Driving ambition on show at NZ Open

After much smashing and crashing at the World Long Drive Championship, Phillis Meti will now look to some of her more subtle touches, with the Kiwi professional having been invited to play next week’s New Zealand Women’s Open.

The 30-year-old - who won the long drive world title in 2016, finished third this year and still holds the world record drive of 371 metres - has been given a wildcard entry by organisers for the tournament at Windross Farm in Auckland, which starts next Thursday.

Meti has competed in the New Zealand Open five times before, but in this its ninth year, the $1.85m prizemoney event is part of the LPGA Tour for the first time, and she is thrilled to be a part of it.

‘‘I am super honoured,’’ she said. ‘‘This event has a bunch of the best women golfers in the world and it is a huge honour to be part of the first LPGA event in New Zealand.’’

While Meti’s booming drives off the tee are sure to be a spectacle, she is hopeful her presence may be able to offer more than that.

‘‘I want to be more of an ambassador than a sideshow,’’ she said. ‘‘This is a huge chance for our young players and kids to watch these amazing players and it sets a benchmark for them to aspire to.

‘‘If I can help, then this is about giving back for me.’’

It marks a full circle for the Aucklander, who first won the world long drive title as a teenager in 2006, and was runner-up for the next two years before turning professional on to the Australian Ladies Professional Golf and Asian Tours for the next seven years.

Meti returned to New Zealand after her father and mentor, Raz, was diagnosed with cancer, and passed away in 2015. She took the time to complete her qualification in sport and recreation management, becoming golf manager at Aviation Golf Club before taking up a role managing corporate events at Royal Auckland Golf Club.

With leave in hand last year, she decided to return to the 2016 world long rive event ‘‘for some fun’’ and ended up winning. That led Meti to return this year, where she lost in the semifinal, after her final drive, which was well ahead of her rival, was outside the time limit by two seconds.