Obama and Key reunited
‘‘Team New Zealand’’ has claimed victory over the United States, during a golf match between former American president Barack Obama and former New Zealand prime minister Sir John Key.
It was a close game yesterday, Key said, with the 44th United States leader just missing out on a win on the golf course.
The ‘‘great match’’ came down to the wire, Key said. It was all square after 18 and Team NZ won on the second playoff hole.
Key said Obama was relaxed and loved the course at Northland’s Kauri Cliffs, which offered his first glimpse of New Zealand. He was keen to return.
While the game was friendly, it will be chalked up as yet another loss the US has suffered at the hands of New Zealand.
In 2017 in Bermuda, Oracle Team USA suffered defeat in the America’s Cup, with Emirates Team New Zealand staging a 7-1 win over the republic.
Kauri Cliffs, a par 72 championship golf course, is ranked 39th in the world by Golf Digest. Fifteen holes face the Pacific Ocean, with six played atop cliffs that plunge to the sea.
Obama’s private jet landed in Auckland late on Tuesday. A road near Air Centre One at Auckland International Airport was closed in preparation for his arrival, and his plane touched down from Singapore just after midnight.
He was whisked away in a Crown limo as part of a six-car motorcade – a far cry from the 27 vehicles that it used to take to transport him during his terms as presidential.
He will be in New Zealand until tomorrow, when he’s scheduled to fly to Sydney. Following that trip to Australia, he will visit Japan.
Obama’s only public engagement will be a powhiri at Government House today, ahead of an
invitation-only dinner tonight, where he will speak to 1000 invited guests.
Obama will meet privately with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and is expected to raise the Kermadec ocean sanctuary.