Leading the standings is Australian Cameron John, already a two-time winner this season (including the recent Vic Open) and runner-up at the Webex Players Series Victoria, who tops the OOM ahead of the first balls going in the air at Millbrook.

John arrived in New Zealand full of confidence and with the form to back it up, and insists he isn’t feeling any extra pressure.

“I think it's a good position to be in. Obviously, everyone probably wants to be at the top, but at the end of the day, you want to be there at the end of the season,” John said in his pre-tournament presser.

“For me, just keep tracking along. I want to be in the situation that Quaylie [Anthony Quayle] is in - travelling all around the world playing.

“It's a great opportunity that we have on the Aussie tour to really progress our careers, and this is probably the first time where I've felt like it's more of a genuine opportunity, but as we said, these two weeks kind of mean a lot for how things are going to finish.

“So just kind of lock in on what I do, and I can't control the outcome. So, however things go, it's just how they go.”

Trailing John in the standings are NSW Open champion Christopher Wood and James Marchesani. However, chasing them is No.24 in the standings, Quayle, who has a handy looper carrying the bag this week.

“I got off to an okay start with the season before the DP [World] Tour started, and it's put me in a position where if I win this week or next week, I would probably go pretty close to wrapping that up, a couple major starts, a few of the other great things that come with winning the money list here in Australia.” - Anthony Quayle. 

Quayle has a relatively modest points tally after seven starts, but a very big fortnight of points looms. The New Zealand Open offers a massive haul of OOM points to the winner (760), not to mention the status and exemption perks that come through the Asian Tour co-sanctioning. Next week’s inaugural ISPS HANDA Japan–Australasia Championship in Auckland carries the same allocation of points to the champion.

There are 190 points apiece for the Heritage Classic and the season finale, the National Tournament at the National, but it could be run and won by the time the Kiwi swing wraps up.

There is an enormous number of points on offer across these next two weeks; enough for someone who has played a lesser number of events like Quayle to vault up the leaderboard with one win.

In his pre-tournament presser, Quayle was candid about the prize on offer this week.

“The Order of Merits are really the main reason why I've come back to play these two events outside of just really enjoying coming back and playing in Queenstown,” Quayle said.

Anthony Quayle and Steve Williams. PHOTO: Getty Images.

“The Order of Merits really are my primary focus.

“I was off to an okay start to the season before the DP [World] Tour started, and it's put me in a position where if I win this week or next week, I would probably go pretty close to wrapping that up, a couple major starts, a few of the other great things that come with winning the money list here in Australia.”

Quayle is a seasoned traveller, so adapting to New Zealand’s courses and conditions is part of his process and will not be an issue. He even gets to play alongside Australian tennis great Ash Barty in the pro-am this week.

The lure is enormous.

The NZ Open champion not only collects a huge points haul, but also earns a prestigious spot in The Open Championship.

Everyone in Millbrook’s strong international field will be well-versed in the calculations. John’s comfortable lead could evaporate with one bad week and a Quayle (or Wood, Marchesani, Haydn Barron and others) win.

John knows the margins are fine. He recalled bouncing back from a career-worst round last Sunday by refocusing on the week ahead. With five previous NZ Opens under his belt, he knows how to play around here.

Consistency is key at Millbrook, and the course suits John. He plays aggressively, hits it a long way and has that classical touch around the greens you tend to see from players who grew up playing on the Sandbelt.

It’s crunch time.

John leads the standings by a healthy margin, but neither player is taking anything for granted.

“We’ve worked hard all season,” Quayle said.

“Now it’s just time to see what happens.”