The New Zealand Open, co-sponsored by the Asian Tour and Australia’s PGA Tour, is held at Millbrook Resort, with high-profile players competing for high-profile purses and a chance to qualify for the Open.
At the time, Peak was charging NZ$360,000 (approximately US$215,000) for the win, out of a total funding of NZ$2 million (US$1.2 million), and the same amount is being offered this year.
Unlike many other tournaments, players who don’t qualify are also paid, with a total of NZ$65,000 available for players who don’t make it past 36 holes.
Unfortunately for Peek, he was one of those players. That means his success won’t be repeated this year.
Ryan Peake won the New Zealand Open title in 2025 but missed out on qualifying for title defense
(Image source: Getty Images)
Among the celebrities who participated were former LIV golfers. Kevin Na will be making his first appearance since leaving the big money league.
With still rounds left, he was still in some contention, sitting in T13, seven behind overnight leader Daniel Hillier.
Playing in his home country, Hillier has a one-point lead over Curtis Luck and Kerry Mountcastle after three rounds, closing in on his first win on the Asian Tour and Australian PGA Tour, and his first world title since the Betfred British Masters in 2023.
Current LIV golfer Lucas Herbert is another big name in contention. After three rounds, he was in fourth place, two strokes behind the leader.
Lucas Herbert placed 4th after 3 rounds of the tournament
(Image source: Getty Images)
Besides the prize money, there is another big incentive for many players in this field: a spot at the British Open.
That’s because the New Zealand Open is part of the Open Qualifying Series, and leading players have yet to be exempted and have earned a spot at Royal Birkdale.
Hillier has already qualified for this event, so if he continues to win, that tempting consolation will go to the next player on the leaderboard who has yet to book a spot in the majors.
Below are the maximum prize payouts for each position at the New Zealand Open, before ties are taken into account.
New Zealand Open Prize Payment 2026
position | Prize money (New Zealand dollars) |
1st place | $360,000 |
second | $220,000 |
3rd place | $126,000 |
4th place | $100,000 |
5th place | $82,000 |
6th place | $66,600 |
7th place | $57,000 |
8th place | $49,000 |
9th place | $42,800 |
10th place | $38,200 |
11th | $34,900 |
12th | $32,500 |
13th | $30,300 |
14th | $28,900 |
15th | $27,700 |
16th | $26,500 |
17th | $25,300 |
18th | $24,100 |
19th | $23,100 |
20 days | $22,300 |
21st | $21,800 |
22nd | $21,200 |
23rd | $20,600 |
24th | $20,000 |
25th | $19,400 |
26th | $18,800 |
27th | $18,200 |
28th | $17,600 |
29th | $17,000 |
30 days | $16,400 |
31 days | $16,200 |
32nd place | $15,600 |
33rd place | $15,200 |
34th place | $14,800 |
35th place | $14,400 |
36th place | $14,000 |
37th place | $13,600 |
38th place | $13,200 |
39th place | $12,800 |
40th place | $12,400 |
41st place | $12,100 |
42nd place | $11,700 |
43rd place | $11,300 |
44th place | $10,900 |
45th place | $10,700 |
46th place | $10,600 |
47th place | $10,200 |
48th place | $9,800 |
49th place | $9,400 |
50th place | $9,000 |
51st place | $8,600 |
52nd place | $8,200 |
53rd place | $7,800 |
54th place | $7,600 |
55th place | $7,400 |
56th place | $7,200 |
57th place | $7,000 |
58th place | $6,800 |
59th place | $6,600 |
60th place | $6,400 |
61st place | $6,200 |
62nd place | $6,000 |
63rd place | $5,800 |
64th place | $5,600 |
65th place | $5,400 |