February 22, 2025 • 9 mins
There'll be plenty of golf talent on show next weekend as the NZ Golf Open gets underway at both the Millbrook and Hills courses in the Queenstown Lakes region.
One of the big names confirmed to appear is Ben Campbell - currently ranked 146th in the world.
He joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks edb head.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Of the New Zealand Golf Open at Millbrook Resort next
weekend twenty six. Kiwis confirmed for the event, another three
qualifiers possibly to be added to that number. Among those
confirmed in the field is current world number one hundred
and forty six and the third best ranked key we
Mail currently, Ben Campbell, who recently joined the Live Tour
full time.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Ben Campbell a moment ago his second out at number fifteen.
Oh yeah, you're the whole Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Talking to some folks from the Rams Guilts team this
morning and.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
They said look out for Ben Campbell this week.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Playing nicely.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Of course it really really fits his game.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Ben Campbell joins us on Weekend Sport. Ben, can we
start with your elevation full time to the Live Tour.
You were a reserve on the tour last year, grinding
away on the Australasian and Asian tours for well over
a day. How nice was it to get the phone
call to get invited aboard to live to a full time.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Yeah, that was obviously a nice call to get coming
into twenty twenty five, and yeah, I enjoyed being a
reserve out there last year, and yeah, after sort of
two solid years on the Asian Tour, it was nice
to get the call up.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
How life changing is this for you?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Yeah? Obviously, you know it's an amazing opportunity and you know,
hopefully this year can sort of put my best foot
forward and you know, finished top twenty four on the
on the money list. I lived to secure myself like
another year. So yeah, we need it, We need to
play for this year.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
You've played a couple of live tournaments so far already
this year Area that was under lights? What was that like?
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Yeah, that was good. I enjoyed it. Sort of took
it obviously, took a couple of.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Days to get used to playing at the lights. It
was my first time, but yeah, I think by the
end of the week it was it was really cool experience.
And yeah, you know it was still you know, the
same golf force and of course I've played a lot that. Yeah,
I really enjoyed it.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
What were the main adjustments you had to make?
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Not so like that.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
The lighting on the around the putting green was really good.
I thought that was going to be the trickiest sort
of reading the slopes and things like that. It was
more probably just like the longer clubs off the fiaway,
sort of like a three we off or a long
iron like a three iron off the fiaway is probably
what I found the trickiest. But then yeah, by the
end of the week, like the last round, I feel
like it was it felt.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Very normal to be to be playing under the.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Lights and then to Adelaide, of course, and those are
the two you've played so far. How much do you
enjoy that the team elements of the live tour.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Yeah, I think you know, obviously, golf can be pretty
lonely at times, and you know, you travel in the
world to I've really enjoyed the last few weeks sort
of being out of travel with the team, you know,
a few dinners and and things like that. Obviously you've
got plenty of mates that you hang out on tour with.
But yeah, it definitely throws it like a different perspective
on things. I think, you know, it was in read
(03:16):
on the last hole, I knew if I hold the put,
it would put our team into tide second, and that's
so Yeah, I think it's just it's one of those
nice things that you know, you have a few more
mates around and enjoy sort of those practice rounds and
some good, good rivalry between teammates and that's it's always
always really good.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Bubba Watson's your team captain, of course, what's it like
playing with them?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Yeah, that was awesome.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
I've I've really got to enjoyed to you know, get
to know Bubba over the last few weeks. At it
started January when I got name for the team. I
flew to America and spent some time with the team
and you know, we played a bit of golf and
things like that. So yeah, it's been it's been great
getting to know Bubba and you know, to be playing
(04:02):
someone you know, playing alongside someone you know is what
he's done in golf and obviously the majors and that
it's it's great to be learning off someone like him.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
And fellow key we Danny Lee is on the Lift
Tour as well. He's coming to the New Zealand Open too.
Have you seen much of him in the last few weeks.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Yeah, I saw obviously Danny a lot last year and
then yeah, over the last couple of weeks. You know,
there's only fifty four players out there, so yeah, you
get to see.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
You run a fair bit. So yeah, I'll see Danny
a lot this year.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
All right, let's talk about the New Zealand Open. First
of all, the strength of the field. How do you
assive how strong this field is?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah, I think it's a really good field. You know,
obviously Danny was a great uh he got called in.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Pretty late, and then you know, Lucas Herbert. You know,
it's it's a really it's great to see a lot
of the Asian Tour players coming down sen it's you know,
it's co sanctioned with the Aussie Tour and the Asian Tour,
so yeah, you've got a really strong field coming down
from Asia. But yeah, it's obviously great. I love playing.
You know, when you can sleep in your own bed
(05:06):
and play golf, tournament's pretty amazing. So yeah, I'm not
really looking forward to the week. You know, the tournament
just keeps getting stronger and stronger. The guys, you know,
Michael Gladding and John Hard are doing such a great
job and you know they've been growing the event and
then you know, to have the the Major, the Open
Championship spot this year, it's sort of just a testament
(05:27):
what they've what't have've grown?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
You know, the courses are the two courses at Milbrook
better than most people. So what does it take to
play well there and to win there?
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Yeah, it's definitely a week you know, you've got to
get the pudder, the pudder going. It's sort of it's
definitely dried up here in the last couple of weeks
since I since I've in a way, you know, the
rough round Milburt was looking quite good before I went away,
and they've just sort of had two weeks of pretty
dry weather, so the rough's sort of not as challenging anymore.
(05:57):
So Yeah, it's they get the course so pure out there,
and it really comes down to, you know, who can
get the pudder going the hottest.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Really You've been running up in the New Zealand Open
twenty twenty seventeen and a playoff of course again runner
up in twenty twenty three. How keen aid to win
your are your home Open?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Yeah, definitely it's one I really want to tick off.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
I really enjoy you know, Queen Sounds been an amazing
place to me and you know, I have a lot
of family and friends here and I'm a member at Millbrook,
so it's you know, you're playing in front of sort
of home crowd and all the members and that, you know,
and I get some amazing support during the week from everyone,
so it would be it would be incredible to be
able to lift the trophy at the end of the
(06:39):
week and sort of do it for everyone who's sort
of supported me, and.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Just to zoom out again just to finish. You played
the Open Championship in twenty twenty two. I see there
are now more exemptions for Live players to play majors.
Is playing more majors on your wish list? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:55):
I think, you know, it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
You know, I really enjoyed I miss the cutout on
the number at St. Andrews, and and you know, definitely
would like to get another chance at the Open, So yeah,
it was it was great news. Obviously Live has been
working hard to get these exemptions and and and they've
got them now. I'm also going to play Asian Twoman
(07:20):
in Macau, so yeah, there looks like there's a few
few few chances for the Open, and yeah, I've got
US Open qualifying during the year as well, so it
would be great if I could get into a couple
more majors this year would be would Yeah, it would
really make the schedule exciting for the year.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
So that just to clarify that. Then being on the
Live Tour full time, that doesn't preclude you from playing
other events like the ones you've you've just mentioned. You can.
You can fit everything in that you want.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
To, Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
So the Asian Tour is backed by by Live, so
that's yeah that we have a we have the International
Series which is part of the Asian Tour, so Live
players have to play so many events on on that
tour as well, So I have to have to play
the minimum of three International Series this year. So it's
(08:10):
been it's been amazing for the Asian Tour, the involvement
with Limit and how much stronger the Asian Tour has
got over the last sort of four years. And that's
how I got to be in the position to get
on Live was through my play and the Asian Tour.
So yeah, it's it's been a great you know, the
Asian two just seems to be getting stronger and stronger.
(08:30):
And where the Live schedule finishes up in I think
twenty fourth August, so I'll have a little break after
that and then I'll play sort of the back half
of the year on the Asian Tour as well.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Good Man. Well, before all of that, the New Zealand
Open next weekend, all the best. I was just looking
at the last key word to win it, and of
course it was Michael Henry in that playoffs against you
in twenty seventeen, wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Yep, sure it was. So hopefully we can get another
key we on there.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
It's hope. So great to chat Ben. All the best
at the New Zealand Open next weekend.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Awesome, thank you very much, Thank you, Ben.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Ben Campbell there, one of twenty six key we was
confirmed for the New Zealand Golf Open at Millbrook next week.
We'll have plenty of coverage for you on Weekend Sport
next weekend.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Set B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks edb head.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Of the New Zealand Golf Open at Millbrook Resort next
weekend twenty six. Kiwis confirmed for the event, another three
qualifiers possibly to be added to that number. Among those
confirmed in the field is current world number one hundred
and forty six and the third best ranked key we
Mail currently, Ben Campbell, who recently joined the Live Tour
full time.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Ben Campbell a moment ago his second out at number fifteen.
Oh yeah, you're the whole Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Talking to some folks from the Rams Guilts team this
morning and.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
They said look out for Ben Campbell this week.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Playing nicely.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Of course it really really fits his game.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Ben Campbell joins us on Weekend Sport. Ben, can we
start with your elevation full time to the Live Tour.
You were a reserve on the tour last year, grinding
away on the Australasian and Asian tours for well over
a day. How nice was it to get the phone
call to get invited aboard to live to a full time.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Yeah, that was obviously a nice call to get coming
into twenty twenty five, and yeah, I enjoyed being a
reserve out there last year, and yeah, after sort of
two solid years on the Asian Tour, it was nice
to get the call up.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
How life changing is this for you?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Yeah? Obviously, you know it's an amazing opportunity and you know,
hopefully this year can sort of put my best foot
forward and you know, finished top twenty four on the
on the money list. I lived to secure myself like
another year. So yeah, we need it, We need to
play for this year.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
You've played a couple of live tournaments so far already
this year Area that was under lights? What was that like?
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Yeah, that was good. I enjoyed it. Sort of took
it obviously, took a couple of.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Days to get used to playing at the lights. It
was my first time, but yeah, I think by the
end of the week it was it was really cool experience.
And yeah, you know it was still you know, the
same golf force and of course I've played a lot that. Yeah,
I really enjoyed it.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
What were the main adjustments you had to make?
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Not so like that.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
The lighting on the around the putting green was really good.
I thought that was going to be the trickiest sort
of reading the slopes and things like that. It was
more probably just like the longer clubs off the fiaway,
sort of like a three we off or a long
iron like a three iron off the fiaway is probably
what I found the trickiest. But then yeah, by the
end of the week, like the last round, I feel
like it was it felt.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Very normal to be to be playing under the.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Lights and then to Adelaide, of course, and those are
the two you've played so far. How much do you
enjoy that the team elements of the live tour.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Yeah, I think you know, obviously, golf can be pretty
lonely at times, and you know, you travel in the
world to I've really enjoyed the last few weeks sort
of being out of travel with the team, you know,
a few dinners and and things like that. Obviously you've
got plenty of mates that you hang out on tour with.
But yeah, it definitely throws it like a different perspective
on things. I think, you know, it was in read
(03:16):
on the last hole, I knew if I hold the put,
it would put our team into tide second, and that's
so Yeah, I think it's just it's one of those
nice things that you know, you have a few more
mates around and enjoy sort of those practice rounds and
some good, good rivalry between teammates and that's it's always
always really good.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Bubba Watson's your team captain, of course, what's it like
playing with them?
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Yeah, that was awesome.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
I've I've really got to enjoyed to you know, get
to know Bubba over the last few weeks. At it
started January when I got name for the team. I
flew to America and spent some time with the team
and you know, we played a bit of golf and
things like that. So yeah, it's been it's been great
getting to know Bubba and you know, to be playing
(04:02):
someone you know, playing alongside someone you know is what
he's done in golf and obviously the majors and that
it's it's great to be learning off someone like him.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
And fellow key we Danny Lee is on the Lift
Tour as well. He's coming to the New Zealand Open too.
Have you seen much of him in the last few weeks.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Yeah, I saw obviously Danny a lot last year and
then yeah, over the last couple of weeks. You know,
there's only fifty four players out there, so yeah, you
get to see.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
You run a fair bit. So yeah, I'll see Danny
a lot this year.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
All right, let's talk about the New Zealand Open. First
of all, the strength of the field. How do you
assive how strong this field is?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah, I think it's a really good field. You know,
obviously Danny was a great uh he got called in.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Pretty late, and then you know, Lucas Herbert. You know,
it's it's a really it's great to see a lot
of the Asian Tour players coming down sen it's you know,
it's co sanctioned with the Aussie Tour and the Asian Tour,
so yeah, you've got a really strong field coming down
from Asia. But yeah, it's obviously great. I love playing.
You know, when you can sleep in your own bed
(05:06):
and play golf, tournament's pretty amazing. So yeah, I'm not
really looking forward to the week. You know, the tournament
just keeps getting stronger and stronger. The guys, you know,
Michael Gladding and John Hard are doing such a great
job and you know they've been growing the event and
then you know, to have the the Major, the Open
Championship spot this year, it's sort of just a testament
(05:27):
what they've what't have've grown?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
You know, the courses are the two courses at Milbrook
better than most people. So what does it take to
play well there and to win there?
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Yeah, it's definitely a week you know, you've got to
get the pudder, the pudder going. It's sort of it's
definitely dried up here in the last couple of weeks
since I since I've in a way, you know, the
rough round Milburt was looking quite good before I went away,
and they've just sort of had two weeks of pretty
dry weather, so the rough's sort of not as challenging anymore.
(05:57):
So Yeah, it's they get the course so pure out there,
and it really comes down to, you know, who can
get the pudder going the hottest.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Really You've been running up in the New Zealand Open
twenty twenty seventeen and a playoff of course again runner
up in twenty twenty three. How keen aid to win
your are your home Open?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Yeah, definitely it's one I really want to tick off.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
I really enjoy you know, Queen Sounds been an amazing
place to me and you know, I have a lot
of family and friends here and I'm a member at Millbrook,
so it's you know, you're playing in front of sort
of home crowd and all the members and that, you know,
and I get some amazing support during the week from everyone,
so it would be it would be incredible to be
able to lift the trophy at the end of the
(06:39):
week and sort of do it for everyone who's sort
of supported me, and.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Just to zoom out again just to finish. You played
the Open Championship in twenty twenty two. I see there
are now more exemptions for Live players to play majors.
Is playing more majors on your wish list? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:55):
I think, you know, it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
You know, I really enjoyed I miss the cutout on
the number at St. Andrews, and and you know, definitely
would like to get another chance at the Open, So yeah,
it was it was great news. Obviously Live has been
working hard to get these exemptions and and and they've
got them now. I'm also going to play Asian Twoman
(07:20):
in Macau, so yeah, there looks like there's a few
few few chances for the Open, and yeah, I've got
US Open qualifying during the year as well, so it
would be great if I could get into a couple
more majors this year would be would Yeah, it would
really make the schedule exciting for the year.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
So that just to clarify that. Then being on the
Live Tour full time, that doesn't preclude you from playing
other events like the ones you've you've just mentioned. You can.
You can fit everything in that you want.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
To, Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
So the Asian Tour is backed by by Live, so
that's yeah that we have a we have the International
Series which is part of the Asian Tour, so Live
players have to play so many events on on that
tour as well, So I have to have to play
the minimum of three International Series this year. So it's
(08:10):
been it's been amazing for the Asian Tour, the involvement
with Limit and how much stronger the Asian Tour has
got over the last sort of four years. And that's
how I got to be in the position to get
on Live was through my play and the Asian Tour.
So yeah, it's it's been a great you know, the
Asian two just seems to be getting stronger and stronger.
(08:30):
And where the Live schedule finishes up in I think
twenty fourth August, so I'll have a little break after
that and then I'll play sort of the back half
of the year on the Asian Tour as well.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Good Man. Well, before all of that, the New Zealand
Open next weekend, all the best. I was just looking
at the last key word to win it, and of
course it was Michael Henry in that playoffs against you
in twenty seventeen, wasn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Yep, sure it was. So hopefully we can get another
key we on there.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
It's hope. So great to chat Ben. All the best
at the New Zealand Open next weekend.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Awesome, thank you very much, Thank you, Ben.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Ben Campbell there, one of twenty six key we was
confirmed for the New Zealand Golf Open at Millbrook next week.
We'll have plenty of coverage for you on Weekend Sport
next weekend.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Set B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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