Queenstown, New Zealand, February 27: Read what players have to say ahead of the 100th New Zealand Open which starts on Thursday.

Shiv Kapur (Ind)

I had a lot of high expectations of New Zealand after all that I had heard and it has definitely lived up to the hype and so much more now that I am here. I think it’s by far the prettiest place in the world to play golf.

The tournament format and all that goes on around the event, it definitely gets my vote as my favourite tournament of the year.

Stephen (Fleming) and I have known each other for a few years now, from his playing days as captain of the National Cricket Team for New Zealand to being the coach of Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.

We have been talking about playing together for a couple of years now and it’s great that it’s happening this time. We played in a cricket match at the Millbrook Cricket Ground earlier this week and we have been paired together in the tournament as well.

He is one of my childhood heroes on the cricket field and to be able to partner with him is a real honour for me.

My wife and daughter are here with me this week. We made a trip to Milford Sound yesterday and it was absolutely stunning. We went by plane through the mountains. It was really worth the trip.

Panuphol Pittayarat (Tha)

It’s great to be back here in New Zealand. The sceneries that you see at the golf courses are beautiful. I was eager to come back here, having played here for the first-time last year. I got here on Sunday, played at the Millbrook Resort yesterday and The Hills today.

The course at the Millbrook Resort requires a good game plan and strategy. You need to know where to place the ball. Both courses are birdie-making courses. The conditions are great and the views are perfect. I am sure we will see some low scores again this year.

I think it is good fun playing in this pro-am format. Playing with the amateurs will kind of help you stay relaxed out there. Sometimes you won’t even feel like it’s a real tournament. It can be a good thing actually because you can play like it’s your weekend golf and stay chill out there.

At least it’s good for me. I take the pressure out of it. That’s when I play my best golf. I am enjoying a much better start to the year, as compared to previous years. I had a good season in 2018 and I am riding on that good form into this new season.

I got my card on the Japan Golf Tour this year as well so I am going to try and play good on both Tours although it’s not going to be easy. I am going to keep it sharp and keep practicing. Another win on the Asian Tour would be good for me. That will be my goal this year.

Daniel Nisbet (Aus) – Defending champion

It’s amazing to be back here. The sceneries are beautiful and it’s always nice to be in New Zealand, whether I am defending the title or not. It’s an amazing feeling coming back to this whole area. It’s the right feeling to have, I think.

I won in Queensland last week so it’s nice to come into my title defence this week in good form. I think the win came at the right time. I played pretty well over the summer. I just had to tweak a few things and I felt like I played it right. Choices and changes to my game as well. Hopefully I can be in contention again.

Since winning last year, I have been pretty busy and was playing with a couple of injuries. But I think it’s under control now. Just a few nitty-gritties with my shoulder.

We played the Millbrook Resort course more times last year so obviously, we had more experience there. But I also played good on this course at The Hills. I love both courses. Both have got difference aspects of where you need to be stronger.

Around Millbrook, you probably got to be a bit stronger off the tees and over at The Hills, you probably need to be strong on the greens. Both courses are tough and it will be challenging.

I don’t have any superstitions or anything like that. It took a combination of a lot of things for me to win the tournament last year. I played well and I was just trying to capitalize what I was doing well. I was hitting the ball well so I kept hitting driver. Obviously didn’t compensate my putter as well.

That win last year got me high up on the money list on the PGA Tour of Australasia. I got my Asian Tour card as well. Three years on the Asian Tour is definitely going to help my game. The Asian Tour has grown from strength to strength as well so it’s great to be part of that Tour.

The doors to the European Tour have also been opening up through the Asian Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia too so it has become very busy for me. But I need to be busy. There is so much to play for, access to the European Tour and the opportunities to play in bigger events like the WGCs.

I wish I had been a little bit more consistent especially towards the end of last year. The amount of effort and energy that has been put in to this 100th New Zealand Open has been incredible. I am very lucky to be defending my title in such a significant event. It’s been a real pleasure this week. I just hope I can get into contention again this week.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha)

It’s my first time here in New Zealand. It’s been really nice so far. I didn’t expect this place to be so beautiful. I am enjoying myself out here and I think that’s the key to playing good golf. You need to first enjoy the place that you’re in before you can play well.

I heard a lot of good things about New Zealand after missing the event last year. The players who played were all saying it’s the most beautiful venue on the Asian Tour schedule and that I have to come and see it myself.

Having played in Perth two weeks ago, I thought I should just stay on in Australia and come to New Zealand to play in this prestigious event this week since it’s not too far away. I spent a week in Melbourne with my good friend Marcus Both.

We played the Royal Melbourne Golf Club, which is the venue for the President’s Cup this year. I have not qualified for the International team but who knows, I might get lucky! The aim is to keep playing well and try my best to get into the bigger events this year.

A few tournaments are coming up too so I still have a good chance to boost my world ranking and get into the upcoming Majors and World Golf Championships. It’s been great since winning the Singapore Open. My schedule has changed since as I planned to play quite a few events in Japan this year as well.

I played nine holes at the Millbrook Resort already and I really like it but it might be a tough walk here at The Hills (laughs). But it’s really scenic and very beautiful out here. It’s my first time playing in pro-am format too. I am looking forward to it.

Miguel Tabuena (Phi)

It’s a long way here from home but I have heard so much good things about Queenstown and that’s what makes me want to play here this week. It’s going to be pretty tough playing the two golf courses for the first time but will do the usual homework and see how it goes.

I am for sure going to enjoy the beautiful sceneries this week! It’s not my first time in New Zealand. I have been to Auckland before but it’s my first time in Queenstown. The game’s feeling good. Hopefully the practice that I have done will pay off this week.

One of my key goals this year is to get into the World Golf Championships so I am working towards that. A good result this week will help. I had some positives to take from Perth as well. I was nine-under after 10 holes and that was my lowest ever start in a tournament.

I had a pretty solid year last year. I am doing pretty much the same things. Nothing much has change. Same practice routines, etc. It’s my first time playing in this pro-am format so I am looking forward to it. It can be a bit challenging but it will be a good experience.

Nicholas Fung (Mas)

I am really excited to be here. It’s my first time in New Zealand. I have heard a lot from my friends who have been here, saying that Queenstown is a really beautiful place and I need to come and witness it myself.

Now that I am here, I am glad I made the decision to play this week! I heard about the activities you can do here as well, like the bungee jump and the popular jet boat rides in Queenstown. Miguel (Tabuena) and I are planning to go  so we’re really looking forward to that.

I have been playing good so far this season. I hope I can continue to play well and build up my confidence level. This is my last year of exemption from my win in 2017. I have been working really hard on my game and trying my best to improve, especially on my putting.

The goal is to cap some good results early this season and lock my card for 2020 so I can get the monkey off my back. But having said that, I am always looking for a win. A good result this week would also put my game in good shape for the upcoming Maybank Championship back home.