Asian Tour players are eagerly joining one of golf's most cherished National Opens, with a strong lineup confirmed for the 105th New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort.
Top names include 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner John Catlin from the US, Filipino Miguel Tabuena fresh off a solid LIV Golf League debut, and Hong Kong's leading player Taichi Kho. The event runs February 26 to March 1 at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown.
Recent Philippine Golf Championship victor Wooyoung Cho has also signed up, alongside Australians Wade Ormsby and Travis Smyth, who placed third there last weekend.
This NZ$2 million tournament marks the Asian Tour's second event of the season. It's co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and partners with the Japan Golf Tour.
Germany's Dominic Foos, last year's SJM Macao Open champion, heads to Queenstown too.
Tournament Director Michael Glading highlighted how Asian Tour talent boosts the event's global profile. He praised Foos's strong 2025 season, including a top-20 Order of Merit finish and his first tour win, calling him a crowd-pleaser with proven winning form.
Glading added excitement for Catlin's return as a past Order of Merit champ always in Sunday contention, plus recent Philippines standout Cho, Tabuena, Ormsby, Kho, and Smyth, showcasing the tour's depth.
Foos, making his debut, expressed thrill: "I'm pumped for my first New Zealand trip—I've heard the course is amazing, the area's stunning, and the tournament runs smoothly. Can't wait."
Catlin, on his fourth appearance, raved: "Queenstown is my favorite spot worldwide—the people, scenery, course, everything's special. I always look forward to competing here."
Keep an eye on Thailand's Pavit Tangkamolprasert (Philippines runner-up), Malaysia's rising star Ervin Chang, and South Africa's Ian Snyman (both tied fifth last week). Snyman loves this stop, with a runner-up last year and sixth the prior one.
Defending champ Ryan Peake and last year's runner-up Jack Thompson, both Australians and Asian Tour members, return too.
A unique draw: It's the only National Open with a Pro-Am format—156 pros pair with amateurs for the start. Post-second round, top 60 pros (plus ties) advance, along with top 40 Pro-Am teams to round three; then top 10 teams to the finale.
Rounds one and two use Millbrook's Remarkables and Coronet courses; weekend features a composite of their best holes.
For the second straight year, the top non-exempt player earns a spot in the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale via the Open Qualifying Series.