.
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Wellington-born Hillier is a familiar name at the NZ Open, having played six times between 2016 and 2024.
He has also racked up seven professional wins overseas, most recently, a stunning two-stroke victory at the 2023 British Masters.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Hillier expressed his affection for the tournament and believes he is ready to make a charge for the title.
“The New Zealand Open is always such an incredible week,” he said. “Millbrook is such a special place and I feel like my game's at a point now where I can actually go and compete, so it'd be nice to try to have a little shot at the trophy.
“I think it’s most golfers dream to win their national and it's been a few years since we've had a Kiwi name on it, so to be the next one would be incredible.”
Hillier joins Steven Alker and Ben Campbell in bidding to restore a Kiwi name to the Brodie Breeze Trophy, acknowledging that current champion Takahiro Hataji and 2023 champion Brendan Jones will be strong contenders.
“I’ve got a job to do and hopefully I’ll be as ready as I can be,” said Hillier.
Taranaki’s Jones has also confirmed his entry in next month’s event, saying he believed it is “one of the best tournaments in the world.”
Jones has spent the past year playing on the DP World Tour, and while he acknowledged not everything went to plan, he said his game was improving and he was positive about the future.
“I’ll be playing maybe four or five tournaments on the main tour in 2025 and a full season on the Challenge Tour but it would be awesome to come to my home tournament and see if I could get my name on the trophy.”
“I’m pretty sure that the New Zealand Open has been won more times by Australians than New Zealanders, so hopefully one of us gets to win our national Open. That would be awesome.”e