March 1, 2026 • 8 mins
Golfer Daniel Hillier's won the New Zealand Open by two strokes at Millbrook, eight days after getting married.
The 27-year-old finished at 22-under overall after a final round four-under par 67, marking the first time a Kiwi has won the tournament since 2017.
Hillier told Kerre Woodham that the crowds were among the best he's played in front of.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Kerry Wooden Mornings podcast from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
He'd be not had a bit of good news in
a world gone mad. Golfer Daniel hilly has won the
New Zealand Open by two strokes at Millbrook Resort, eight
days after getting married. The twenty seven year old finished
at twenty two under overall after a final round four
under past sixty seven. Heillia says the crowds were among
(00:32):
the best he's played in front of him. Daniel Hillier
joins me, now a very very good morning to you,
and why can't I hear you? Here we go now
we'll try it. Good morning, Daniel, Sorry, good way. Thank
god you play golf better than I do radio. What
a week. You must be absolutely exhausted.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, I mean I think there might still be a
bit of adrenaline flowing, to be honest, I'm still buzzing here,
but absolutely crazy a few days for sure.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
So you had your whole family with you, didn't you
watching you win the Open?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah? Yeah, it was pretty incredible. Yeah, they come down
every year and yeah, I don't know, I mean, obviously
pretty pretty exciting stuff happening in the last couple of weeks,
and yeah, it feels like if there was ever a
time for it to happen, this seemed like done the
perfect time. And yeah, I'm just stoked that it's all
come together. Eight.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Do you think having got married, having made that commitment
and it's a really big one, that it puts your
golf into some perspective that you relaxed a bit about life,
about about everything.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yeah, I think so. I mean, yeah, I'm just a
very very lucky man, to be honest, And yeah, it's
great that you know, I've found my life partner, and
yeah we're really happy. And yeah, I mean coming into
this week, I was obviously in pretty good spirits and yeah,
I just went out there and just wanted to continue
(02:04):
to high. And yeah, it's just been an absolute, absolute dream.
And yeah, everything's just like I said, It's just all
happened at the right time and it's all come together nicely.
So yeah, absolute dream.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
When it comes to the actual tournament, golf is very
much a mind game, too, Isn't it Like you have
to be in the right head space because your skills
don't really change that much. Practice makes perfect, but your
head's got to be in the right space and perhaps
that was your advantage.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah, yeah, one hundred percent. I think that's something I've
found in recent months, is that when my head's in
the right space, that's when I plaim my best golf.
And yeah, I think in the past oft over complicated
things and tried a little too hard to make things happen.
But yeah, I think I don't know. I think maybe
I'm just a bit more content with where I'm at
right now. And yeah, I'm just playing with a bit
(02:52):
more freedom and it's working.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
You're enjoying it. Boy, conditions were challenging. I was lucky
enough to be down there over the weekend, and my god,
talk about four seasons in one day when you were
they're playing, like the wind, the cold, the heat, the
sun stroke, the wind, the cold. You know, it was
it went from what twenty four degrees to four degrees
(03:16):
basically in the space of a day.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yeah, yeah, it was. It was crazy. I mean, it's
it's Queenstown in March. I guess it's Yeah, it's very freckle,
and yeah, I guess we've we've experienced it in the past,
so we kind of know to expect it. But yeah,
whenever it's you know, chopping and changing like that. It's
it's never easy to adjust. And yeah, I knew that
final day was was a grind for everyone. So yeah,
(03:40):
if anything, I think the tougher conditions might have helped me.
It's just you know, going to just keep your head
down and do your job. But yeah, I mean it
was it was brutal at times, but I mean it
was just makes it all that more reward and getting.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Through it all, Yeah, I bet it does. I knew
exactly where you were on the course because I could
hear raws going up about every you know, about every
fifteen minutes. I'd hear a raw that's oh yeah, that's yeah,
exactly where he is. You had a great crowd following you.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah, it was incredible, it was Yeah, I'm bean playing
at home is always pretty special, but yeah, that's that's
the best sort of crowd and level of support that
I've I've seen for myself in particular. Yeah, really special.
They're all so respectful as well of everyone. I mean,
they weren't just out there supporting me. You know, we
(04:33):
have carry in that final group, and he's good made
of mine and it's great to see him playing well
and even even Curtis as well, obviously from from Western Australia.
But no, they were just a support for him, which
is which I think is the beauty of it all.
We you know, we just want to see everyone playing
good golf. And yeah it was. It was great just
to be in that sort of situation and experience the
(04:53):
roars of the crowds and yeah it was. It was
an atmosphere. I'll remember that for a very long time,
for sure.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
It's an amazing atmosphere. As a non golfer though, I
was wondering when you like came down to the eighteenth,
You've got the champions allowed ahead of you as you know,
around the green, and you've got the landing behind you
on the seventeenth with the music pumping out and the
good vibes and people having a drink and sharing you
on and it was hardly quiet. Please the players are
(05:21):
about to address the ball, you know, how did you
Is that is that common to have that kind of
party vibe? Hat nil when you were playing for the
for the championship title.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Yeah, I mean not so much on the final hole
of the tournament, but yeah, I mean that is it's
definitely becoming more common. You know, the odd party hole
and yeah, I mean that eighteenth is just as perfect
for it's got that sort of antitheater feelings to it,
and yeah, it's it was pretty special, you know, walking
up blasts there and seeing everyone they're having a good
time and you know, lots of rounds of applauses and yeah,
(05:56):
it's it's a pretty special environment. And yeah, it's it's
all you know, credit to the team that we're behind
the scenes at the New Zealand Open. I mean it's
just getting bigger and better every year. And yeah, they
had little things like the landing at the back of
eighteen there, just to give it a bit more, a
bit more personality and more atmosphere. And yeah, I think,
you know, it might it's probably going to be more common,
(06:17):
you know as we sort of moved through. I think, yeah,
the golf scenes forever changing. And yeah, it's definitely brought
broad in a new crowd, which is exciting.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
When you were a young golfer, what were the titles
he wanted to win the most?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
New Zealand Open was right at the top. It was
it was the Majors and New Zealand Open. I mean, yeah,
New Zealand openers being the home openers is one that
we all dream of as a kid, and yeah, obviously
seeing the likes of Mike Henry do it before us,
and yeah, it's pretty pretty special to now be a
part of that crew that you can say they won
(06:54):
won their home Open.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
And don't you get an automatic entry into s Andrew's
as a result of winning this.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
To Sonandrews British Open. A weird Yes, yeah, so I was.
I was actually fortunate enough to secure that through the
DP World Tour rankings last year. Oh so, yeah, I
didn't didn't really have that at the back of my mind,
but that that spot's obviously that's gone to Lucas Herbert
who finished runner up, and you know he's a class golfer.
And yeah, when I saw him, you know, creeping up
(07:25):
the top of that leaderboard late late in the piece,
I was, yeah, I knew I had the work cut
out for me. But yeah, it's pretty cool. That's you know,
the New zeal And opened at the point where it's
it's recognized on a global scale and has those pathways
into the majors. So yeah, it's pretty exciting.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
I always think of St. Andrews as being the home
of Have you ever played it?
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, played a few times. Very very lucky,
and yeah it's a special place. Sure every time you
go there you sort of get goosebumps as you're walking
on to the first t's. It's pretty pretty amazing place.
So yeah, hopefully hopefully get back there sometime later this year.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
What a great job you have, what a lovely life.
That's easy, doesn't it? Find your life partner when the
golf off you go to Europe bombs your uncle. Easy?
Speaker 3 (08:12):
It sounds, but it serfullly it definitely doesn't feel it. Yeah. Oh,
I mean it's very very fortunate to be doing what
I'm doing. I've got a great, great group of people
around me and I think they they've definitely helped me
on this journeys. You know, as much as you know
it's me out there in the golf ball, I've got
so many people behind me that have helped me along
the way. So yeah, very very thankful.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I wish you the very very best of luck and
thank you for putting up with me getting to the
getting to you and congratulations. I hope you get a
few days to rest and enjoy your new bride before
you head off to conquer other golf courses. It's Daniel Hillier,
who's the New Zealand Open winner, putting up with silly
questions from me, what don't it?
Speaker 1 (08:54):
For more from Kerry Wooden Mornings, listen live to news
talks it'd be from nine am weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Kerry Wooden Mornings podcast from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
He'd be not had a bit of good news in
a world gone mad. Golfer Daniel hilly has won the
New Zealand Open by two strokes at Millbrook Resort, eight
days after getting married. The twenty seven year old finished
at twenty two under overall after a final round four
under past sixty seven. Heillia says the crowds were among
(00:32):
the best he's played in front of him. Daniel Hillier
joins me, now a very very good morning to you,
and why can't I hear you? Here we go now
we'll try it. Good morning, Daniel, Sorry, good way. Thank
god you play golf better than I do radio. What
a week. You must be absolutely exhausted.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, I mean I think there might still be a
bit of adrenaline flowing, to be honest, I'm still buzzing here,
but absolutely crazy a few days for sure.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
So you had your whole family with you, didn't you
watching you win the Open?
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah? Yeah, it was pretty incredible. Yeah, they come down
every year and yeah, I don't know, I mean, obviously
pretty pretty exciting stuff happening in the last couple of weeks,
and yeah, it feels like if there was ever a
time for it to happen, this seemed like done the
perfect time. And yeah, I'm just stoked that it's all
come together. Eight.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Do you think having got married, having made that commitment
and it's a really big one, that it puts your
golf into some perspective that you relaxed a bit about life,
about about everything.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yeah, I think so. I mean, yeah, I'm just a
very very lucky man, to be honest, And yeah, it's
great that you know, I've found my life partner, and
yeah we're really happy. And yeah, I mean coming into
this week, I was obviously in pretty good spirits and yeah,
I just went out there and just wanted to continue
(02:04):
to high. And yeah, it's just been an absolute, absolute dream.
And yeah, everything's just like I said, It's just all
happened at the right time and it's all come together nicely.
So yeah, absolute dream.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
When it comes to the actual tournament, golf is very
much a mind game, too, Isn't it Like you have
to be in the right head space because your skills
don't really change that much. Practice makes perfect, but your
head's got to be in the right space and perhaps
that was your advantage.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah, yeah, one hundred percent. I think that's something I've
found in recent months, is that when my head's in
the right space, that's when I plaim my best golf.
And yeah, I think in the past oft over complicated
things and tried a little too hard to make things happen.
But yeah, I think I don't know. I think maybe
I'm just a bit more content with where I'm at
right now. And yeah, I'm just playing with a bit
(02:52):
more freedom and it's working.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
You're enjoying it. Boy, conditions were challenging. I was lucky
enough to be down there over the weekend, and my god,
talk about four seasons in one day when you were
they're playing, like the wind, the cold, the heat, the
sun stroke, the wind, the cold. You know, it was
it went from what twenty four degrees to four degrees
(03:16):
basically in the space of a day.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yeah, yeah, it was. It was crazy. I mean, it's
it's Queenstown in March. I guess it's Yeah, it's very freckle,
and yeah, I guess we've we've experienced it in the past,
so we kind of know to expect it. But yeah,
whenever it's you know, chopping and changing like that. It's
it's never easy to adjust. And yeah, I knew that
final day was was a grind for everyone. So yeah,
(03:40):
if anything, I think the tougher conditions might have helped me.
It's just you know, going to just keep your head
down and do your job. But yeah, I mean it
was it was brutal at times, but I mean it
was just makes it all that more reward and getting.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Through it all, Yeah, I bet it does. I knew
exactly where you were on the course because I could
hear raws going up about every you know, about every
fifteen minutes. I'd hear a raw that's oh yeah, that's yeah,
exactly where he is. You had a great crowd following you.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Yeah, it was incredible, it was Yeah, I'm bean playing
at home is always pretty special, but yeah, that's that's
the best sort of crowd and level of support that
I've I've seen for myself in particular. Yeah, really special.
They're all so respectful as well of everyone. I mean,
they weren't just out there supporting me. You know, we
(04:33):
have carry in that final group, and he's good made
of mine and it's great to see him playing well
and even even Curtis as well, obviously from from Western Australia.
But no, they were just a support for him, which
is which I think is the beauty of it all.
We you know, we just want to see everyone playing
good golf. And yeah it was. It was great just
to be in that sort of situation and experience the
(04:53):
roars of the crowds and yeah it was. It was
an atmosphere. I'll remember that for a very long time,
for sure.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
It's an amazing atmosphere. As a non golfer though, I
was wondering when you like came down to the eighteenth,
You've got the champions allowed ahead of you as you know,
around the green, and you've got the landing behind you
on the seventeenth with the music pumping out and the
good vibes and people having a drink and sharing you
on and it was hardly quiet. Please the players are
(05:21):
about to address the ball, you know, how did you
Is that is that common to have that kind of
party vibe? Hat nil when you were playing for the
for the championship title.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Yeah, I mean not so much on the final hole
of the tournament, but yeah, I mean that is it's
definitely becoming more common. You know, the odd party hole
and yeah, I mean that eighteenth is just as perfect
for it's got that sort of antitheater feelings to it,
and yeah, it's it was pretty special, you know, walking
up blasts there and seeing everyone they're having a good
time and you know, lots of rounds of applauses and yeah,
(05:56):
it's it's a pretty special environment. And yeah, it's it's
all you know, credit to the team that we're behind
the scenes at the New Zealand Open. I mean it's
just getting bigger and better every year. And yeah, they
had little things like the landing at the back of
eighteen there, just to give it a bit more, a
bit more personality and more atmosphere. And yeah, I think,
you know, it might it's probably going to be more common,
(06:17):
you know as we sort of moved through. I think, yeah,
the golf scenes forever changing. And yeah, it's definitely brought
broad in a new crowd, which is exciting.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
When you were a young golfer, what were the titles
he wanted to win the most?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
New Zealand Open was right at the top. It was
it was the Majors and New Zealand Open. I mean, yeah,
New Zealand openers being the home openers is one that
we all dream of as a kid, and yeah, obviously
seeing the likes of Mike Henry do it before us,
and yeah, it's pretty pretty special to now be a
part of that crew that you can say they won
(06:54):
won their home Open.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
And don't you get an automatic entry into s Andrew's
as a result of winning this.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
To Sonandrews British Open. A weird Yes, yeah, so I was.
I was actually fortunate enough to secure that through the
DP World Tour rankings last year. Oh so, yeah, I
didn't didn't really have that at the back of my mind,
but that that spot's obviously that's gone to Lucas Herbert
who finished runner up, and you know he's a class golfer.
And yeah, when I saw him, you know, creeping up
(07:25):
the top of that leaderboard late late in the piece,
I was, yeah, I knew I had the work cut
out for me. But yeah, it's pretty cool. That's you know,
the New zeal And opened at the point where it's
it's recognized on a global scale and has those pathways
into the majors. So yeah, it's pretty exciting.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
I always think of St. Andrews as being the home
of Have you ever played it?
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, played a few times. Very very lucky,
and yeah it's a special place. Sure every time you
go there you sort of get goosebumps as you're walking
on to the first t's. It's pretty pretty amazing place.
So yeah, hopefully hopefully get back there sometime later this year.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
What a great job you have, what a lovely life.
That's easy, doesn't it? Find your life partner when the
golf off you go to Europe bombs your uncle. Easy?
Speaker 3 (08:12):
It sounds, but it serfullly it definitely doesn't feel it. Yeah. Oh,
I mean it's very very fortunate to be doing what
I'm doing. I've got a great, great group of people
around me and I think they they've definitely helped me
on this journeys. You know, as much as you know
it's me out there in the golf ball, I've got
so many people behind me that have helped me along
the way. So yeah, very very thankful.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
I wish you the very very best of luck and
thank you for putting up with me getting to the
getting to you and congratulations. I hope you get a
few days to rest and enjoy your new bride before
you head off to conquer other golf courses. It's Daniel Hillier,
who's the New Zealand Open winner, putting up with silly
questions from me, what don't it?
Speaker 1 (08:54):
For more from Kerry Wooden Mornings, listen live to news
talks it'd be from nine am weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
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