Dan Hillier: Pro Golfer gives updates on his NZ Open campaign so far

The NZ golf open rolls on with the third days play getting underway later today. 

Yesterday afternoon D'Arcy caught up with Dan Hillier, a pro golfer representing New Zealand at the open shortly after hopping off the green for the day to discuss how he's been going at the tournament and what it means to compete in New Zealand. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB New Zealand.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Golf Open has been going on Queenstown the last a
couple of days. Fresh off the green, As I said,
I caught up with Dan Hellier someone to thrust her
cell phone in his face and started talking about golf,
a wonderful man, pro golfer out of Wellington who's had
a cracking time for the last few years. And we
started off by asking him, well, you're heading your straps,

(00:35):
aren't you. Mate. Things are working well for you, aren't they.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Yeah, it's all been going pretty well.

Speaker 4 (00:40):
Obviously, had a pretty awesome few days of late and yeah,
it's nice to come down to Queenstown. I mean it's
a beautiful dayut here today and yeah, nice to be
playing some good golf as well.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yesterday wasn't so beautiful. How was that bit of a struggle?

Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yeah, it's pretty tough.

Speaker 4 (00:54):
I mean, you chucking on four layers, wasn't It wasn't
the nicest thing to be doing. But yeah, it got through,
got through that, okay. It was yeah, just a bit cold,
a little bit wet. Yeah, pretty variable this time of year.
I guess, so you've got to expect it, and yeah,
today's polar opposite, So hopefully it stays like this for
the rest of the week.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Now, us rank amateurs when it gets cold and we
struggle hanging on to the club and all sorts of
Things's the worst thing from a professional point of view
about weather like that.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
I think it's just so hard to know how far
a you're hitting it.

Speaker 4 (01:25):
I think it's cold and it's wet, so you've got
so many other variables that you don't usually have to
contend with. And yeah, I mean getting the yardages right
was a little bit of a mission, but yeah, thankfully
I got a good caddy, so we kind of navigated
it well.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
As far as the pressure on today, what you've got,
I think it's a one stroke lead going into the
third and the fourth. What do you put that down
to an hour? How easy is it going to be
to hang on to? Like who's chasing you?

Speaker 4 (01:52):
I mean, in terms of yeah, being down here playing
nice golf and being in the mix, it's pretty awesome.
I felt a lot of support out here, and I
guess the main thing for me is just not putting
too much pressure on myself. And yeah, hopefully you know,
the next couple of days. I just keep taking it
one shot at a time and we'll go from there.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
And what about the crowd. There'll be a Hundi behind you,
although they've got another amateur key were playing pretty well too,
Yuki Maya. So our support from the masses from the galleries.

Speaker 4 (02:20):
Yeah, yeah, it's it's been epic. I mean it's nice
coming back. Yeah, obviously to Home Open and yeah, felt
a lot of love out there, which is pretty cool.
And yeah, I've also got my friends have bad me
down as well, so nice to see a lot of
familiar faces. And yeah, I'm just trying to lap it
up and enjoy it.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
Really, I haven't spoken to you for a few years.
You've they had a quarker of a time the last
few years. It's been amazing that you put it down
to the fact you're scoreing low. But what else has
worked for you now that you're a professional and swinging well?

Speaker 4 (02:48):
I think, I mean, the biggest thing for me is
just not putting too much pressure on myself to go
and play well.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
I mean, I know on games good enough. It was
just sort of my.

Speaker 4 (02:56):
Head that got in the way a little bit early
on and in my professional career, I think maybe just
wanting it a little too much and trying a little
too hard at times. And yeah, I kind of figured
sometimes less as more. You know, it's very easy to
get in your own way out here, and especially when
you're in these tense competitive settings, to be relaxed and

(03:16):
having some fund is more important than ever.

Speaker 2 (03:18):
The venue you're at Millbrook today, you're staying there for
the rest because I think they're messing around a wee
bit with the nature of the track and where you
actually playing. Am I completely wrong again?

Speaker 3 (03:30):
No, no, they are. So we're playing a week composite
course over the weekend.

Speaker 4 (03:34):
So there's a few holes out the top that the
and yeah, I mean it's cool layout and I think
you know, from a spectator point of view, it gives
stable the holes where they can they can have the
best view possible.

Speaker 3 (03:45):
And yes, so there should be a lot of good
viewing for everyone over the weekend.

Speaker 2 (03:49):
And finally, and thanks very much for joining us, Daniel,
Let's talk about the relevance and the fact that it's
a New Zealand Open and how much meaning this carries
for you playing at home in such a major tournament
something you've been watching since you're a young fellow.

Speaker 3 (04:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (04:04):
Absolutely, I mean, yeah, when winning your national Open is
something you dream especially for myself, and yeah, I mean
being down here, I don't know, it's just such a
special pace and special part of the world. And yeah,
to be able to do it in front of my
friends and family, and yeah, it's just it's hard to
describe the feeling. But yeah, it would be pretty pretty

(04:24):
amazing to get a job done this week.

Speaker 2 (04:26):
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to curse you like that
job's not done yet. You get any you play well
for the next couple of rounds, And Daniel Huli, thank
you so much for joining us on news talks. Here'd
be hugely appreciated.

Speaker 3 (04:36):
There's Darsie.

Speaker 1 (04:37):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave.
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