Daniel Hillier is rubbing shoulders with members of the golfing elite but he has not forgotten his roots.
The rising star of New Zealand golf has taken a break from his DP World Tour commitments to shape as one of the early favourites for the New Zealand Open at Millbrook this week.
"It’s always a special week out here in Queenstown," Hillier said yesterday.
"I’ve had the pleasure of being able to play it a few times now. It’s such a special place for everyone, and for me it’s no different.
"It’s been a busy stretch, so to get back here wasn’t easy, but I’m glad I did it.
"It’s the first time it’s been played in a couple of years, too, so that makes it even more exciting," Hillier said.
Hillier (24) is looking forward to his partner and Wellington family getting a rare opportunity to watch him play this week.
New Zealanders have not found it easy to get their name on the Brodie Breeze Trophy in recent years — before Michael Hendry won it in 2017, Dunedin golfer Mahal Pearce was the most recent homegrown champion in 2003.
"It would be so special," Hillier said.
"I feel like my game’s in a pretty good spot, and I’ve just got to keep my head down and execute my game plan as well as I can.
"Making the cut is the first part of the job. If I play solid enough and don’t do anything stupid, I’d like to think I will be somewhere near the top of the leaderboard."
Hillier feels Millbrook is a course that does not require anything fancy to rack up some solid scoring.
"I don’t need to do anything too spectacular. If I can just keep it in play, there’s a lot of chances out there, and my iron play is my strength.
"So if I make smart choices off the tee, and give myself plenty of options coming into the greens, and hole a few putts, we’ll be away."
Interestingly, Hillier might be the top Kiwi in the field but he will probably not be the one getting the most attention.
The full spotlight seems likely to be reserved for Champions Tour revelation Steven Alker, whose fairy-tale rise to riches has captured many a fan’s imagination.
"It’s amazing. He’s been out there for a long time and he’s always been a really good golfer.
"It just goes to show you never really know when your time is going to come, and I’m sure he’ll be looking to keep things going this week."
His caddy this week will be Steve Williams, the former right-hand man of golfing great Tiger Woods.
"It’s pretty cool. We had our first day out there today but I had the pleasure of spending a few days with Steve when he was caddying for Foxy [Ryan Fox] at a Charles Tour event last year.
"He’s obviously a pretty cool, calm and collected character. He keeps it all really simple, which I like, but obviously he’s really on to it at the same time."
Hillier missed the cut at the New Zealand Open in 2020 and 2019, but tied for 23rd as an amateur in 2018.
He followed Fox on to the World Tour, and while two top-50 finishes in six starts does not sound amazing, he has been happy enough with how his year is tracking.
"I haven’t quite had any magic at the weekends but I’m making cuts and feeling pretty comfortable.
"I’m putting myself up against some of the best players in the world and getting some decent results so hopefully I can pick up where I left off in a few weeks.
"You just have to be on, and if you’re not then you pack your bags pretty early.
"It’s definitely an eye-opener out there, for sure.
"You have to be a bit more careful. You can’t just go flag-hunting all day, but it’s just little adjusting here and there."
