New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier wins British Masters
Hillier alongside tournament host Sir Nick Faldo – image European Tour
24 year old New Zealander, Daniel Hillier, is in his rookie season on the DP World Tour but his win in the British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at the Belfry today suggested a golfer of considerably more experience and one with a significant future in the game.
An amazing stretch of golf through the latter stages of his final round of 66 where he would produce two eagles and a birdie on holes 15 through 17 swept the two time New Zealand Amateur Champion into the lead ahead of American Gunner Wiebe and England’s Oliver Wilson and when he got up and down from behind the green at the last he was a two shot winner of one of the European Tour’s more prestigious titles.
Not only was the title his, but so too was a cheque for ¥547,000 moving the Wellingtonian from 77th to 14th on the Road to Dubai points list and offering security of tenure in Europe for the foreseeable future and a financial cushion which will allow him to play with even more freedom.
Hillier has been playing well in recent weeks having finished 3rd at the BMW International just last week and 5th in the Netherlands a month earlier suggesting he was feeling more and more comfortable on the bigger stage after graduating via the Challenge Tour last year.
“I think it’s going to take me awhile to process to be honest,” said Hillier. “Early on in the day, I was not feeling it, at all. A little bit uncomfortable with the driver. Didn’t really have very many chances, but obviously knew that there’s some chances coming in. I didn’t think I would take them that well but yeah, obviously pretty ecstatic.
“I’m over the moon, really at a loss for words. I was playing pretty well coming into the week, and you know, with the conditions we had, I knew it was going to be a bit of a grind.
“So yeah, just keep telling myself the whole week, just hang in there. Got pretty tough at times out there, but yeah, just managed to keep myself in it. Wasn’t feeling it today. Yeah, I don’t know, hit a switch, or I don’t know what happened, but yeah, those last few holes, going to take a while to process I think.”
The victory will take Hillier to a projected 14th on the DP World Tour table, secure a start at the Open Championship and the DP World Tour Championship and move him from his current 265th in the world ranking and also has him in line for one of the PGA Tour cards offered to the leading ten players at season’s end.
“Yeah, wasn’t thinking about that but certainly changes the outlook from what it was maybe four weeks ago. Didn’t get off to the best start this season and was a bit of a grind early on. I think I’m finally starring to find my stride, and yeah, it’s cool to have that opportunity to play in the final event and obviously as you said to try and get that PGA TOUR card.”
