Last played in March of 2020 and won by Queensland's Brad Kennedy, the event has been previously co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

Announced as part of the expanded local circuit in our region in October, and quickly followed by the announcement of the return of the NZPGA the week following set to be played at Gulf Harbour Country Club, the New Zealand Open was due to return to Millbrook Resort.

Part of The Open Qualifying Series for the first time, the event scheduled to be played from March 31 to April 3 had three spots in the 150th Open Championship to be played at the Old Course at St. Andrews. Those three spots the only on offer via the PGA Tour of Australasia this season. 

There has been no official announcement from the PGA Tour of Australasia regarding the cancellation, but players were made aware of the situation on Tuesday morning. An Instagram post from the tournament confirming the news.

"We're disappointed of course but we've known for a while that with the Covid situation and the border closure in New Zealand, it was going to be difficult," said Gavin Kirkman, CEO of the PGA TOUR of Australasia today in response to Golf Australia Magazine's request for comment.
"It's just the reality of the world that we live in that these events are difficult to run. I know that everyone involved with that event did their utmost from start to finish on getting the NZ Open to happen until they had to make a call, and I know that they'll be unhappy about it.

"But we're confident that the NZ Open will be back bigger and better in 2023 and meantime, we have a host of events within Australia to focus upon including this weekend at Rosebud, and we're moving forward."

No announcement has been made regarding the fate of the NZPGA Champoinship either, and this publication has reached out to the R&A to learn more regarding the Open Championship spots and whether they will be offered elsewhere in the region.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by #NZOpen (@nzopengolf)