NZ Open prize pool up 12%

John Hart
John Hart
The New Zealand Open has boosted its prize money by 12%.

The Open, to take place in February next year, will offer a significant increase in prizemoney.

New Zealand Open organising committee chairman John Hart confirmed yesterday the 2020 tournament will offer a total prize purse of $1.45 million for the championship, which is co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.

The increase was a rise of 12% on the prizemoney offered for the 2019 Open.

There would be $1.4 million set aside for the New Zealand Open and $50,000 for the New Zealand Pro-Am Championship.

The winner of the 101st Open, who takes home the Brodie Breeze Trophy, will pocket $252,000.

Hart was thrilled to be able to have increased prize money.

“It is very positive that we are able to continue to increase the prize money for the New Zealand Open,” Hart said.

‘‘When we first became involved in the event the prize pool was around $450,000, so to see this steadily grow over an eight-year period is great news, and very much in line with the early goals that we set for this event,’’ Hart said.

“We have a tournament that delivers a prize purse that is attractive to the best players on the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour. And at the same time we are making every effort to ensure the tournament is financially sustainable in the long term.”

The Open will be staged at Millbrook Resort and The Hills near Queenstown from February 27 to March 1.

The tournament is played at the Hills and Millbrook, and the professionals finish the last two rounds at Millbrook.

The field will be made up of 152 players, along with 152 amateur players. Each amateur partners with a professional in a two-man best ball event.


 

Add a Comment