The winner of the New Zealand PGA Championship, being played at the Clearwater Resort and finishing on Sunday, will automatically earn a start at The Hills, while there are also four places at stake next Monday, when a pre-qualifying event is played at the Russley course.
The NZ Open marks the start of the Nationwide Tour schedule for 2010, made up mostly of American-based players.
Most of them are unknowns on this side of the world, but there are a handful who have gained some prominence while playing on the full PGA Tour.
These include Jason Gore (35), who led the 2005 US Open at one stage, only to drop out of contention on the final day, which New Zealanders best remember as the day Michael Campbell beat Tiger Woods to win one of golf's richest and most sought-after prizes.
Martin Piller, who finished second to Alex Prugh in the Open last March, is back again, along with Skip Kendall, Casey Wittenburg and Ken Duke, Bubba Dickerson and Scott Dunlap.
Peter Lonard spearheads a powerful group of Australians, including former champions Craig Parry (2002), Peter O'Malley (1995) and Terry Price (2004).
The NZ Open begins next Thursday, January 28, preceded by the pro-am on Wednesday.
